Best Practice

In their role as business advisors, accountants offer advice on a wide range of issues including technology, financial services, company law, and general business management.While owner/managers of SMEs are often tied up in the day-to-day running of the business, the accountant has a strong influence on long-term strategy.Their unique role creates a clear channel that can be used to influence SMEs actively looking for information to help them improve all aspects of their businesses.

• Highly targeted circulation – 20,000 practice accountants advising small and medium sized companies
• Surprising influence – Each practice advises, on average, 365 business clients. Recent surveys reveal that just under 50% of small firms have over 500 active business clients and the average turnover of each business clients* is a staggering £1.7 million – if you consider this alongside the number of active business clients the reach is enormous.
• Reaching the key advisor – the accountant is by far the most trusted advisor in the SME boardroom. If you are looking to sell financial services and technology through an intelligent route their business advisors are a key influencer.
• Professional editorial environment – your advertising appears alongside business advice, product reviews, technical issues: in other words a rational ‘working’ environment.

*Accountancy Age research (July 2004)