Limited company guide
The triggers that mean a UK startup needs senior finance help, what a fractional or virtual CFO delivers, and how it compares to a full-time hire.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
Regulated by
Regulated & AML supervisor
AAT fellow member
Xero Gold PartnerCertified advisor
QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityFour things usually signal the moment: you have raised or are about to; payroll has become the largest cost and hiring decisions carry real risk; the board asks questions the monthly P&L cannot answer; or cash forecasting has become a spreadsheet only one person understands.
The triggers
What you get, and what you do not
Cost compared to a hire
How to transition later
Four things usually signal the moment: you have raised or are about to; payroll has become the largest cost and hiring decisions carry real risk; the board asks questions the monthly P&L cannot answer; or cash forecasting has become a spreadsheet only one person understands.
None of those are about revenue size. A £600,000 company with a live raise needs senior finance input more than a £3m company with stable margins and no debt.
You get monthly close discipline, a maintained forecast, decision support and someone who can present to a board. You do not get a full-time person absorbing operational finance work, that still needs a bookkeeper or finance manager underneath.
The most common failure is buying strategy on top of unreliable data. Fix the bookkeeping and close first; the advisory layer is only as good as the ledger beneath it.
A UK finance director commands a substantial salary plus 15% employer National Insurance above £5,000, pension, recruitment cost and equity. A fractional arrangement buys a few days a month of comparable seniority at a fraction of that, with no notice period risk.
The trade-off is availability. A fractional CFO is not in every meeting, which is precisely why the reporting rhythm and scope must be written down.
Plan the handover from the start. Documented close checklist, a maintained model, written metric definitions and a clean chart of accounts mean a permanent hire is productive in weeks rather than months.
Many companies keep a reduced advisory relationship after hiring, for board meetings and technical questions.
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
In practice, very little. Fractional usually implies days of a senior person; virtual usually implies remote delivery of the same outputs. What matters is the scope, not the label.
They can run the finance side: model, data room, diligence responses and investor questions. Running the process itself is usually the CEO's job, sometimes with a corporate finance adviser.
Yes. Statutory accounts, tax returns and filings remain separate work with their own deadlines, though having both in one firm removes the reconciliation problem between them.
About one day a month, which supports a monthly close review and a board pack. Below that it becomes reactive.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
Talk to an accountant
Share your next deadline, accounting problem or growth question. We will reply with a clear next step and quote any technical work before it begins.
Chat with ACCOTAX on WhatsAppPick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
Four London offices
Work with us entirely online, or sit down with your accountant at whichever office suits you. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Office visits are by appointment only, so please book before coming in.
Free, no obligation
Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
