- Bring business details, bank statements and any HMRC or Companies House letters
- Expect questions on how you trade, what you earn and where the business is heading
- Ask who does the work, how fast they reply and exactly what the fee covers
For a first meeting with an accountant, bring your business details, recent bank statements, any letters from HMRC or Companies House and a short list of questions. That’s enough for a limited company accountant to see where your business stands and what help it needs.
This guide covers what to bring, what you’ll be asked, what to ask back and what happens after the call.
Why does preparing for an accountant consultation matter?
An accountant consultation is short, and much of it goes on understanding your situation. Arrive with the basics ready and more of the call goes on advice instead of fact-finding.
Knowing what to bring to an accountant also makes comparisons fairer. If you’re speaking to more than one firm, giving each the same information means the quotes you get back are like for like.
Still unsure whether you need professional help yet? Our guide to do I need an accountant covers when DIY works and when it starts costing you.
What should you bring to your first accountant appointment?
You don’t need a perfect set of books before your first accountant appointment. You need enough for the accountant to see how the business runs today, so here’s what to bring to an accountant, grouped so you can tick it off.
Business details
- Your company name and registration details if you’ve already incorporated, or your trading name if you haven’t.
- A short description of what you sell, who buys it and how they pay you.
- The names of any other directors or shareholders.
Money in and money out
- Recent bank statements, ideally from a separate business account. If you don’t have one yet, a business bank account is often one of the first things an accountant suggests.
- Sales invoices and receipts for costs, even if they’re in a folder rather than software.
- Access to any bookkeeping software you already use, or an export from it.
Letters and reference numbers
- Any letters from HMRC or Companies House, including ones you haven’t opened.
- Your National Insurance number and, if you have one, your UTR. Our guide shows how to find your UTR number if it’s gone missing.
- Details of any other income, such as a salary or freelance work, since it affects your personal tax.
Your own questions
Write down what you want answered before the call. Once the conversation moves on, it’s easy to forget the one thing you meant to ask.
What will the accountant ask you?
If you’re meeting an accountant for the first time, expect questions about the business today and where you want it to go. None of them are a test: the answers shape what the accountant recommends.
How you trade
- Whether you work as a sole trader, through a limited company, or both.
- If you’re thinking of moving from sole trader to limited company, when and why.
- Whether you employ anyone, or plan to.
What you earn and spend
- Roughly how much comes in and how regularly.
- Your main costs, and how you pay yourself.
- How you keep records at the moment.
Where you’re heading
- What you want the business to look like a year from now.
- Whether you’re planning to hire, raise investment or sell overseas.
Be honest if you also freelance or work as an employee alongside your company. If you’re staying self-employed for now, a sole trader accountant may suit you better than a limited company specialist.
What should you ask the accountant?
The meeting runs both ways. These questions help you judge whether a firm is right for you, especially if you’re comparing several.
Who does the work?
- Will I have a named accountant, or will my queries go to a shared inbox?
- Who checks my returns before they’re filed?
How will we keep in touch?
- How quickly do you usually reply, and by email, phone or portal?
- What do you need from me each month, and how do I send it?
What does the fee cover?
- Which filings and returns are included?
- Is set-up included, or charged separately?
- What counts as extra work, and will I know before I’m charged for it?
What happens after the first accountant appointment?
Meeting an accountant for the first time doesn’t commit you to anything. Most firms follow the first accountant appointment with a written proposal setting out the services, the fee and what they need from you.
Read it against your notes from the call and query anything that wasn’t discussed. If you go ahead, you’ll usually sign an engagement letter and share access to your records so the accountant can deal with HMRC on your behalf.
If the call raised questions about setting up the company itself, our starting a business FAQs answer the common ones.
How Sleek helps with your first meeting with an accountant
A Sleek call starts with your business. A specialist asks how you trade, what you earn and what you’re planning, then recommends the services that fit and sends you a quote.
If you go ahead, you get a named accountant who handles your filings and answers your questions as the business grows. Founders at the very start can also talk to us about our startup accountant service, which covers early questions such as funding and first hires.
Make your first meeting with an accountant count
FAQs on first meeting with an accountant
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. At Sleek, the first consultation is free and there’s no obligation to sign up afterwards. Other firms vary, so check when you book whether the call is charged.
Do I need my UTR number?
It helps, but you can still have the meeting without it. HMRC issues a UTR when you register for Self Assessment or set up a limited company, so you may have a personal UTR and a separate one for your company. Bring whichever you have and the accountant can help you track down the rest.
Should I switch bookkeeping software before meeting an accountant for the first time?
No. Keep using what you have and bring access to it. A good accountant will tell you whether your current software works with their process or whether a move is worth the disruption.
Can I have an accountant consultation before I've set up my company?
Yes, and it’s often the best time to do it. An accountant can talk through whether a limited company suits you and what needs doing once it’s registered, before any decisions are locked in.
Should my co-director join the first call?
If you run the company with someone else, it’s worth both of you attending. Each director has their own responsibilities, and the accountant may need details of both your personal tax positions.
What if I'm behind on filings or have a penalty letter?
Bring the letter and mention it at the start of the call. Accountants deal with late filings regularly, and knowing early lets them sort out what needs fixing first.
Is a video call as useful as meeting an accountant in person?
For most founders, yes. Documents can be shared on screen or sent in advance, and the conversation covers the same ground. If you’d rather sit across a desk from someone, that’s a fair reason to choose a local firm.
