Survey of Service Industries: Accounting Services, 2012 - Full Questionnaire

If necessary, please make address label corrections in the boxes below.

• 1: Legal name
• 2: Business name
• 3: Title of contact
• 4: First name of contact
• 5: Last name of contact
• 6: Address (number and street)
• 7: City
• 8: Province/territory or state
• 9: Country
• 10: Postal code/ zip code

What is your language of preference?

• 1: English
• 2: French

B - Main business activity - Question identifier:1.

Please describe the nature of your business.

To ensure that you have received the appropriate questionnaire, you are asked to describe the nature of your business. The description should briefly state the main activities of your business unit.

B - Main business activity - Question identifier:2.

Please check the one main activity which most accurately represents your main source of revenue.

Below is a description of each main activity.
Professional accounting services
Business units primarily engaged in providing a range of accounting services such as the:
- preparation of financial statements;
- preparation of management accounting reports;
- review and auditing of accounting records;
- development of budgets;
- design of accounting systems;
- provision of advice on matters related to accounting.
These business units may also provide related services such as:
- bookkeeping services;
- tax return preparation services;
- payroll services;
- management consulting services;
- insolvency services.
Include:
- professional accountants;
- professional accounting services;
- offices of certified accountants;
- offices of public accountants;
- offices of registered industrial accountants;
- auditing accountants;
- chartered accountants.
Exclude:
- business units primarily engaged in providing tax return preparation services; and
- business units primarily engaged in providing bookkeeping, billing and payroll processing services.
Tax preparation services
Business units primarily engaged in providing tax return preparation services.
Include:
- income tax return preparation services;
- tax return preparation services.
Bookkeeping, payroll and related services
Business units primarily engaged in providing bookkeeping, billing or payroll processing services.
Include:
- billing and bookkeeping services; and
- payroll processing services.

• 1.: Professional accounting services
• 2.: Tax preparation services
• 3.: Bookkeeping, payroll and related services
• 4.: None of the above - Please call the contact telephone number on the cover page for further instructions.

C - Reporting period information - Question identifier:1.

Please report information for your fiscal year (normal business year) ending between April 1, YYYY and March 31, YYYY. Please indicate below the period covered by this questionnaire.

• 1: Date from (YYYY MM DD) to (YYYY MM DD)

C - Reporting period information - Question identifier:2.

If the reporting period does not cover a full year, please check the reason(s) below:

• 1: seasonal operations
• 2: new business
• 3: change of fiscal year
• 4: change of ownership
• 5: ceased operations
• 6: temporarily inactive

D - Revenue - Question identifier:1.

Sales of goods and services (e.g., rental and leasing income, commissions, fees, admissions, services revenue) Report net of returns and allowances.

Sales of goods and services are defined as amounts derived from the sale of goods and services (cash or credit), falling within a business's ordinary activities. Sales should be reported net of trade discount, value added tax and other taxes based on sales.
Include:
- sales from Canadian locations (domestic and export sales);
- transfers to other business units or a head office of your firm.
Exclude:
- transfers into inventory and consignment sales;
- federal, provincial and territorial sales taxes and excise duties and taxes;
- intercompany sales in consolidated financial statements.

D - Revenue - Question identifier:2.

Grants, subsidies, donations and fundraising

Please report contributions received during the reporting period.
Include:
- non-repayable grants, contributions and subsidies from all levels of government;
- revenue from private sector (corporate and individual) sponsorships, donations and fundraising.

D - Revenue - Question identifier:3.

Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees

A royalty is defined as a payment received by the holder of a copyright, trademark or patent.
Please include revenue received from the sale or use of all intellectual property rights of copyrighted musical, literary, artistic or dramatic works, sound recordings or the broadcasting of communication signals.

D - Revenue - Question identifier:4.

Investment income (dividends and interest)

Investment income is defined as the portion of a company's income derived from its investments, including dividends and interest on stocks and bonds.
Include interest from:
- foreign sources;
- bonds and debentures;
- mortgage loans;
- G.I.C. interest;
- loan interest;
- securities interest and deposits with bank interest.
Exclude:
- equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates; these amounts should be reported in section E, at question 25.

D - Revenue - Question identifier:5.

Other revenue
(please specify):

Include:
- amounts not included in questions 1 to 4 above.

