Bookkeeping you don't have to think about
We keep your books accurate and up to date, so every VAT return, report and year end starts from records you can trust.
Good bookkeeping is the foundation of everything else we do for you. When your records are current, tax planning is based on real numbers, VAT returns go in on time and your year-end accounts take weeks, not months.
We work in cloud bookkeeping software, so you can see your figures whenever you need them, and we can spot problems and opportunities while there is still time to act on them.
- 1We review your current records and systems
- 2We agree what we'll do and how often
- 3We set up or tidy your bookkeeping software
- 4We keep your books up to date each month or quarter
- 5We file your VAT returns
- 6You see your numbers whenever you need them
Who benefits, and how
Up-to-date books are more than a compliance job. Everyone who relies on your numbers gets something from them, starting with you.
Owners and directors
- Know where you stand each month: what you have earned, what you are owed, what you owe and what tax is coming.
- Decide on hiring, pricing and investment from current figures, not last year's accounts.
- Spot a slow-paying customer or a rising cost while there is still time to act.
- Plan for tax bills before they fall due, rather than finding out at the year end.
Your finance or admin team
- A clear routine for what needs recording, and when.
- Someone to ask when a transaction doesn't fit neatly, and a review that catches errors early.
- Bank feeds and receipt capture set up in your software, so less is typed in by hand.
- Cover for holidays and busy periods, so the books don't fall behind.
Lenders, VAT and your year end
- VAT returns built from reconciled records and sent through software that works with Making Tax Digital.
- Year-end accounts that start from records already checked, so they take less time to prepare.
- Management figures ready to share when you apply to a bank or lender for finance.
- A clear audit trail if HMRC asks questions about a return.
How we can work together
Some owners like to keep their own books; others want them off their desk entirely. We fit around how your business already works, and change the arrangement as you grow.
You keep the books, we review
You or your team record the day to day, and we check and correct.
- Suits
- Businesses with a capable bookkeeper or administrator and fairly straightforward transactions.
- How it works
- We set up your software and categories, then review your records monthly or quarterly, put right any errors and prepare the VAT return.
- Watch out for
- A review only works if the records are kept up. If the work falls behind, we can step in and catch it up.
We keep the books for you
We do the recording, reconciling and VAT. You send us the paperwork.
- Suits
- Owners who would rather spend their time on the business than on data entry.
- How it works
- Your bank transactions come through to us, you photograph or forward receipts and invoices, and we record, reconcile and file each month or quarter.
- Watch out for
- We still need quick answers from you on unusual items, so the books stay current.
Books with monthly management figures
A full monthly close and a short report on how the business is doing.
- Suits
- Growing businesses, businesses with borrowing, and owners who want to see trends month by month.
- How it works
- We close the books each month, adjust for income and costs that belong to a different month where it matters, and send you a profit and loss, balance sheet and cash position.
- Watch out for
- Monthly figures are only as good as the cut-off, so sales and costs need recording in the month they belong to.
What a monthly close gives you
A monthly close means every bank account is reconciled, every transaction is categorised and the balances that matter have been checked. It is the difference between having figures and having figures you can rely on.
With a close each month, the VAT return becomes a review of three months already checked, and the year end becomes the last month of a year that is largely done.
- Bank and card accounts reconciled to the statements
- Money owed to you and by you, checked and chased where needed
- VAT and loan balances agreed
- A short list of anything that needs your attention
Choosing the right VAT scheme
You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover over the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or if you expect it to go over £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. You can ask to cancel your registration if it is expected to fall below £88,000. Once you are registered, the scheme you use affects your cash flow and sometimes how much VAT you pay. We look at your margins, customers and costs and recommend the one that suits.
- Standard accounting: VAT is due on the invoices you issue and reclaimed on the invoices you receive. Returns are usually quarterly, with the return and payment due one month and seven days after the quarter ends.
- Cash accounting: you pay VAT when your customers pay you and reclaim it when you pay your suppliers, which helps if customers are slow to pay. You can join with taxable turnover of £1.35 million or less, and must leave once it passes £1.6 million.
- Flat rate scheme: you pay a fixed percentage of your VAT-inclusive turnover and can't reclaim VAT on purchases, except some capital assets over £2,000. You can join with turnover of £150,000 or less (excluding VAT), and must leave once your total income passes £230,000. Businesses that spend very little on goods pay a higher 16.5% rate, which often removes the benefit.
- Annual accounting: one VAT return a year, with nine monthly or three quarterly advance payments and a balancing payment with the return, due two months after the year end. The same £1.35 million and £1.6 million limits apply as for cash accounting.
Ready for Making Tax Digital
Every VAT-registered business has had to keep digital records and file VAT returns through compatible software since April 2022. Figures must move between programs through digital links, such as a bank feed, a file import or linked spreadsheet cells. Copying and pasting or retyping figures from one program to another does not count.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax now works the same way for sole traders and landlords, with an update to HMRC every quarter. When your books are already kept in cloud software, the quarterly updates come straight from the records we keep for you.
Questions we’re often asked
Which bookkeeping software do you use?
We work with the main cloud bookkeeping packages. If you already use one that works for you, we usually keep it. If not, we recommend one that suits your business and your VAT position, and set it up for you.
My books are behind. Can you catch them up?
Yes. We bring the records up to date first, from your bank statements and whatever paperwork you have, then agree a routine so they stay current. If a VAT return or tax return is overdue, we deal with HMRC for you.
Should I register for VAT before I have to?
You can register voluntarily below £90,000. It can make sense if most of your customers are VAT-registered businesses that can reclaim the VAT, or if you buy a lot with VAT on it. It rarely suits a business selling mainly to the public, because either your prices go up or your margin comes down. We run the numbers with you first.
How long do I need to keep my records?
Limited companies must keep their records for six years from the end of the financial year they relate to, and sometimes longer. Sole traders and partners must keep them for at least five years after the 31 January filing deadline for the tax year. VAT records must be kept for at least six years. Kept digitally, they take up no space.
Rules and limits checked 9 October 2026.
Talk to us about your tax.
A free call with the team. We’ll contact you within 24 hours.