To decide whether it's better to have an in-house accountant or outsource, you need to understand what exactly an accountant does.

Here are the main tasks:

• Accounting of income and expenses
• Preparation and submission of reports
• Settlements with employees
• Personnel records
• Assistance with taxes and payments

But the volume and complexity of work can vary greatly—it all depends on the scale of the business.

If you're a sole proprietor or a small business, your accountant's tasks are usually simple. The main thing is to submit reports on time and avoid errors. In this case, outsourced accounting is the most common choice. It's cheaper than hiring someone in-house and easier to manage.

This is where more paperwork begins, employees, VAT, and additional expenses appear. Sometimes you need a single, strong in-house accountant, while other times you need an outsourced team. The choice depends on how active your business is.

Large companies almost always need their own accounting department. This requires full involvement in the company's operations, communication with other departments, and support with operational matters. Accounting outsourcing versus an in-house accountant isn't a question, but rather a complement. While individual tasks can be handled outsourced, the core work is done internally.

Pros:

• Our accountant is in the office and always available. We can quickly discuss a situation or clarify anything.
• He knows all the details of your company: from regular expenses to customer habits.
• It's easy to change tasks, distribute the workload, and connect to new processes.

Cons:

• It's expensive. Salary, taxes, vacation, software, equipment—it's all on you.
• If an accountant quits or gets sick, chaos could break out.
• We need to make sure he knows the new rules and keeps his knowledge up to date. This also incurs costs.

Pros:

• Reduced costs. Don't pay for vacations, programs, or courses—everything is included in the price.
• You're working with professionals. They have many clients and are constantly working with various tasks and laws.
• The contractor is responsible for any errors. This is specified in the contract.
• Services can be quickly expanded or reduced in scope, depending on the season or changes.

Cons:

• There's no accountant in the office. To clarify anything, you have to write or call.
• Not all contractors are equally meticulous. You need to choose those who do everything on time and correctly.
• Sometimes work is done "from a template," without understanding the specifics of your business.

When choosing an outsourced or in-house accountant, it's important to consider the costs, especially if the company is small or just starting out.

On average in Poland:

• Salary: from 6,000 to 12,000 PLN gross per month
• Additional expenses: taxes, social security, vacation pay, work place, programs - add another 30–40%

Total: from 8,000 to 16,000 zł per month

Prices depend on the volume of work:

• Individual entrepreneur without employees — from 300 to 600 zł
• Small business – from 800 to 2,000 zł
• Medium-sized companies – from 2,500 to 5,000 PLN
• Large businesses – from 5,000 PLN and up

The difference is clear: for small and medium-sized businesses, outsourced accounting is significantly cheaper.

If you have an in-house accountant, all responsibility falls on the company. Even if the accountant is responsible for the error, you will be held accountable to the tax authorities.

If your accountant is outsourced, things are different. The contractor assumes responsibility. This is specified in the contract. If an error results in a fine, you have the right to demand compensation.

To protect yourself:

• Sign a clear contract
• Check the availability of liability insurance
• Find out how long the company has been in business and who it collaborates with

To decide whether to choose an in-house accountant or outsourcing, consider:

• What kind of business do you have: sole proprietorship, company, how many employees do you have?
• How many documents are processed each month?
• Are there any particular aspects of the work that are important to consider?

If you choose outsourcing, check:

• Reputation
• Experience in your type of business
• Terms of the agreement
• Availability of insurance against errors

Accounting outsourcing vs. an in-house accountant is not a question of "which is better," but rather "which is more convenient and beneficial for you."

For individual entrepreneurs and small companies, it is almost always easier and cheaper to work through outsourcing

Medium-sized businesses should consider both options, depending on their objectives.

Large companies often create their own accounting departments, but may outsource certain functions.

The main thing is to soberly assess the situation, not overpay, and be sure that accounting is done correctly.