Accountants in Market Harborough
Press Release – February 2016 Harborough Mail and Lecicester Mercury
Town centre move adds up for accountancy firm
A family-run accountancy firm which has been providing services to small and medium-sized businesses for over a decade has moved into new offices in Market Harborough town centre.
Freeman & Co Chartered Certified Accountants celebrated the opening of their new base at 12 The Square, Market Harborough, on Monday, February 8.
The move into Market Harborough comes at an exciting time for the company as it evolves to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world and tax system.
Qualified accountant Jonathan Freeman, who launched the firm back in 2003, says: “We’re delighted to be opening new offices in Market Harborough, which will give us a high street presence in a more central location and enable the further growth of the business.”
Jonathan, who is originally from the local area, started the company working from home in south Leicestershire, having previously worked in accountancy firms and in business in Leicestershire, London and the Home Counties, and later moved to a purpose-built office, where the business continued to grow.
“We specialise in helping small and medium-sized businesses and I think one of the reasons for our success has been the personal one-to-one service we offer,” Jonathan says. “We’re also always looking to develop our services to meet the needs of our clients better.
“For example, over the past year we’ve introduced cloud-based software which can securely link to clients’ online bank statements, and which both clients and I can access from our own computers. This technology saves clients both time and money, often resulting in lower accountancy fees. I also offer consultations and software training via Skype, though I’m always happy to visit clients for face-to-face meetings – it’s really whatever suits their requirements best.”
The firm’s move to Market Harborough reflects the real confidence that exists in the local economy.
“Market Harborough is the ideal base for us,” Jonathan explains. “It’s a thriving town with lots of independent businesses and is also a very nice place to work.
“We’re a friendly, approachable, family-run accountancy firm, and I hope our move will help us further extend our client base within the local business community in Market Harborough.
“Having said that, not all my business is local – we have clients as far afield as New Zealand and Scotland and I can see this trend continuing with the possibilities for being a ‘virtual’ online accountant opened up by new technology.”
Impending changes to the tax system, which may see businesses required to submit information quarterly online, are likely to bring significant changes to the world of accountancy – but the need for expert advice from a qualified person to navigate the complex world of business accountancy, taxation and legislation will remain.
“While there is more and more information available online, it is often confusing and open to misinterpretation as accountancy and tax are not straightforward,” Jonathan says. “We are here with the technical knowledge to save our clients time and money, while at the same time keeping them on the right track. Only the other week we reclaimed a significant tax refund for a new client, amounting to several thousands of pounds, because the client had misunderstood the self-assessment tax system.
“At Freeman & Co, we offer good-value fixed fees quoted in advance of the work so that our clients know where they stand. Employing an accountant is an affordable option.
“Our service gives our clients peace of mind – and means they can focus on their work and ensure the success of their own business.”
Freeman & Co offers a range of services including accounts preparation, new business start-up advice, tax planning and systems implementation.
The company is an ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Quality Checked firm, which is only awarded to firms that meet the ACCA’s standards of excellence.
Jonathan would also like to thank his clients and team for their continued support over the past 12 years and he looks forward to working with them at his new offices.