Bookkeeping and accounting
	Setting-up accounting systems and controls
	Specialise in preparation of monthly or bi-monthly management accounts
	Preparation of interim financial reports
	Preparation, completion and submission of monthly and annual statutory returns, e.g. VAT, PAYE (EMP201), IRP5, EMP501, etc
	Payroll administration and services
	Business plans
	Budgets and cash flow projections
	Pastel sales, support, installation and set-up of the full Pastel accounting range, as well as customised individual training
	We train your staff in basic bookkeeping and administrative tasks
	Preparation of working paper files for registered audit firms

Fees in respect of professional services are based on time spent at competitive hourly rates which vary depending on the nature and complexity of the services required and range from R190 per hour for a bookkeeper to R250 per hour for an accountant.

The following factors are taken into account when determining the final hourly rate:

• The complexity of the work to be undertaken;
• Specialised knowledge, research and responsibility involved;
• After hours work at the request of the engagement partner of the firm/ independent accounting officer or the client, or which is necessary because of the nature of the work involved. Time and a half is charged for after hours work.

Hourly rates increase annually on the 1st March in line with the Institute of Chartered Financial Analyst's (CFA's) recommended tariffs.

The service and fee provided will be agreed with the client before any work is commenced. All work in progress during the month is billed at month-end, irrespective of whether the project is completed or not.

Under certain circumstances and at the sole discretion of the franchisee, a minimum advance against anticipated fees may be required prior to commencement or continuance of assignments.

It is common practice amongst accountants working independently not to offer credit terms to clients. Being self-employed, BAN franchisees have adopted the same approach.

Charges are levied separately for:

• Travelling expenses currently charged at R3.10 per kilometre;
• Parking
• Time billable includes travelling time where less than 7 hours is worked in any one day, thus the billable time will accrue from the point where the franchisee leaves their office until their return;
• Certain stationery, e.g. accounting books billed at cost;
• Consultation/meetings with the client's auditor or accounting officer;
• Consultation/meetings with specialised BAN franchisees related to your business;
• Telephone call time;
• Printing and/or copy charges where more than 30 pages are required.

It is well known that most businesses fail within the first five years, while many others fail later. Even though entrepreneurs may have good technical skills and/or marketing abilities. Why?

Business failure could more often than not be attributed to poor management - in particular:

• Lack of financial skills;
• Lack of management skills;
• Lack of a proper business plan, including market analysis, product costing, budgets and cash flow projections;
• Lack of an appropriate financial reporting system which reports monthly on variances from budgets; and
• No regular professional financial advice.

Business people understand the relationship between costs of products/materials for resale, labour costs and sales revenue. They also accept the necessity of certain other costs like rent, telephones, interest, and equipment. But certain costs are often seen as "unproductive", that is they produce no direct revenue, and hence should be kept to a minimum, and even postponed where possible. Such costs include:

• Employment costs of accounting and administrative personnel;
• The costs of outsourced monthly management accounting;
• If applicable, the costs of outsourced payroll;
• The cost of tax and other regulatory compliance;
• The cost of protecting rights, including appropriate legal agreements;
• Audit costs

Good accounting can save the day - precise financial planning and reporting should always be a cornerstone of any business. In difficult financial times, paying attention to accurate accounting and report monitoring on a monthly basis goes a long way to ensuring the financial well-being of the entity.

All too often, saving on vital accounting and administration costs exposes the business to future increased expenditure, as the cost of rectification far exceeds the cost of doing things right the first time. These additional expenses may include:

• Liability of taxes, penalties and interest arising from underpayment of VAT and PAYE;
• Penalties and interest to SARS on unpaid taxes or underestimates of provisional taxes;
• Criminal conviction for non-compliance;
• SARS audits of income tax submissions;
• SARS audits of VAT and Payroll submissions;
• CCMA disputes arising from non-compliance with labour legislation;
• Substantially higher accounting expenditure as a result of initial poor and insufficient financial recording;
• Declined loan applications due to the lack of convincing financial information;
• Unable to sell the business due to the lack of credible financial information;
• Exposure to losses through stock shrinkage.
• Exposure to risk of fraud.

In this day of excessive regulation, business simply cannot afford to omit the costs of qualified bookkeeping and accounting services.