ICAEW launches accountancy advice service

SMALL businesses across the North West are being offered free advice from ICAEW Chartered Accountants as part of a new initiative.

The Business Advice Service (BAS) aims to help small companies and start-ups with business and financial advice to help economic growth.

Small and medium business owners can contact firms in their area on a variety of issues, both large and small, and there is no future obligation. More than 2,000 ICAEW practices across the UK have already signed up to offer the initial free consultation under the scheme.

In the Business Confidence Monitor for the third quarter of 2011, SMEs said that regulatory requirements (36%), access to capital (26%) and late payment from customers (26%) were all greater challenges to their companies’ performance than a year ago.

Michael Izza, chief executive of ICAEW, said: “Start-ups or growing small businesses need the best advice to succeed at a time of fragile recovery and limits on public spending. There is a clear need for expert business advice which helps SMEs and start-up businesses become engines of growth.

“In response, the Business Advice Service will offer SMEs the opportunity to discuss their business with a qualified chartered accountant through a free initial consultation. ICAEW Chartered Accountants will be able to offer expert advice on a whole range of issues facing them – from starting a business to turnaround, restructuring, financial management or taxation issues.”

Small businesses can find details of ICAEW chartered accountants in their local area at www.businessadviceservice.com.