What should the quote include?
Describe the business structure, records available and reporting deadlines. Ask which meetings, reports and filings are included and who will do the work.
Which charges need a closer look?
Check charges for cleaning up old records, extra entities, urgent work and answering notices. Separate software subscriptions and filing costs from the accountant's fee.
Have the provider mark each item as included, optional or charged separately. An item left blank is a question to resolve, not something to count as free.
Before you decide
Compare a full year of expected work. A low monthly price can exclude the year-end task you actually need, while a larger package may include reports you will never use.
Compare the total you would pay
Put the offers side by side using the same work, dates and quantities. Add required extras and applicable taxes to each starting price. Keep optional upgrades separate so you can choose them deliberately.
- For an hourly price: ask about minimum time, the expected hours and approval before the bill grows.
- For a package: ask about its limits, expiry and the price of work outside it.
- For a deposit: confirm whether it counts toward the total, when the balance is due and what happens if you cancel.
Keep the agreed price and work list together. If the plan changes, ask for the revised total before agreeing to the extra work.
The rewrite date records an editorial update, not a verification of local prices. How we research fees.