Guides
Plain-English guides to hiring, paying and checking a UK accountant - written to be useful, and backed by the same public record behind our directory.
How much does an accountant cost in the UK?Typical 2025-26 fees by service - Self Assessment, company accounts, VAT, payroll - and how to check a firm is regulated.Accountant cost calculator: estimate your feesEstimate what an accountant will charge your business per year - by business type, services, records and location - with a full fee breakdown.How to choose an accountantWhat to check before you hire: qualifications, AML supervision, the right fit for your business, and fees.Chartered, Certified or AAT: what the letters after an accountant meanICAEW, ACCA, AAT, CIMA, ATT and the rest - which qualifications mean what, and why AML supervision matters more than any of them.Sole trader vs limited company: which is right for you?The tax, liability and admin trade-off between staying a sole trader and incorporating - and the profit level where a company usually starts to pay off.Do I need an accountant?When you can file yourself for free, and when an accountant pays for itself - by business type and situation.Accountant vs doing your own taxes: which is right for you?When filing yourself for free is fine, when an accountant pays for itself, and the point where most people switch - with sourced costs.What accounting software do UK accountants actually use?QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, FreeAgent - real adoption measured from thousands of UK firms' own websites, not a sponsored roundup.Xero review: what the UK partner data showsXero reviewed through the register: verified UK partner firms by tier, partner tenure since 2008, and who the product fits.QuickBooks review: what UK adoption data showsThe most-named package among UK accountancy firms - the measured adoption picture, the trade-offs, and who it fits.Xero vs QuickBooks: which should UK businesses choose?The head-to-head with data no feature table has: UK adoption counts, the firms that support both, and the verified-certification asymmetry.Making Tax Digital explained: who it affects and whenWhat Making Tax Digital means for VAT and Income Tax, the April 2026 rollout for the self-employed and landlords, and what you need in place.Google Business Profile for accountants: what the local-search data showsThe evidence on Google Business Profiles and local search for accountancy firms - the defensible numbers, what to treat with caution, and the sources.
Cost guides by service
What each accountancy service typically costs in 2025-26, with the figures in context and how to check the firm is regulated.
How much does a Self Assessment tax return cost?What an accountant charges to file a Self Assessment return - typically GBP 150-400 - what pushes it up, and when it is worth paying.How much does a limited company accountant cost?Annual accounts and Corporation Tax for a small company usually run GBP 750-2,000 a year. What the fee covers, what is extra, and how to check the firm is regulated.How much does an accountant charge for VAT returns?VAT returns cost around GBP 100-300 a quarter, or are often folded into a monthly package. When you must register, and what the fee covers under Making Tax Digital.How much does payroll cost through an accountant?Payroll runs roughly GBP 5-15 per employee per month, usually with a minimum monthly fee. What RTI, pensions and the fee actually cover.How much does a bookkeeper cost in the UK?Bookkeeping runs about GBP 100-500 a month or GBP 25-60 an hour. What drives the price, and how good books lower every other accountancy fee.How much does a contractor accountant cost?Contractor accountants charge fixed monthly fees from about GBP 60-150. What the package covers, and why IR35 status matters to the price.How much does an accountant cost for a small business?A full small-business service runs about GBP 800-1,500 a year, or GBP 100-300 a month bundled. What a complete package covers versus year-end only.How much do management accounts cost?Management accounts typically cost GBP 150-500 a month on top of statutory work. What they are, and when a growing business needs them.How much does it cost to set up a limited company?Incorporating costs GBP 50 direct at Companies House; an accountant charges about GBP 50-150 on top to set it up properly. What the fee buys.