When Is the Right Time to Hire an Accountant?

Is a bit like asking: When should I fix that leak in the roof?

Technically, before it rains!

However, more often than not, people put it off, rather than paying for an accountant at the very beginning.

And just like the leaky roof analogy, that quickly results in a drip becoming a puddle, then all the furniture is ruined, and then you’ve got permanent water damage in your home!

Hiring an accountant works the same way. Sooner rather than later, and you should not leave it too late.

Don’t wait until tax deadlines and have a last minute panic, or wait for a cash flow crisis, or HMRC letter before you reach out for help.

If you’ve already clicked on this article, the chances are that you’re already ready to hire, and taking the first few steps to getting your business finances in order.

The most common (and costly) mistake

Thinking that hiring an accountant is about reacting.

I.e. filing a tax return, ticking a box, fixing a problem.

But the best time to bring in an accountant isn’t after something goes wrong. It’s when:

You want to grow your business without losing control.
You’ve outgrown your spreadsheets or manual processes.
You’re spending too much time on numbers and admin tasks, and not enough time on the work, and growing the business you love.
You don’t know what you don’t know and you’re worried it’s going to result in problems.

Great accountants aren’t just reactive. They’re strategic and supportive, and can help you plan ahead. They can identify actions to take before things go wrong, protecting both your business and your time.

5 moments that signal it’s time to hire an accountant:

1. You’re setting up a business

You don’t need to be “established” to hire an accountant. In fact, the earlier, the better. The more they can help you get right initially.

A good accountant will help you:

Choose the right structure (sole trader vs limited company or another)
Register with HMRC and Companies House
Set up proper bookkeeping and payroll from day one
Identify the right software for your industry and business
Avoid costly mistakes you could spend years having to undo

If your business is like a home, you’d want strong foundations, in order to be safe and happy there. An accountant can act as your ‘financial architect’, and design the initial framework so that it’s right for you to build upon.

2. You’re starting to grow

If you’ve just hired your first employee or secured a new client contract. Or opened a second physical location or new marketing channel. It could be time to consult an accountant.

Growth is exciting, but it brings new responsibilities, risks and reporting requirements. Particularly if the pace of change is fast, and your internal procedures and financial controls cannot keep up.

An accountant can help you:

Plan for growth, not just react to it
Stay compliant as things get more complex
Understand where your profit is coming from
Build financial systems that scale with you

Think of them as a co-pilot and partner, not just a technician and data analyst.

3. You feel out of your depth

We hear this a lot:

“I just don’t know what’s going on with my finances anymore.”

“I’ve lost sight of my numbers and what they mean. I don’t know what to do, or how to proceed

This is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign or awareness, and that you and your business have grown. So too have your finances and now they need more attention than you’ve been able to give them.

An accountant gives you clarity:

What you owe, and when
What’s coming in and going out
What you can afford to invest or pay yourself
What the numbers actually mean

Peace of mind has a price, but chaos costs far more. Particularly over the long term.

4. You’re paying too much tax

If tax feels like a guessing game, it probably is. If it isn’t making sense and you don’t understand, a qualified accountant helps you:

Identify legitimate deductions, allowances and reliefs which you can use
Plan your finances in a tax-efficient way
Avoid fines, penalties, and nasty HMRC surprises
Sleep easier at night

Most clients who come to us late say they wish they’d done it sooner.

5. You want to plan ahead not just react day to day or get through the year

A good accountant doesn’t just tell you what’s happened. They respond, guide, and advise to help you make better decisions in the future.

At RedBrick, our role often moves from basic compliance to more advanced strategic advice, and everything in between!

Once the basics are running smoothly, and systems/software are in place, we can help clients:

Build forecasts and budgets
Understand their break-even point and business sensitivity
Make confident financial decisions
Track the progress of those decisions against their personal and professional goals

It’s not just about saving money or becoming more profitable. It’s about building a business that feels like home. Safe. Clear. Reliable. Sustainable.

So when’s the right time for you?

The truth is there’s no single right answer. But if any of the below sounds familiar, you’re probably already ready:

You feel uncertain, confused or stretched too thin
You’re hitting a new phase of growth, team, funding, or product launches
You’ve got big goals and need help achieving them
You want someone in your corner who knows your business as well as you do, whilst also guiding financial decisions

And if you’re still not sure?

A good accountant will always take the time to talk things through with you without applying any pressure or talking in jargon. They should just give straightforward answers which you can use and apply immediately.

What happens if you wait too long?

Delaying can happen sometimes; we all do it, but here’s what can happen when you leave it too late:

You can miss tax deadlines and get fined
You can overspend and run out of cash
You can lose sleep, feel overwhelmed, and stop enjoying your business
You can make reactive decisions that cost more in the long run

None of these happen overnight. But they can build quietly in the background, like damp in the walls of your home. By the time you notice, the damage is often already done.

The value of starting early when working with an accountant

Does the below sound familiar?

“I’m too small right now. I’ll hire someone once I hit [£X turnover] or have [Y number of clients].”

However, the truth is that having good financial systems early actually helps you reach these numbers quicker.

It’s easier (and cheaper) to build habits from the start than to unpick bad ones later.

It’s easier to make decisions with accurate, timely information.

It’s much easier to run a business when you feel calm, supported, and in control.

The earlier you bring in the right help, the faster and smoother your journey to successful business owner will be.

Why choose RedBrick?

There are lots of accountants. Many with different levels of technical ability and specialisms, but not all will help you feel at home with your business finances.

At RedBrick, we work with people who care, not just about how much money they make, but also about how they make it.

Our clients value long-term thinking, transparent communication, and feeling safe in the hands of someone who genuinely knows their business.

We do:

Small business accounting
Compliance and tax
Financial operations and reporting
Strategic support

And we’re ICAEW Chartered Accountants, so we’re regulated, giving you peace of mind, should anything go awry.