I’m always tempted to say “let me get my tape measure out and work out the length of that piece of string” but somehow, I bit my tongue and explain that, like a builder, I can’t quote until I understand the job.
First, I need to understand the starting point:
• Type/complexity/size of business
• Limited/partnership/sol trader (we don’t handle personal tax except for directors of our business clients)
• Bookkeeping quality and software
Then I need to understand the desired end point. What services they want /need.
This helps me to understand the level of staff required, how much time they will spend, and any specific skills or tech the work needs.
Finally, I need to understand if we’re the right accountant for them:
• How tech savvy are they so that we can automate more work?
• What is their attitude towards paying tax?
• Are they looking to grow their business or make other changes where they can benefit from our business advice?
Only then can I produce the magic number from my costing spreadsheet.
In the meantime, we try to give a ballpark figure and put some sample packages on our website. We’re not cheap but, according to our testimonials, we’re worth it.
How do you set your prices? Do you quote one single price for an identical item, or does it need to be tailored to the specific customer?