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How much does an accountant cost for a small business?

A small business usually wants more than year-end accounts - it wants one firm handling the tax, payroll and VAT through the year. Here is what a complete small-business service costs in 2025-26, and how to compare packages fairly.

Typical cost: GBP 800-1500 per year

Typical cost, in context

Typical UK accountant fees by service
ServiceTypical cost
Full company service (accounts, CT, director tax, payroll)Complete package for a director: company accounts, Corporation Tax and personal Self Assessment.GBP 800-1500per year
Limited company accounts + Corporation TaxStatutory accounts filed at Companies House plus the CT600. Small company.GBP 750-2000per year
PayrollUsually a minimum monthly fee of GBP 50-100 regardless of headcount.GBP 5-15per employee/month
VAT returnsOften folded into a monthly package rather than billed separately.GBP 100-300per quarter

Indicative ranges, excluding VAT unless noted. Figures compiled July 2026; individual quotes vary with complexity and location. Related services shown for comparison.

What changes the price

  • Structure: a sole trader is cheaper than a limited company with the same turnover, because a company has more filings.
  • Number of services: accounts, Corporation Tax, VAT, payroll and personal tax each add to the package.
  • Turnover and staff: more revenue and more employees mean more work across every service.
  • How organised you are: connected software and tidy records keep the fee at the lower end.

Year-end only versus a full package

The GBP 800-1,500 a year figure is a complete service for a director: company accounts, Corporation Tax and a personal Self Assessment. Add regular payroll, quarterly VAT and bookkeeping and businesses usually move to a monthly package of GBP 100-300 (rising to GBP 300-600 with full bookkeeping, VAT and payroll). When you compare quotes, compare like for like: a cheap year-end-only fee and an all-in monthly package are answering different questions.

How to compare quotes fairly

The lowest headline number is rarely the cheapest once you add the extras it excludes. Ask each firm to price the exact services you need - accounts, CT, VAT, payroll, personal return, bookkeeping - and what falls outside. Then weigh price against whether the firm is regulated and a fit for your sector. A slightly higher fee from a supervised, sector-experienced firm usually beats the cheapest quote from an unverified one.

Check the firm is actually regulated

Price is only half the decision. "Accountant" is not a protected title in the UK, so the cheapest quote is not always from a qualified, accountable firm. Any business doing accountancy work is legally required to be supervised for anti-money-laundering, and the strongest firms are also members of a body such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT. Before you pay, confirm the firm is AML-supervised and on the public record.

Find a verified, AML-supervised accountant near you →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an accountant cost for a small business?

A complete service for a small limited company typically runs GBP 800-1,500 a year, or GBP 100-300 a month bundled. Adding full bookkeeping, VAT and payroll pushes a monthly package toward GBP 300-600.

Is a monthly package cheaper than paying per service?

Usually, once you need several services. Bundling accounts, VAT, payroll and personal tax into one monthly fee tends to cost less than buying each separately, and spreads the cost across the year.

Sole trader or limited company - which is cheaper to run?

A sole trader is cheaper on accountancy because there are fewer filings. A company costs more but can be more tax-efficient above a certain profit. See our guide on sole trader versus limited company for the trade-off.

Related cost guides

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