An audit fee depends on the evidence and reporting work required, not turnover alone. To compare quotations fairly, separate the audit from accounts preparation, tax and additional group reporting, then compare the assumptions about your team’s preparation.
What usually changes the work?
| Driver | Why it affects scope |
|---|---|
| Entities and reporting | A single-company audit differs from a consolidated group audit or additional parent-auditor reporting. |
| Balances and transactions | Inventory, significant estimates, complex income and acquisitions can require additional procedures. |
| Records | Unreconciled schedules, missing agreements and repeated changes create additional work. |
| First-year work | The incoming auditor needs to understand the business and obtain opening-balance evidence. |
| Timing | A compressed timetable can affect capacity and the feasibility of the proposed deadline. |
Can we get an indication before a meeting?
Accendo’s audit fee estimator provides an indicative range for suitable scopes after the questions and contact details. Complex engagements need discussion. Estimates exclude VAT and remain subject to scope, capacity, independence and acceptance checks. They are not quotations or market averages.
What should each quotation include?
- The legal entities, accounting periods and reporting framework.
- The audit deliverables and any separately scoped accounts, tax or group work.
- What management must provide and by when.
- Who leads the engagement and how significant matters are escalated.
- The assumptions behind the fee and how additional work will be agreed.
Can preparation reduce the fee?
Reliable reconciliations and complete evidence can reduce avoidable effort. Ask the auditor which schedules would be useful and who should prepare them. Do not spend time producing a large pack that does not answer the audit requests. Preparation cannot remove necessary procedures or independent challenge.
What if a cheaper quotation looks similar?
Ask both firms to explain the same scenario. For example, are accounts preparation, inventory attendance and group-auditor deliverables included? Is the price an introductory first-year figure? Differences may be entirely reasonable, but they need to be understood before appointment.
If you are moving firms, read our guide to changing auditors and first-year costs. Trustees can also use our charity audit cost guide.
Discuss your next step
Tell us your year end, reporting deadline, group structure and the issue you want to resolve. We will assess the scope, capacity and independence requirements before accepting an engagement. Discuss your audit requirements
Reviewed 26 September 2026. General guidance; the appropriate approach depends on your organisation and circumstances.