Annual accounts: do it yourself or outsource?

Short answer

You can prepare your annual accounts yourself, outsource them to a bookkeeper or accountant, or use software. What it costs depends mainly on the state of your bookkeeping and whether a report is needed. Always ask for a quotation stating what is and is not included.

You can prepare your annual accounts yourself, outsource them to an accounting firm or use software. Each route has advantages, and the best choice depends on your bookkeeping, your legal form and how certain you want to be about your figures.

The three routes

Route	Advantages and considerations
Do it yourself (based on your bookkeeping)	Cheap, and you get to know your own figures. It takes time and requires that you know the rules on valuation and depreciation.
Outsource to a bookkeeper or accountant	You get an expert view and often help with the tax returns too. It costs the most, and you hand over your bookkeeping.
Use software and keep checking yourself	A fixed, low amount per financial year. You follow a set route and remain responsible for the figures yourself.

The three routes side by side

This table shows the same routes, but worked out by subject: what it costs, who does the work, whether you get a report, and when you would be better off choosing something else.

Kolom	ZelfJaarrekening.nl	A bookkeeper	An accounting package
What you pay	€ 49.95 excl. VAT per financial year, one-off. No subscription.	An hourly rate or a fixed amount per year; that depends strongly on your bookkeeping. Always ask for a quotation.	Usually a monthly subscription, including in months when you do nothing.
Who does the work	You, step by step through the wizard. The calculations and the texts come from the tool.	The bookkeeper or accountant. You supply your bookkeeping.	You. You keep your own bookkeeping and usually prepare the annual accounts yourself.
What it asks of you	Closed bookkeeping and a few hours of entering data. You need your figures.	Little: you supply and then review. You do depend on their schedule.	That you keep your bookkeeping in that package all year.
Report with the documents	None. You remain responsible for the accuracy — that is also stated in the disclaimer.	Can issue a compilation, review or audit opinion if needed.	None. The documents come out without a report, just as with us.
Tax returns	Not included. You do get the taxable profit calculation and the corporation tax in the documents.	Often included, together with the tax returns and contact with the Belastingdienst.	Sometimes, usually as a separate module or service.
Check on your figures	Per field, plus the balance sheet check down to the cent and warnings for illogical figures.	A person looks over your shoulder and knows the rules; they also see things that software does not.	Mainly input checks: whether an amount is readable, not whether it is logical.
How fast	Immediately. You can start tonight and download the documents the same day.	In the busy months (March to June) it can take a while before it is your turn.	Immediately, but you must first have your entire bookkeeping in order.
When this is the wrong choice	If you need a report, if your bookkeeping is not in order, or if you would rather be fully taken care of.	If your bookkeeping is simple and you want to be able to do it yourself without annual costs.	If you only need annual accounts and do not plan to keep your bookkeeping in that package.

What determines the price?

The size of your bookkeeping: number of bank transactions, invoices and payslips.
Your legal form: a BV asks more than a sole trader, simply because of the publication and the corporation tax.
Special items: inventories, work in progress, a participating interest, a reorganisation or a discontinuation.
Whether a compilation report or audit opinion is needed.
Whether the tax returns (income tax or corporation tax) and the filing are included.

Always ask for a quotation with scope

Ask not only what it costs, but also what is included: annual accounts, notes, accounting policies, tax return and filing. That way you can compare quotes fairly.

What you must keep doing yourself

Whatever you choose: the annual accounts are and remain a responsibility of the management or the business owner. An accountant checks or substantiates, but the figures and the completeness of your bookkeeping are down to you.

Adoption and filing are also acts of the management. You can outsource them, but not transfer them.

When is an accountant sensible?

If you fall under the audit obligation or need a report for the bank or an investor.
With a complex structure: participating interests, a fiscal unity, foreign activities.
In an unusual year: a takeover, a discontinuation, a restructuring or a dispute.
If you suspect that something in your bookkeeping is not correct and you cannot reconstruct it yourself.

What it costs with us

ZelfJaarrekening.nl is a tool: you follow a set route through figures, accounting policies and checks, and then download the annual accounts and the publication documents as a PDF. You pay one amount per financial year, and you can look around and enter your figures for free first.

It is explicitly not an accountancy service: you do not get a report or tax advice. You do get the structure, the checks and the documents you need to prepare and file your annual accounts yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What does annual accounts preparation cost on average?

There is no fair average: it depends on the size of your bookkeeping, your legal form and what you outsource. Always ask an accounting firm for a quotation and compare what is and is not included.

May I prepare and file my annual accounts myself?

Yes. There is no statutory obligation to engage an accountant, unless you fall under the audit obligation or need a report. You may do the filing yourself.

Is a compilation report mandatory?

Not in general. Sometimes the bank or an investor asks for one, or there is a provision in the articles of association. In most cases a compilation report is not legally required.

Do I still need my bookkeeper if I use software?

That is up to you. Many business owners prepare the annual accounts themselves and have the tax return checked by a bookkeeper, or the other way round. Our tool does not provide tax advice, so for tax questions an adviser remains useful.

Preparing annual accountsThe steps you go through yourself.
Annual accounts for a BVWhat a legal entity must do extra.
Filing with KVKWho must do it and within which deadline.
Which documents belong in them?So you know exactly what you deliver.

Prepare your annual accounts yourself?

Work through the wizard, check your figures and download the annual accounts and the KVK filing documents as PDFs. € 60,44 per financial year, once.

Start your annual accounts View a sample See how it works first

Je vult eerst alles in en bekijkt het resultaat — betalen doe je pas als je de stukken wilt downloaden. Geen abonnement. En zit er een fout in de stukken die wij kunnen herstellen? Dan leveren we gratis een nieuwe versie, zo vaak als nodig.

Deze uitleg is algemeen bedoeld. Controleer bij KVK, de Belastingdienst of je accountant of de regels in jouw situatie nog zo gelden. ZelfJaarrekening.nl is a tool, not an accounting firm; you cannot derive rights from this explanation.