3.
Re: Charged for email from my Accountant Feb 6, 2008 4:18 AM
When you employ the services of a professional, you are working with someone else much like yourself who must make ends meet by performing their trade. If your 4-5 emails were requesting information that is valuable to you as a business owner (and entity creation is one of the MOST IMPORTANT decisions you may make when you start your business), then your accountant was providing a service, not just bantering about. Email is the new means of communication for professionals, and in the same way that you may expect to be charged for an hour consult, you can expect to be billed when you ask questions via email. Also keep in mind that while your questions may have only taken 5 minutes to write, they may have taken 15-20 minutes each to reply to (just guessing here), which in total would easily amount to an hours worth of work (many accountants bill close to $120/hr).
I would also caution anyone going into business for themselves to remember
that business is about relationship, and your best allies when you begin are going to be the
valuable referral relationships you forge. I have received numerous new referrals from my accountants, as they deal with new businesses every day, which are an ideal pool of clients for my services. By refusing to pay a skilled professional for their valuable services, you are not only putting yourself in a credit situation, but you may have unwittingly soured a valuable referral relationship.
As to whether you should pay, I think LUCKIEST is right -- communication is key. Call them, explain the situation, and negotiate an amicable agreement that ensures that your debt is paid. Don't just ignore your bills, as this is not only bad karma, but potentially bad for your credit as well.
