Terms of Business for Professional Services

About this document

What it’s for

A client engagement pack for accountants, bookkeepers, tax advisers, consultants and agencies: a covering engagement letter confirming the work agreed, standard Terms of Business, a schedule of services and responsibilities, a fee schedule and a client acceptance form.

When to use it

For every new client, before any work starts
When a client asks for work outside the original scope
When re-issuing terms to existing clients, or when a client changes legal form

What’s inside

The document is laid out in the sections below. Each one comes with a plain-English guidance note explaining what it does and what to change.

About these terms
Definitions
Our services
Your responsibilities
Fees, expenses and payment
Client identification and anti-money laundering
Confidentiality
Data protection
Electronic communication and cyber security
Records and documents
Intellectual property and use of our work
Limitation of liability
Regulation, professional rules and insurance
Complaints
Conflicts of interest
Ending our engagement
General
Governing law and jurisdiction

Also included

Part 1 – Covering engagement letter
The work we will do
Start date and who will look after you
Our fees
Before we start
Please sign and return
A. Annual accounts
B. Corporation tax
C. Personal tax
D. VAT
E. Payroll and pensions
F. Company secretarial
G. Bookkeeping, advisory and other services
Key dates

How to complete it

Complete the letter and tick or delete services in Schedule 1
Complete the fees in Schedule 2 and your regulatory details in clause 13
Do not start work until identity checks under clause 6 are complete
Keep the signed acceptance on the client file

Key points to check

Check your professional body’s current engagement letter guidance
The Provision of Services Regulations 2009 require disclosure of your insurance and professional body
Draw the client’s attention to the liability cap in clause 12

Our templates are professionally structured starting points for UK businesses, not legal advice. For anything complex, unusual or high-value, have your final version checked by a solicitor.

Included in the pack

Contracts & terms

£20

for every document in this category

Editable Microsoft Word files

Guidance notes in every document

Written for UK businesses

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Terms of Business for Professional Services

What it’s for

When to use it

What’s inside

Also included

How to complete it

Key points to check

Get In Touch

Quick Links

Company information

Legal