What this costs, and what drives the number
Most accountants will not discuss fees until you are in the room. We would rather tell you how we price, so you can work out whether we are in your range before you phone.
South Coast Advisory quotes a fixed monthly fee after a short review of your records. The fee is driven by transaction volume, whether you are VAT registered, how many employees are on payroll and how current your books are. Catch-up work on old records is quoted separately so you can see exactly what the clean-up costs.
How the work is packaged
Starting out
Newly registered companies and sole proprietors finding their feet.
- Company and SARS registrations
- Xero set up properly from day one
- Annual financial statements and tax return
- CIPC annual return
Monthly books
Trading businesses with staff, VAT and a steady flow of paperwork.
- Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
- VAT201 returns
- Payroll, EMP201 and EMP501
- Annual financial statements and tax returns
Books and advice
Established businesses where the decisions have become expensive.
- Everything in Monthly books
- Monthly management accounts with commentary
- 13-week cash flow forecast
- Quarterly review with the managing director
Project work
A valuation, a catch-up, a Xero migration or a CIPC clean-up.
- Scoped and quoted as a fixed fee
- Agreed before any work starts
- Billed separately from any monthly fee
What makes a fee go up or down
| Factor | Lower fee | Higher fee |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction volume | One bank account, few transactions | Several accounts, card machines, high volume |
| VAT | Not registered | Registered, with mixed-rate supplies |
| Payroll | No employees | Several employees, benefits, commission structures |
| State of records | Current and reconciled in Xero | Years behind, or in boxes |
| Reporting | Annual statements only | Monthly management accounts and forecasting |
Fee questions
How much does an accountant cost in South Africa?
Fees depend on transaction volume, whether you are VAT registered, how many employees you have and how current your records are. A small business with clean books costs a fraction of one that needs years rebuilt.
We quote a fixed monthly fee after a short review, so you know the figure before you commit. We will also tell you if you do not need us monthly.
My paperwork is a mess and years behind. Will you still take me on?
Yes. Catching up on several years of records and outstanding returns is normal work for us, and it is usually cheaper than the penalties and interest of leaving it.
We quote the catch-up separately from your monthly fee so you can see exactly what the clean-up costs.
How do I change accountants without disrupting my business?
You give your new accountant written permission to request your records from the current one. Professional bodies expect an outgoing accountant to hand over your books, though they may hold back work you have not paid for.
We then review what we receive, list anything outstanding at SARS and CIPC, and agree a start date. Most take-ons are done inside a month, and SARS deadlines carry on being met throughout.
Find out where the numbers are holding you back
A free 20-minute consultation on compliance, cash flow and reporting, and what to fix first. Bring your latest management accounts or trial balance if you have them.