Accountancy Services Provided by AIMS

The old maxim ‘one size fits all’ is certainly not true when it comes to businesses accounting needs. A global business like Apple, for example, with a huge payroll and turnover, will need very different advice than a one-man band who doesn’t quite hit the VAT threshold. As such, At AIMS Accountants for Business, our accountants provide a long list of important accountancy services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) so that clients can pick and choose what they need. What they choose will be based on their specific situation.  

This article will delve a little deeper into the accountancy services that AIMS provide on a day-to-day basis, so that prospective buyers of a franchise know what to expect. We want you to truly enjoy the work, so it’s worth spelling out. 

AIMS Accountants 

AIMS Accountants are accountants in practice. You’ll remember from a previous article that this means that they provide accountancy services to lots of external companies simultaneously. They do not work in house for one business, like an accountant in industry would. If you want to refresh yourself, please have a read of the differences between accountants in practice and accountants in industry here. 

Simply put, AIMS Accountants are business accountants for business people. They specialise in helping the SME community with accountancy needs that can be split into 4 key sections: 

1. Accounting and Bookkeeping – These services are vital to the daily operation of a business so all AIMS Accountants offer this. This includes year end accounts and payroll  
2. Running a Business – This is all about helping businesses run profitably. AIMS Accountants will be proficient in filling out annual returns for individuals who have earned income and they will give advice on growth plans to ensure the financial sustainability of SMEs 
3. Business Advice and Support – AIMS Accountants will conduct exciting tasks like setting up processes to help SMEs work out how valuable their businesses are to prepare them for sale 
4. Tax Advice and Planning – AIMS Accountants will take complex tax issues and deal with them. This includes Corporation Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax, Inheritance Tax, R&D Tax Credits and VAT Returns 

Why AIMS Accountants get Clients 

In a previous article, we looked at the marketing that head office delivers to get AIMS Accountants clients. AIMS have placed processes and structures in place over a 30-year period to ensure that our accountants make money. For incoming accountants and prospective AIMS Accountants, here are a few of the USPs that make it easy to sell the aforementioned accountancy services: 

1. Fixed Fees – AIMS Accountants agree their fees with their clients in advance so there’ll never be any surprises 
2. Shared Experience – All AIMS Accountants are small business owners themselves, so there is a share experience between AIMS Accountants are their clients 
3. Professional – All AIMS Accountants are fully qualified with a professional body and have at least 3 years of post-qualification experience. The bodies that they are qualified with are: ICAEW, AAT, ACCA, CIMA or CIoT 
4. Cash-Flow – AIMS Accountants collect fees via monthly direct debit to ease cashflow for SME clients 
5. Local Presence, National Strength – AIMS Accountants are local to their customers but have the backing of a successful national company with over 30 years of experience in the market 
6. One-to-One Relationship – AIMS Accountants do not have a call centre. Clients speak directly to their accountant 

What we expect of AIMS Accountants 

Did you know that it is not a legal requirement for an accountant to be qualified?  

We do not mean to suggest that you have to be qualified to be a good accountant because some may ‘qualify’ on experience. However, we made being qualified a pre-requisite to becoming an accountant with us so that our customers know that they are unquestionably in safe hands. To SMEs, finances are a priority, so being fully qualified will make sure that people choose us, and you, when they’re looking for an accountant. 

Other accountancy franchises may not require their accountants to be fully qualified, which is why AIMS has longevity in the market and why our accountants get a constant stream of new clients. 

It goes without saying that when you’re dealing with a business’ finances, they expect unwavering professionalism. Conducting oneself appropriately from the initial meeting until either you retire or you disengage with the client, is a priority. These are things that are expected in all walks of professional life, but we still think that it’s important to practice. Hence, during the initial training programme, we conduct practice meetings with potential clients to make sure that you’re completely comfortable.

We also expect our accountants to be up-to-date on all things tax. This is so that we can sell your accountancy services effectively. Once again, this is something that will be covered in training, so fear not!   

Becoming an AIMS Franchise 

For anyone who is thinking of starting their own business as an accountant in practice, it is vitally important to have these structures in place. AIMS have already built this for you. All that you need to do is come on board and share your expertise with the clients. Have a look at our YouTube to listen to our existing accountants talk about why they joined!

Please call James on 020 7616 6622 today, to chat about your next career move.