How much does it cost to have an accountant for two businesses or a group of companies?

Each limited company generally needs its own accountancy package, priced on that company's own size, transactions, payroll and VAT position, because each is a separate legal entity with its own filing obligations. A dormant holding company costs far less than an active trading subsidiary.

Companies House and HMRC treat each company as a distinct entity with its own accounts, corporation tax return and confirmation statement, regardless of common ownership, so the fee structure follows the same pattern: one package per active company, scaled to that company's activity.

A group with one trading subsidiary and a dormant holding company typically pays a full package for the trading company and a small dormant company fee for the holding company, rather than one fee covering both.

If you run two active trading companies, whether as sister companies or under a group structure, each is likely to need its own package matched to its own turnover, payroll and VAT position, since the bookkeeping and tax work for one does not reduce the work needed for the other.

Group relationships can matter for tax planning, such as group relief for losses or VAT grouping in some cases, but that is a tax consideration handled alongside the individual company packages rather than a reason the fees are combined.

Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.