Cost by service level
Use this table as a transparent starting point. It uses our current published prices or an official government amount, not an unsupported market average. We confirm professional fees and responsibilities in writing after understanding the company, its records and its filing position.
| Service or example | Price or amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Straightforward limited company | From £89 + VAT/month | Annual accounts, CT600 and core director compliance |
| Trading company with VAT and payroll | From £169 + VAT/month | Monthly records, VAT, payroll and review |
| Growing company | From £289 + VAT/month | Management accounts, cash-flow forecasting and planning |
Professional fees exclude VAT unless stated. “From” prices require a confirmed scope. Tax examples are illustrative and are not a quote or personal tax calculation.
What changes the final cost?
Price follows the work required, not a keyword or postcode. A clean, reconciled record set generally takes less time than incomplete books. Before quoting, we identify the recurring filings, who keeps the records and whether earlier periods need attention. The main factors for this service are:
- whether the business is a sole trader or company
- annual turnover and transaction volume
- VAT, payroll and multi-currency requirements
- frequency of management information
A proposal then separates recurring compliance from optional advice and one-off correction work. That makes like-for-like comparison easier and reduces the chance of a cheap headline fee becoming an unexpected bill later.
What is included, and what is separate?
Normally included in scope
- The starting price and core inclusions are published before you enquire.
- Your written proposal confirms exactly what is covered.
Check or quote separately
- There is no universal market price because scopes differ.
- Poor or incomplete records may require separately quoted catch-up work.
The engagement letter is the definitive record of what we will do, what information the directors must provide and when. If your requirements change—for example, the company registers for VAT, hires staff or begins selling through additional platforms—we discuss the revised work before changing the fee.
How to compare accountant quotes properly
Put each quote beside the same list of deliverables: statutory accounts, CT600, confirmation statement, director Self Assessment, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and scheduled advice. Check whether transaction limits, software, Companies House charges, catch-up work and HMRC correspondence are included. Also ask who reviews the work and how quickly questions are normally acknowledged.
For a UK limited company, the lowest figure is not necessarily the lowest total cost. Missing bookkeeping, payroll or director-tax work may be billed later, while poor records can obscure tax deadlines and cash requirements. Choose a scope that matches the company now and can be reviewed as it changes. Our full limited company fees and packages remain the central source for our current recurring prices.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about how much do accountants charge
How are cost by service level priced?
The first relevant published figure is From £89 + VAT/month for Straightforward limited company. The final scope also reflects whether the business is a sole trader or company, so we confirm it in writing.
What is included in the cost by service level figure?
For Straightforward limited company, the table records: Annual accounts, CT600 and core director compliance. Your proposal lists every recurring filing, review and record-keeping responsibility.
Does the cost by service level price include VAT?
Professional fees shown for cost by service level exclude VAT at the prevailing rate unless the table expressly says otherwise.
What could change the quoted cost by service level cost?
The most important initial factor is whether the business is a sole trader or company. New filing duties, incomplete historic records or work outside the agreed scope are discussed before an extra fee is charged.
Can I get a fixed cost by service level quote before deciding?
Yes. Share the records and obligations relevant to how much do accountants charge, and we will set out the deliverables, exclusions and price before work begins.
Evidence
Sources and review basis
Prices are taken from our live fees page. Tax and government-fee statements link to the relevant official guidance. Check official pages for later changes.