Charging Clients

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited 12:08PM in AAT member discussion
Hi everyone,
I am just starting up as self-employed and everything seems to be slipping into place, except the dilema of "what do I charge"...and "on what basis do I charge"..... Is per hour best or per week/month/year!
I would greatly appreciate your thoughts please and am interested in how everyone else deals with charges?

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    Hi

    I am in the same position and would welcome any advice in this area. In fact any advice in starting up would be most appreciated.

    Thanks
    Siany
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    depends what for - annual accounts/tax i normally charge a flat fee - useful tip, when taking over a client ask to look at last year's accounts and then you can see what previous accountant charged and base your figures accordingly. Payroll normally per payslip/pay run depending on how stable the numbers are. VAT either per hour or per job - if they want a flat fee, then I say that I will do a couple at a per hour rate and then decide on a flat fee. Most other stuff is on an hourly basis. If someone wants a fixed charge and you have nothing to go on, then use your accounting skills - 2 + 2 = whatever you want it to - how much do you want the job/client?

    As to the actual ££££ in each case, it all depends on the area you live in, central London will be far more expensive than the extremities of the country for example.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    thanks for replying, your information is helpful. I had thought of calling the local competition but most of them seem to want to see you first and wont give quotes over the phone! Thanks again
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    Edpersh

    I had to respond to your message as over the last month I have had three other bookkeepers contact me under false pretences trying to find out my rates.

    It is much better to be honest to try and find out the information, like the rest of us had to, than waste other peoples time thinking they have a genuine enquiry.

    I am also aware that one of the people that was lying to me, saying she was just setting up a business and was looking for a bookkeeper, had her own website advertising herself as an AAT qualifed bookkeeper. This is not the conduct I would have expected from an AAT Member.

    Sue
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    Sue,
    I agree that it seems dishonest and that is one of the reasons that I would feel uncomfortable doing it! and that is also why I posted the query on this forum!
    Out of interest, how did you find out the information? I cant imagine that anyone would willing give their rates etc to someone who would be setting up in competition with them!

    By the way... had I been dishonest, as you suggested, I would not have needed to post the query in the first place, as I would of had my answers!!



  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    I dont think that there are any hard and fast rules on charges - gut instinct plays a part and how busy you are/how much you want the client etc etc.

    I quoted for some accounts yesterday, and i knew that whatever i said would seem a lot to them as they are getting their sister in law to do their books at the moment for free .... Then again last year I was really busy and really didnt want an extra client so went in high and got the job. If you constantly quote the same price and dont get then you are probably over charging, but then again you dont want to under-sell yourself.

    Sorry not to be more helpful!

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Charging Clients

    thanks claudia, your information was helpful as it gives another aspect on the subject other than money!

Categories

Privacy Policy