D - Revenue - Question identifier:6.

Total revenue (sum of questions 1 to 5)

The sum of questions 1 to 5.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:1.

Salaries and wages of employees who have been issued a T4 statement

Please report all salaries and wages (including taxable allowances and employment commissions as defined on the T4 - Statement of Remuneration Paid) before deductions for this reporting period.
Include:
- vacation pay;
- bonuses (including profit sharing);
- employee commissions;
- taxable allowances (e.g., room and board, vehicle allowances, gifts such as airline tickets for holidays);
- severance pay.
Exclude:
- all payments and expenses associated with casual labour and outside contract workers; please report these amounts in this section, at question 5.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:2.

Employer portion of employee benefits (include employer contributions to pension, medical/life insurance plans, employment insurance, etc.)

Include contributions to:
- health plans;
- insurance plans;
- employment insurance;
- pension plans;
- workers' compensation;
- contributions to any other employee benefits such as child care and supplementary unemployment benefit (SUB) plans;
- contributions to provincial and territorial health and education payroll taxes.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:3.

Commissions paid to non-employees

Please report commission payments to outside workers without a T4 - Statement of Remuneration Paid.
Include:
- commission payments to independent real
estate agents and brokers.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:4.

Professional and business services fees (e.g., legal, accounting)

Include:
- legal;
- accounting and auditing;
- consulting;
- education and training;
- architect;
- appraisal;
- management and administration.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:5.

Subcontract expenses (include contract labour, contract work and custom work)

Subcontract expense refers to the purchasing of services from outside of the company rather than providing them in-house.
Include:
- hired casual labour and outside contract workers.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:6.

Charges for services provided by your head office

Include:
- parent company reimbursement expenses and interdivisional expenses.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:7.

Cost of goods sold, if applicable (purchases plus opening inventory minus closing inventory)

Report cost of purchased goods that were resold during the reporting period. If applicable, report cost of goods and material used in manufacturing of sold products.
Include:
- goods purchased for resale: purchases during the period (including freight-in) plus opening inventory less closing inventory;
- materials used in manufacturing of products sold: report only the material component of cost of finished manufactured goods that were sold during the reporting period.
Exclude:
- direct and indirect labour costs (salaries, wages, benefits, and commissions);
- overhead and all other costs normally charged to cost of goods sold, such as depreciation, energy costs, utilities, sub-contracts, royalties, transportation, warehousing, insurance, rental and leasing; these expenses should be reported elsewhere in the detailed categories provided.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:8.

Office supplies

Include:
- office stationery and supplies, paper and other supplies for photocopiers, printers and fax machines;
- diskettes and computer upgrade expenses;
- data processing.
Exclude:
- postage and courier;
- telephone, Internet and other telecommunications expenses (please report this amount in this section, at question 14).

E - Expenses - Question identifier:9.

Rental and leasing (include rental of premises, equipment, motor vehicles, etc.)

Include:
- lease rental expenses, real estate rental expenses, condominium fees and equipment rental expenses;
- motor vehicle rental and leasing expenses;
- rental and leasing of computer and peripheral expenses;
- studio lighting and scaffolding, and other machinery and equipment expenses;
- fuel and other utility costs covered in your rental and leasing contracts.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:10.

Repair and maintenance (e.g., property, equipment, vehicles)

Include expenses for the repair and maintenance of:
- buildings and structures;
- vehicles (including vehicle fuel);
- machinery and equipment;
- security equipment;
- costs related to materials, parts and external labour associated with these expenses.
Also include janitorial and cleaning services and garbage removal.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:11.

Insurance (include professional liability, motor vehicles, etc.)

Include:
- professional and other liability insurance;
- motor vehicle and property insurance;
- executive life insurance;
- bonding, business interruption insurance and fire insurance.
Insurance recovery income should be deducted
from insurance expenses.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:12.

Advertising, marketing and promotions (report charitable donations at question 22)

Include:
- newspaper advertising and media expenses;
- catalogues, presentations and displays;
- meeting and convention expenses;
- tickets for theatre, concerts and sporting events
for business promotion;
- fundraising expenses.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:13.

Travel, meals and entertainment

Include:
- passenger transportation, accommodation and meals while travelling;
- other travel allowances as well as meal, entertainment and hospitality purchases for clients.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:14.

