For many entrepreneurs the accountant is the most important external collaborator – and at the same time a service many choose by a single criterion: price. A wrong choice only shows up at the first serious question, a missed deadline or an inspection. Let us look at when you actually need an accountant, how to choose one and how to work together so that the cost becomes an investment.
Do you even need one?
A lump-sum sole proprietorship (normirani s.p.) without VAT and without employees is designed so that it can keep the records itself: issued invoices, a record of revenue, the calculation of contributions, the annual return. An accountant becomes sensible or practically essential when any of the following appears: actual expenses, VAT registration, employees, a limited company (d.o.o.), doing business abroad or simply – when the hours you spend on administration exceed the price of the service.
An agency, an independent accountant or an app?
- Accounting agency: breadth of knowledge and cover during holidays; with large agencies, be careful not to become an anonymous number.
- Independent accountant: a personal relationship and responsiveness; check what happens when they are absent.
- Online apps with support: affordable for simple lump-sum taxpayers; the limits show up with more complex questions.
Questions for the first meeting
- Do you already handle clients with my activity and legal form (lump-sum s.p., VAT, d.o.o.)?
- What exactly does the monthly flat fee cover and what is charged separately (annual return, payroll, reports, advice)?
- How do we exchange documents – a portal, e-mail, an app? By which day of the month do you need them?
- What is your response time to questions and how much advice is included?
- Who specifically will look after my business and who covers for them?
- Do you have professional liability insurance?
Warning signs
- Being unreachable already in the sales phase – it will not get better later.
- “Everything can be arranged” without questions about your business – a good accountant asks first.
- An unclear price list where every little thing becomes a surcharge.
- Paper-based operations without digital exchange in 2026.
- Promises of “tax tricks” that sound too good – in the end you bear the responsibility for the returns.
How much it costs
Prices depend on the scope: simple lump-sum taxpayers get by with a low monthly flat fee, an s.p. with VAT and documents falls into the mid range, and for a d.o.o. with employees you should count on considerably more. Instead of hunting for the lowest price, compare what is included – a difference of ten euros a month is negligible against one missed filing or an overlooked relief. Get at least three concrete offers.
Cooperation: an accountant is only as good as your documents
Even the best agency cannot fix chaos in a shoebox. Agree on a routine: documents submitted by the agreed day, a separate business account, questions gathered rather than trickling in. A monthly hour for administration in a calm environment – for example at makerSP_CE, where a printer, a scanner and coffee are included in the membership – is the cheapest way to make life easier for your accountant (and yourself). By the way: a recommendation for a good accountant is one of the most frequent questions over coffee in our community.
Frequently asked questions
When is the right time to switch accountants?
The cleanest transition is at the end of the business year, after the annual return has been filed. A switch during the year is doable, but it requires an orderly handover of documentation – let the new agency lead the handover.
Is the accountant responsible for mistakes?
The agency is liable for damage caused by negligence (hence the question about liability insurance), but towards the tax authority (FURS) you are the taxpayer. So: send complete data and read what you sign.
Accountant or tax adviser – what is the difference?
An accountant handles ongoing bookkeeping and returns; a tax adviser handles more demanding questions, restructurings and optimisations. For bigger decisions (moving to a d.o.o., business abroad) both are often worth it – each for their own part.
Conclusion
Choose an accountant as a business partner, not as the cheapest line item: check their experience with your legal form, the clarity of the price list, responsiveness and the way documents are exchanged. Then, with orderly documents and timely questions, enable them to do for you what they do best – so that you can calmly do your own work.
Related reading
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