By Stratancy Consulting · Published
The right accountant for your business depends on the work you need, how you keep your records and the support you expect. Use this guide to compare proposals on the same basis and explore the relevant Stratancy services.
How to choose an accountant for a small business in Ireland
Start with the work your business needs over the next twelve months. List bookkeeping, payroll, VAT support, year-end accounts, tax returns and management reporting separately. Ask each firm to explain who handles each task, what records you must supply and how often you will speak to your accountant.
Ask about the qualifications of the person responsible for your work and their experience with businesses of your size. A sole trader with a small number of transactions needs a different scope from a company with staff, stock and several sales channels. Request a written proposal with deliverables, deadlines, exclusions and the process for approving extra fees.
Stratancy provides accounting support for businesses across Ireland, delivered by ACCA-qualified accountants. Remote support is available nationwide, with in-person support available in Dublin. A consultation helps establish whether the proposed service matches your business.
Accountants for Irish sole traders: what support should you compare?
A useful sole-trader package connects day-to-day records with year-end reporting and personal tax support. Ask whether transaction processing, bank reconciliations, expense queries and preparation of income and expenditure records are included. Confirm the scope of Form 11 support and VAT services where relevant to your circumstances.
Bring an outline of your activity, approximate monthly transaction count, current software and any overdue records to the first discussion. Include other income sources that may affect the work required. This gives the accountant a basis for defining the service and avoids comparing quotes built on different assumptions.
Stratancy’s sole-trader accounting packages currently start from €129 per month. The final scope and fee depend on the business, transaction volume, VAT requirements and reporting needs. Check the pricing page for current package details and request a written quote.
How to compare payroll service costs
Compare the total cost for the same headcount and pay frequency. A low headline price may cover a monthly run while your team needs weekly processing. Ask about setup, starters and leavers, corrections, historical work, payslips, reports and the handling of benefits or pension information.
Stratancy lists monthly payroll at €25 per employee or director per month, with no additional VAT added to the displayed amount. On that basis, five people paid monthly would cost €125 per month for that monthly payroll service. Weekly, fortnightly and historical work require a custom quote. Confirm the agreed scope before the first run.
The lowest quote is only useful if it includes the service you need. Ask who approves payroll before submission, when changes must be supplied, how confidential employee information is exchanged and how payroll figures reach your bookkeeping records.
Reviewing Xero accounting services
Separate the software subscription from the accountant’s service. Ask whether the quote includes a Xero subscription or assumes you already have one, and who controls the organisation and user permissions. Clarify the scope of initial setup, bank reconciliation, bookkeeping, reporting and ongoing support.
A software choice should fit your workflow. Discuss invoicing, expenses, sales channels, existing records and the reports you actually use. Before switching systems, agree how opening balances, outstanding invoices and historical information will be checked and who will manage the transition.
Stratancy works with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. The discussion should focus on the system and accounting process that suit your business. Confirm software costs, access and migration work in the proposal rather than assuming they are included.
What is outsourced accounting?
Outsourced accounting means appointing an external provider to perform agreed accounting tasks. It can cover bookkeeping and payroll, extend to year-end accounts and tax support, or include management accounts and fractional CFO work. The engagement should state which tasks are included and which decisions remain with you.
Outsourced bookkeeping is usually a narrower service focused on maintaining accounting records and reconciliations. Outsourced accounting may connect those records with compliance work and financial reporting. Ask for concrete deliverables rather than relying on the service label.
A practical handover includes the current records, software access, an agreed list of outstanding work and a timetable for providing information. Decide who answers queries, who approves payments and submissions, and how you will review progress. You still need to supply complete records and review information relevant to your business.
Comparing accounting firms and reading client reviews
Use the same brief when comparing Stratancy with another provider, including Kinore or any other firm on your shortlist. Ask each provider for its current written scope and fees. Check service inclusions directly; a competitor’s suitability cannot be established from a brand name or a general ranking.
When reading client reviews, look for the date, the service used and details about communication, handover and resolving problems. Consider whether the reviewer’s business resembles yours. Ask for a relevant reference or example where available, and distinguish independently published feedback from testimonials selected by a provider.
Lists of the best or top ten accountants are more useful when they explain their selection criteria, evidence and any commercial relationships. This guide sets out a comparison method; it does not assign rankings or claim that Stratancy is the cheapest provider.
An accounting firm comparison checklist
Send these questions with the same business brief to each provider. Record the answers alongside each quote before deciding.
| Compare | Ask each provider |
|---|---|
| Service scope | Which bookkeeping, payroll, accounts, tax and reporting tasks are included? |
| Total fees | What is recurring, one-off, optional or charged separately? |
| Software and access | Are subscriptions included, and can you export your records? |
| Contact and turnaround | Who is your contact, when will they respond, and when are reports delivered? |
| Onboarding and switching | Who handles opening balances, outstanding work and the handover? |
| Evidence of fit | What qualifications, relevant experience and client references can you verify? |
Prices reflect the linked Stratancy pages at publication and may change. Confirm your scope and current fees in writing. This guide provides general service-selection information.
Find accounting support that fits your business
Tell us about your business, current software and the tasks you want help with. We will confirm the proposed scope and price.
Written by Stratancy Consulting Team