Accounting firm or in-house accountant: which suits your business?

EXACCOUNTINGAccounting & tax

2 November 2026

Compare an accounting firm with an in-house accountant on workload, document control and continuity, plus the Thai qualifications to check first.

If you have few documents and do not need someone on site every day, an accounting firm is usually easier to start with. If you have daily transactions, inventory to control or internal payments, an in-house accountant may suit you better. Many businesses use both, so it does not have to be one or the other.

Who suits an accounting firm?

New businesses or those with modest document volume
Businesses needing periodic accounting and tax support, without a full-time person yet
Owners who can send documents consistently
Businesses wanting a team and system to help check the work

The limitation is that a firm is not always on site. If documents arrive late, your numbers are late too.

Who suits an in-house accountant?

Bills and transactions every day
Inventory control, supplier payments or on-site document issuing
Several branches or several people sending data
A need for an internal coordinator at all times

The limitation is that someone must review the work, you need a backup when the person is away or leaves, and tax work may not be everyone's strength.

What should you compare?

Workload: less than a full day's work may not justify a full-time hire
Continuity: a firm's team can usually share work, while one employee needs cover when absent
Document control: someone in the business can collect on-site documents faster
Review: either way, one person should not receive money, pay money and record entries with no one checking
Responsibility: hiring someone does not remove all of your business's duties

If you have few transactions and the owner can manage, you do not need a full-time hire yet. Start by organizing your monthly accounting documents.

What qualifications must an accountant have?

According to the Department of Business Development, an accountant of record must meet several requirements, including membership of or registration with the Federation of Accounting Professions, and education matched to business size.

Bachelor's degree in accounting or equivalent: can serve any type and size of business
Below a bachelor's degree, but at least an associate degree or high vocational certificate in accounting: only registered partnerships and limited companies with registered capital up to 5 million baht, total assets up to 30 million baht and total revenue up to 30 million baht

Before deciding, ask who your accountant of record is and whether they have been notified in the e-Accountant system.

Can you use both?

Yes, and it is a real arrangement in businesses with on-site work. For example, an employee collects bills and enters basic data, while a firm reviews, closes the accounts and handles tax returns.

Make it clear who receives documents, who checks, who files and who is the accountant of record. Otherwise, work can fall between the two.

How do you decide?

Count your actual monthly transactions first
Separate on-site work from accounting and tax work
Work out the total cost of each option
Check who can step in when the main person is away
Try one work cycle, then adjust based on what happens

If you choose a firm, see what drives accounting fees before comparing prices. To take over from your current provider, read changing accounting firms, and you can describe your situation to our team.

Frequently asked questions

Does a small company need an accountant of record?

A juristic person has a duty to keep accounts. Check who serves as accountant of record under the Department of Business Development's qualifications.