Most business owners in Kent switch accountants not because something has gone catastrophically wrong, but because the relationship has quietly stopped working. Communication has slowed down. The advice has dried up. The service feels transactional rather than personal. If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone.
1. Poor communication
The most common complaint we hear from businesses that have switched to us is that their previous accountant simply did not get back to them. Emails went unanswered. When questions were asked, the answers were slow, unclear, or came too late to be useful. A good accountant should be responsive and proactive.
2. No proactive advice
There is a difference between an accountant who processes your numbers and one who actively looks for ways to improve your tax position, flags upcoming changes that affect you, and brings ideas to the table before you ask. Many Kent businesses are working with the former when they could have the latter.
3. Feeling like a small fish
Larger practices can leave smaller clients feeling deprioritised. If your file is handled by someone you have never met and you rarely speak to a senior person, your business may benefit from a practice where every client matters.
4. Technology that does not work for you
Practices slow to embrace cloud accounting and Making Tax Digital make life harder for their clients. If your accountant is not using modern software or integrated tools, it creates unnecessary friction in day-to-day management.
5. Fees that are unclear or increasing without explanation
Unexpected invoices, unclear fee structures, and costs that increase year on year without explanation are a common frustration. Fixed-fee arrangements, where you know exactly what you are paying, avoid most of these problems.
How to switch accountants
Switching is easier than most business owners expect. Your new accountant handles the handover, requesting your records and history from the previous firm. You simply sign an authority letter and inform your previous accountant. The process typically takes a few weeks.
Talk to us about your situation
Our chartered accountants work with small businesses, landlords and contractors across Surrey, Kent and Sussex. Get in touch for a free initial consultation.