Utilities and telecommunications expenses (include gas, heating, hydro, water, telephone and Internet expenses)

Include:
- diesel, fuel wood, natural gas, oil and propane;
- sewage.
Exclude:
- energy expenses covered in your rental and leasing contracts;
- vehicle fuel.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:15.

Property and business taxes, licences and permits

Include:
- property taxes paid directly and property transfer taxes;
- vehicle licence fees;
- beverage taxes and business taxes;
- trade licence fees;
- membership fees and professional licence fees.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:16.

Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees

Include:
- amounts paid to holders of patents, copyrights, performing rights and trademarks;
- gross overriding royalty expenses and direct royalty costs;
- resident and non-resident royalty expenses;
- franchise fees.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:17.

Delivery, warehousing, postage and courier

Include:
- amounts paid for courier, custom fees, delivery and installation;
- distribution, ferry charges and cartage;
- freight and duty, shipping, warehousing and storage.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:18.

Financial services fees

Include:
- explicit service charges for financial services;
- credit and debit card commissions and charges;
- collection expenses and transfer fees;
- registrar and transfer agent fees;
- security and exchange commission fees;
- other financial service fees.
Exclude:
- interest expenses.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:19.

Interest expenses

Please report the cost of servicing your company's debt.
Include interest on:
- short-term and long-term debt;
- capital leases;
- bonds and debentures and mortgages.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:20.

Amortization and depreciation of tangible and intangible assets

Include:
- direct cost depreciation of tangible assets
and amortization of leasehold improvements;
- amortization of intangible assets
(e.g., amortization of goodwill, deferred charges, organizational costs, and research and development costs).

E - Expenses - Question identifier:21.

Bad debts

A bad debt is the portion of receivables deemed uncollectible, typically from accounts receivable or loans.
Include:
- allowance for bad debts.
Bad debt recoveries are to be netted from bad debt expenses.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:22.

All other expenses
(please specify):

Include:
- amounts not included in questions 1 to 21;
- charitable and political expenses;
- research and development expenses;
- recruiting expenses.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:23.

Total expenses (sum of questions 1 to 22)

The sum of questions 1 to 22.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:24.

Corporate taxes, if applicable

Include:
- federal, provincial and territorial current income taxes and federal, provincial and territorial provision for deferred income taxes.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:25.

Gains (losses) and other items (see reporting guide)

Include:
- realized gains/losses on disposal of assets and realized gains/losses on sale of investments;
- foreign exchange gains/losses, subsidiary/affiliate share of income/losses and other division
income/losses;
- joint venture income/losses and partnership income/losses
- unrealized gains/losses, extraordinary items, legal settlements, and other unusual items;
- write-offs.

E - Expenses - Question identifier:26.

Net profit/loss after tax and other items (see reporting guide)

Total revenue less Total expenses minus Corporate taxes plus Gains (losses) and other items.

Please provide a breakdown of your sales.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:1.

Auditing and other assurance services

Include:
- financial auditing;
- tax auditing;
- review of financial statements with or without compilation;
- agreed-upon procedures for financial information;
- other assurance and related services.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:2.

General accounting services (include financial statement compilation services)

Include:
- bookkeeping;
- compilation of financial statements.
A compilation engagement is one in which an accountant receives information from a client and arranges it into the form of a financial statement. The accountant assures that the assembly of information is arithmetically correct. However, the accountant does not attempt to verify the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and no endorsement or expression of assurance is provided.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:3.

Bookkeeping services

A service consisting of general transaction entry.
Include:
- maintenance of all journals and ledgers;
- preparation of trial balances and bank reconciliations;
- production of management information reports;
- billing and collection of accounts receivable;
- processing of accounts payable.
May include payroll calculation but not the overall payroll services.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:4.

Payroll services

Include:
- payroll processing;
- withholding deductions;
- remitting deductions and employer's contributions to government-mandated and other plans;
- filing reports.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:5.

Tax preparation and representation services for corporate and other clients

Services for corporate and other clients such as:
- preparation of income and other tax returns;
- review of returns prepared by others;
- filing of returns;
- preparation of supplementary documents associated with returns; and
- preparation for representation at tax audits and appeals.
Include compilation of financial statements when provided as a package with tax preparation for a single fee.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:6.

