Grupo Asegi bills its services under a transparent model of a fixed monthly fee plus specific services. For a small SME in the Basque Country, the usual range is €200-450/month; for a medium-sized SME, between €400 and €800/month; and for companies with full integrated services (tax + accounting + payroll + legal), between €600 and €1,500/month.
The first thing you should know about how advisory firms charge
The advisory market in the Basque Country works with three models:
- Fixed monthly fee: a set amount per month covering the services contracted.
- Per service: each piece of work is billed individually.
- Hybrid: a fixed fee for routine work plus additional billing for specific services.
The most advisable model for SMEs is the hybrid one.
Price ranges by company size
Self-employed workers
| Type of self-employed worker | Usual monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Simplified regime / módulos | €50-90 + VAT |
| Simplified direct assessment | €80-150 + VAT |
| With employees | €150-280 + VAT |
| High-volume professionals | €200-400 + VAT |
Small SME (up to 20 employees)
| Type of service | Usual monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Tax and accounting only | €250-450 + VAT |
| Tax + accounting + payroll | €400-700 + VAT |
| Integrated (4 areas) | €500-900 + VAT |
Medium-sized SME (20-100 employees)
| Type of service | Usual monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Tax + accounting + payroll | €600-1,200 + VAT |
| Integrated with an outsourced CFO | €1,000-2,000 + VAT |
Services that should be included in the base fee
- Periodic tax filings (VAT, withholdings, instalment payments).
- Monthly accounting.
- Unlimited advice by telephone or email.
- Year-end close and filing of Corporate Income Tax.
- Annual accounts and filing with the Commercial Register.
- Payroll management, if the payroll area is included.
- Handling of straightforward information requests.
- Client software or app.
- A named contact, without constant turnover.
What is normally not included (and what should worry you)
If your advisory firm bills you separately for these services, that is reasonable. If it bills you separately without telling you beforehand, it is not:
- Representation in tax inspections.
- Applying for and justifying grants.
- Incorporation, amendment or winding-up of companies.
- Audits.
- Administrative and court appeals.
- Extraordinary strategic advice.
- Business valuations.
How Grupo Asegi bills (transparency)
- A fixed monthly fee covering routine services.
- Specific services billed separately, always with a quotation accepted in advance.
- No surprises: what the fee covers is set out in writing at the start.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a cheap advisory firm a bad advisory firm?
- Not necessarily, but there is a limit. Below €40-50/month for a self-employed worker, or €200/month for a company, the usual offering is automated filings only.
- Why do some charge per service and others a fixed fee?
- It comes down to the business model. For a company with regular activity, a fixed fee is usually more efficient and more predictable.
- Does an advisory firm save me more than it costs?
- In most cases, yes. A €400/month advisory service usually “pays for itself” by applying R&D&I, employment or investment deductions.
- Can I change advisory firm halfway through the financial year?
- Yes. The change can be made at any time, although it is usually timed to coincide with a quarterly close.
- Does the fee include the year-end close?
- It should. Always ask explicitly whether the year-end close and the Corporate Income Tax filing are included.
General information only; it does not replace professional advice. Foral legislation changes frequently — check the date it was last updated.