I find it scary how many firms no matter what their qualifications are out there giving advice, thank god I don’t need an accountant/business advisor.

In Kendal, one unqualified firm (NB Jason’s first point) has blackened their reputation with HMRC by saying that one of the local Inspectors “backs their firm”, another will only use electronic data from Sage (otherwise all info. has to be supplied on paper), another takes the figures from the Sage trial balance & enters them straight into the tax return – no checking, no tax planning, nothing and sadly the last two are both chartered firms.

You are right, in part, but, most accountants in an area will know what the competition can or does do, if nothing else through either gaining or worse still losing clients to them.

Why I feel the last question still has relevance is that in my approach to a potential new client I will not attempt to comment on other firms, quite the opposite, I will in fact go and meet this potential new client at their home/place of business and sit with them and listen to what they have to say, then after a few well chosen questions from me combined with 20 years experience I will tell them what we can initially do for them to help them achieve what they want.

I say initially because only after building a relationship and mutual trust do you ever truly find out what the client wants or how they tick.

I hope that helps clarify a bit more my final question, which in itself I guess is a but vague.