When Is It Time to Change Accountants?

A Perth Small Business Guide to Choosing the Right Fit

Running a business in Perth isn’t just about selling your product or service — it’s admin, BAS deadlines, ASIC reminders, ATO letters and a never-ending list of things you didn’t think about when you got your ABN.

And for many small business owners I meet, the biggest frustration isn’t the tax return itself…

👉 It’s the feeling of being left in the dark.

“My accountant just lodges things… I don’t actually understand what’s going on.”

If you’ve ever said something like that — you’re not alone. A lot of small business owners tell me they:

• Only hear from their accountant once a year

• Feel rushed through tax time without things being explained

• Are scared to ask “silly” questions

• Get surprised by tax bills

• Thought their fee included advice… only to realise it didn’t

  
  

This is usually the point where people start quietly thinking…“Is it time to change accountants?”

Signs It May Be Time to Move On

Here are some common indicators it's worth reassessing who you're working with:

• You dread sending an email because you feel like you’re annoying them

• You never get reminders or explanations — just a bill and a lodgement receipt

• You don’t really know what you’re paying for

• You get last-minute panic messages at tax time

• You constantly feel like you're catching up instead of staying ahead

• You leave conversations feeling more confused than before

  
  

If any of those made you nod — you're not being “fussy”, you're simply realising that compliance and support are two different things.

Business accounting documents on a desk

A Very Important Distinction:

A Tax Return Fee ≠ Ongoing Tax Advice

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings I see.

A fee to prepare and lodge a tax return or BAS covers exactly that — preparing and lodging it.

It doesn’t usually include:

• Forecasting your tax position during the year

• Helping with cash flow planning for future tax bills

• Structuring advice

• GST strategy, director loans, Division 7A, personal vs business expenses clarification

• Ongoing email support and check-ins

  
  

Behind the scenes, a lot of compliance work does happen — but that doesn’t always translate into communication and strategy, which is what business owners actually feel.

That’s why clarity of scope and expectations upfront is so important.

Tax planning client meeting

✅ Mini Checklist: Is This Accountant the Right Fit for You?

Use this as a quick self-check. If you can honestly tick most of these, you're probably in good hands:

✔	Question
☐	I feel comfortable asking questions without feeling silly
☐	They speak to me like a human, not in jargon
☐	I know exactly what my fee includes (and doesn’t include)
☐	I get reminders or guidance before deadlines — not after
☐	I walk away from conversations feeling more confident, not confused
☐	They understand Perth small business realities — not just textbook answers

If you're ticking one or two instead of most… it might be time to explore other options.

Calculator and Tax Records on a table

What Good Accounting Support Should Feel Like

It’s not just about technical ability — it’s about communication and fit.

Good support feels like:

✨ You can email a question without anxiety

✨ You know what’s upcoming (BAS, super, ASIC renewals — no surprises)

✨ You feel guided, not processed

✨ Your accountant explains things in plain English — even twice, if needed

✨ You actually understand your numbers and feel in control

And here’s something most people don’t talk about: 

the best outcomes happen when it’s treated like a partnership.

🤝 It’s a Two-Way Relationship — Not Just a Transaction

A great accountant-client relationship works both ways.

Just like you expect clear communication and support, a good accountant also needs engagement from you.

Full support — like tax planning, reminders, check-ins, structure advice and proactive guidance — isn’t just something that magically happens.

It requires time, care and priority, and that’s why it usually sits outside a basic “tax return fee.”

Clients who see their accountant as a partner, not just a once-a-year form lodger, tend to get far better financial outcomes — fewer tax surprises, cleaner books, and forward planning instead of last-minute stress.

It’s perfectly okay to want cheap and quick lodgement. It’s also okay to want high-level advice and support. The key is just knowing the difference — and choosing someone whose working style matches what you value.

Final Thoughts — You’re Allowed to Expect More

Choosing an accountant is not just a transaction — it’s an ongoing relationship.

You have every right to feel supported, informed and respected in that relationship.

If something hasn’t felt right for a while, sometimes the kindest thing you can do (for them and for you) is simply say, “Thank you — it’s time for me to work with someone who aligns better with how I like to manage my business.”