Questions before switching accountants
Anyone switching accountants usually asks about timing, handover and effort first. Here are the answers we give most often in initial consultations – for self-employed professionals, trade businesses and small companies in the Hannover area.
A switch isn't tied to the turn of the year
We take on clients mid-year too – we start the ongoing bookkeeping with the next open month, leaving the annual financial statements unaffected.
Switching at year-end
- The previous firm fully closes out the past year
- Bookkeeping and payroll start fresh with us in January
- Only one set of data is handed over, no open months
- The decision has to be made before year-end
Switching during the year
- We start with the next month not yet booked
- Open questions can be tackled right away instead of waiting for next year
- We take over payroll from the start of the month
- Months already booked need to be taken over and reviewed
The handover runs through us, not through you
You don't have to have the awkward conversation with your previous firm: once you give the go-ahead, we request the data and documents ourselves and keep you informed at every step.
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Initial consultation
We discuss your legal form, industry, number of employees and what hasn't worked well so far. Afterwards you'll know which services you need and which you don't.
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Engagement and power of attorney
You receive the engagement agreement and a power of attorney for the tax office. We only act on your behalf once you've signed.
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Request to the previous firm
We request bookkeeping data, the latest financial statements, the asset register and payroll accounts. Coordination takes place between the two firms.
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Review and open items
We check the data taken over, clarify any gaps, and only contact you about what we can't resolve without you.
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The first month in our hands
From the agreed month onward, bookkeeping, payroll and deadlines run through us. You'll know who your contact person is and when which documents are due.
What we need from you to get started
We obtain the larger part from your previous firm. From you, we mainly need what never made it into the bookkeeping – contracts, notices, access credentials.
Business basics
Articles of association or trade registration, commercial register extract, tax number and VAT ID, plus the most recent tax assessment notice.
Staff
Employment contracts, health insurance and mini-job details, any existing wage garnishments or salary conversion schemes – everything that feeds into payroll.
Bank and cash
Current year's bank statements, details of loans and leasing contracts, and for cash-based businesses, the cash register records as well.
Current year's receipts
Incoming and outgoing invoices from the month we start with – digital as PDF or on paper, whichever way you usually handle it.
Correspondence with the tax office
Open enquiries, advance payment notices, deferral or extension requests, so nothing is answered twice or too late.
The full list
Which documents we need per service and per client group is set out in detail on a dedicated page.
Six questions before switching
- Can I switch to you mid-year? Yes. A switch is possible on the first of any month, and it runs most smoothly after a completed VAT advance return. We take over the financial accounting from the chosen effective date; the preceding months remain with your previous advisor. For payroll accounting, we recommend the start of a new year or the beginning of a quarter, as payroll accounts, contribution statements and annual filings then align cleanly.
- What documents do you need to get started? To get started, we need your tax number and tax office, the most recent annual financial statement or income statement, the current accounting data, ongoing contracts such as rent, leasing and loans, and, for employers, the current year's payroll accounts along with the health insurers' employer number. If anything is missing, we request it directly from the tax office or your previous advisor using your power of attorney.
- What determines the cost? We bill according to the Steuerberatervergütungsverordnung (German tax advisor fee schedule). What matters is the value in question—for example, revenue, balance sheet total or income—and the effort required per service. For financial accounting, the volume of receipts is the main factor; for payroll accounting, it's the number of payslips processed per month. Pre-sorted, digital receipts measurably reduce the effort involved. In the initial consultation, we calculate your specific case and provide you with the cost range in writing before you decide.
- Do I have to digitise my bookkeeping? No, we still process paper documents. However, digital receipts offer two advantages: you see your figures sooner, and you meet retention requirements without filing cabinets. It's common to submit receipts via a secure portal or through bank access with automatic transaction retrieval. We'll agree together on which method suits you.
- Who is my point of contact? Every client relationship has a dedicated case handler and a dedicated qualified professional. So you're not calling a central switchboard, but the person who actually knows your figures. We're available Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Friday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, with appointments outside these hours by arrangement.
- How quickly will I have my figures? With complete documentation, we prepare the monthly financial accounting along with the VAT advance return within the statutory deadline and send you a brief report showing the result and open items. We handle payroll so that filings and contribution statements are submitted on time. For the annual financial statement, the timing depends on queries regarding inventory, accruals and fixed assets; we agree the schedule with you in advance.
Preparation
How to prepare for the initial consultation
The initial consultation takes around 45 minutes. The more precisely we understand your starting situation, the more reliable our assessment of scope, deadlines and fee structure will be. These four steps are enough to prepare.
Record your legal form, year of incorporation, previous year's revenue and the number of employees. This determines whether you need a cash-basis accounting statement or a balance sheet, and which deadlines apply to you.
Your most recent annual financial statement or tax assessment shows us depreciation, provisions and loss carryforwards. This lets us identify existing room for structuring without you having to recount your history.
Tax audit, back payment, deferral request, planned investment or an upcoming business handover: note down anything that's pressing. We'll go through these points first in our conversation.
We're available Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Friday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, by phone or video if preferred. Appointments outside these times can be arranged individually.
Still have questions about switching advisors?
In a personal conversation, we'll clarify your open questions and discuss the next steps.