Tax preparation and representation services for individuals and unincorporated businesses

Services for individuals and unincorporated businesses such as:
- preparation of income and other tax returns;
- review of returns prepared by others;
- filing of returns;
- preparation of supplementary documents associated with returns;
- preparation for and representation at tax audits and appeals.
Include compilation of financial statements when provided as a package with tax preparation for a single fee.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:7.

Tax planning and consulting services

Planning and consulting in order to minimize the impact of taxation, and interpreting tax law.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:8.

Insolvency and receivership services

Include:
- overseeing the dissolution (bankruptcy) of a firm;
- payment of all creditors possible;
- filing of the necessary documents in compliance with government regulation.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:9.

Management consulting services

Management consulting services in the areas of strategic and organizational planning, finance, human resources, marketing and production.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:10.

Other sales
(please specify):

All other sales of services not specified elsewhere such as:
- business incorporation services;
- personal financial planning services;
- legal services;
- accounting training services;
- litigation support services;
- business valuation services;
- computerized accounting systems services.
(Please specify):
Please indicate any major items associated with the revenue reported for this category on the line provided. Sales from these goods and services, while not generally part of your principal source of revenue, complete the financial picture of the activities of your business unit.

F - Industry characteristics - Question identifier:11.

Total sales (sum of questions 1 to 10)

G - Personnel - Question identifier:1.

Number of partners and proprietors, non-salaried (if salaried, report at question 2 below)

For unincorporated businesses, please report the number of partners and proprietors for whom earnings will be the net income of the partnership or proprietorship.

G - Personnel - Question identifier:2.

Paid employees

G - Personnel - Question identifier:a)

Average number of paid employees during the reporting period (see reporting guide)

To calculate the average number employed, add the number of employees in the last pay period of each month of the reporting period and divide this sum by the number of months (usually 12).
Exclude:
- partners and proprietors, non-salaried reported
at question 1 above.

G - Personnel - Question identifier:b)

Percentage of paid employees (from question 2a) who worked full time

Full-time employment consists of persons who usually work 30 hours or more per week. Please specify the percentage of paid employees who have been working full time by rounding the percentage to the nearest whole number.

G - Personnel - Question identifier:3.

Number of contract workers for whom you did not issue a T4, such as freelancers and casual workers (estimates are acceptable)

Contract workers are not employees, but workers contracted to perform a specific task or project in your organization for a specific duration, such as self-employed persons, freelancers and casual workers. These workers are not issued a T4 information slip. Please report the number of contract workers employed by your organization during the fiscal year.

Please provide a percentage breakdown of your sales by type of client.

H - Sales by type of client - Question identifier:1.

Clients in Canada

H - Sales by type of client - Question identifier:a)

Businesses

Percentage of sales sold to the business sector should be reported here.
Include:
- sales to Crown corporations.

H - Sales by type of client - Question identifier:b)

Individuals and households

Please report the percentage of sales to individuals and households who do not represent the business or government sector.

H - Sales by type of client - Question identifier:c)

Governments, not-for-profit organizations and public institutions (e.g., hospitals, schools)

Percentage of sales to federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments should be reported here.
Include:
- sales to hospitals, schools, universities and public utilities.

H - Sales by type of client - Question identifier:2.

Clients outside Canada

Total: 100%

Please provide a percentage breakdown of your sales by client location (first point of sale).

• 1: Newfoundland and Labrador
• 2: Prince Edward Island
• 3: Nova Scotia
• 4: New Brunswick
• 5: Quebec
• 6: Ontario
• 7: Manitoba
• 8: Saskatchewan
• 9: Alberta
• 10: British Columbia
• 11: Yukon
• 12: Northwest Territories
• 13: Nunavut
• 14: Clients outside Canada (must equal question 2 in section H)

Total: 100%

Name of person to contact about this questionnaire:

• 1: Mr.
• 2: Mrs.
• 3: Miss
• 4: Ms

• 1: Last name
• 2: First name
• 3: Title
• 4: Telephone number
• 5: Extension number
• 6: Fax number
• 7: E-mail address
• 8: Website address

I certify that the information contained herein is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge.

• 1: yyyy mm dd

We invite your comments below. Please be assured that we review all comments with the intent of improving the survey.