Books and VAT
For every business, from the first invoice.
What's included
- Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliations
- Sales and purchase invoices recorded
- VAT returns prepared and filed if you are registered
HomeSmall business accountant
Accountant for small business in London
Small business accountant services for sole traders, new limited companies and growing teams across London: your books, VAT, payroll, tax returns and year-end accounts, handled by one small practice in Camden.
Running a small business means doing several jobs at once, and the paperwork is usually the one that waits. An accountant for a small business takes that job off your hands: keeping the records, filing the returns on time and telling you what the numbers mean while there is still time to act on them.
We are a small accountancy practice based in Camden, London, working with small businesses across London. Our team is an AAT-qualified bookkeeper and a Chartered Accountant, so the books and the returns built from them are done in one place.
Accountant services for small business
Most small businesses need the same core jobs done every year, and a few more as they grow:
Tax returns and year-end
For sole traders, directors and limited companies.
What's included
- Self Assessment tax returns
- Year-end accounts and the Corporation Tax return
- Accounts filed at Companies House
Payroll
For businesses with staff, including directors on a salary.
What's included
- Pay, tax and deductions worked out each pay period
- Submissions to HMRC on or before each payday
- Payslips, starters, leavers and P60s
Management accounts
For owners who want to see how the business is doing.
What's included
- Monthly or quarterly profit and cash figures
- Budgets and cash flow forecasts
- A plain-English summary of what changed
Sole trader or limited company
The way you trade decides which returns you need. A sole trader reports business profit on a personal Self Assessment tax return. A limited company is a separate legal entity, with its own year-end accounts, its own Corporation Tax return and accounts filed at Companies House, and its directors usually file a personal return as well.
If you are starting out or thinking about changing, our guide to choosing between a sole trader or limited company sets out the differences, including how Corporation Tax and dividends work.
Do I need an accountant for my small business?
You do not have to use one. Plenty of sole traders file their own tax return online. People use a small business accountant when the time it takes, or the risk of getting it wrong, starts to cost more than the fee: when you register for VAT, take on staff, set up a limited company, or simply find the records are always behind.
A tax accountant for small business should also save you money, not only time, by making sure allowable expenses are claimed, deadlines are met and the business is set up in the way that suits it.
A local accountant for small business, online
We are a small business accountant in London, based in Camden and familiar with north London, from Kentish Town and King's Cross to Islington. Most of the work is done online, so as an online small business accountant we work with small businesses across London and beyond. The first conversation is a free 20-minute call by phone or video.
Your books are kept in IQ Books or the software you already use, such as Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, with live access for you. That means you can check your bank balance, your profit so far or who owes you money at any time, without waiting for a report.
Startup accountant in London for new businesses
A new business is the easiest time to get the records right. If you have just started trading, or are about to, we can help you:
- Register for Self Assessment, or set the company up for Corporation Tax
- Set up your books and a separate business bank account
- Work out whether to register for VAT now or wait until you need to
- Know your first deadlines before they arrive
Accountant rates for small business
Fees depend on how you trade, how many transactions you have and which returns you need. Our guide to how much an accountant costs in London sets out typical market ranges for tax returns, year-end accounts, VAT and payroll. We do not publish a price list: we agree one fixed monthly fee with you before any work starts, so there is no hourly billing.
Hiring an accountant for small business: what to ask
- Which returns are included in the fee, and which are extra?
- Who keeps the books, and who prepares the year-end accounts?
- Will I have live access to my own figures?
- How quickly do you reply to questions?
- What happens if my business grows or takes on staff?
Questions people ask
What does an accountant for small business taxes actually file?
For a sole trader, usually a Self Assessment tax return and, if registered, VAT returns. For a limited company, year-end accounts, a Corporation Tax return, accounts at Companies House, payroll if there are staff, and the directors' own tax returns.
Do I really need an accountant for my small business?
Not always. Many sole traders file their own return. An accountant earns their fee once VAT, staff, a limited company or a growing number of transactions make the work slower and the risk of mistakes higher.
How much does an accountant cost for a small company?
It depends on the returns you need. Our accountant cost guide gives typical London ranges, and we agree a fixed monthly fee with you before any work starts.
Can I do my own accounting for my small business?
Yes, many owners keep their own books. We can also review records you keep yourself and prepare the returns from them, which suits people who like to stay hands-on.
Do you only work with businesses in Camden?
No. We are based in Camden, London, and work with small businesses across London and the UK, mostly online.
Is there a charge for the first call?
No. The first conversation is a free 20-minute call, and there is no obligation.
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Talk to a small business accountant
Book a free 20-minute call and we will tell you which returns your business needs and agree a fixed monthly fee before any work starts.