What an accountant actually costs
We cannot give you a figure in an article, and nobody else should either. But we can tell you exactly what drives it and how to compare two quotes properly.
Search for what an accountant costs and you will find figures that vary tenfold. Not because anyone is lying, but because “accounting” means very different things from one company to the next.
An article that gave you a firm figure would mislead you. What we can do is show you what drives it, so you can read any quote you receive — including ours.
What moves the price most
- Monthly document volume. Not turnover, but the number of pieces of paper.
- Number of employees, because payroll is separate work.
- Whether you hold stock. Quantity records change the effort entirely.
- Whether you work with foreign partners or in several currencies.
- The state the documents reach us in.
That last point is the one everyone underestimates and the only one you fully control.
Two companies with the same turnover can mean three times the work. Price follows the work, not the turnover.
What to ask about any quote
- What exactly is included and what is billed separately.
- Whether conversations and questions are included or charged.
- What happens in high-volume months.
- Who answers questions, and within how long.
- What happens if you want to leave.
The costs that are not in the quote
Your time. A cheap accountant who asks for the same documents three times, replies in four days, or lets you discover a problem yourself costs more than the difference on the invoice. It just is not written anywhere.
When a low price is a signal
If someone quotes without asking anything about volume, employees or stock, that is not a price, it is bait. It will be adjusted, and the adjustment usually arrives after you have handed over your documents.
How we do it at Lexco
We ask the questions above before giving a figure, and we tell you what is in it. If the volume changes materially, we discuss it rather than adjusting quietly. And conversations about your business are not billed by the minute — it would be absurd to discourage you from asking.
If you want a realistic estimate for your company, write us a few lines about volume and activity. We reply within one working day, with a figure we can stand behind.
