Bookkeeping services for small businesses in London

Who our bookkeeping suits

Good bookkeeping is less about the software and more about the habit. Transactions get coded while they are fresh, the bank is reconciled every month, and questions are cleared before they turn into a pile. That is the routine we take off your hands.

Who it's forSole traders, freelancers, landlords and small limited companies who would rather spend their time on the business than on spreadsheets. It also suits owners who do some of their own records but want someone to check and tidy them each month.

Because we are an accountancy practice as well as bookkeepers, the same team that keeps your books also prepares and files your Self Assessment return, your VAT returns, and your company's year-end accounts and Corporation Tax return. Nothing has to be handed over or re-keyed at the end of the year.

What happens each month

1. 1

   As the month goes on

   Your bank and card transactions arrive through the bank feed, and you snap receipts as you spend.

2. 2

   Coding

   We code each transaction to the right account and record your sales and purchase invoices.

3. 3

   Month end

   We reconcile every bank and card account so the books agree with the statements.

4. 4

   Your update

   You get a short summary of how the month went, and any questions arrive together, once.

Monthly is the rhythm that works for most small businesses. It keeps VAT quarters straightforward, gives you a figure for profit so far whenever you want one, and means your tax return starts from numbers that have already been checked twelve times.

Where your books live

We keep books in IQ Books or in the software you already use, such as Xero, QuickBooks or Sage. Either way you have live access, so you can sign in and check your bank balance or profit so far whenever you like, without waiting for us.

Catching up on old books

If your records are behind, we start by bringing the missing months up to date, oldest first, then move you onto the monthly routine. We look at what is missing first and agree the catch-up with you before any work starts. If a tax deadline is close, we work on the periods that return needs first.

What we need from you

• Access to your bank feed, or monthly statements if a feed is not possible
• Sales and purchase invoices, or access to wherever you keep them
• Receipts for costs, ideally photographed as you go
• Quick answers to the monthly questions, usually a few lines by email

What it costs

We agree a fixed monthly fee up front. It depends mainly on how many transactions you have each month, how many bank and card accounts we reconcile, and whether we are also handling VAT, payroll or your year-end. Our guide to how much a bookkeeper costs in London explains typical market prices and what drives them, so you can compare like with like.

Questions people ask