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Accountant for Startups
Fixed fee, online accountants from the idea stage to your first investment
The best time to speak to an accountant is before you register anything. We help you choose the right structure, plan your tax from day one, form your company for free and set up everything a new business needs, then stay with you as you hire, grow and raise funding.
- Free company formation
- Tax planning before you launch
- SEIS and EIS support
- One fixed monthly fee
Get your startup quote
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In short
What does an accountant for startups do?
An accountant for startups helps you make the right financial decisions before and after you launch. They advise on whether to trade as a sole trader or limited company, form the company and register it with HMRC, set up bookkeeping and VAT, plan how founders are paid, and later help you raise investment through SEIS and EIS, claim R&D tax relief and forecast your cash flow.
- StructureSole trader or limited company, decided on the numbers
- Set-upCompany formed, HMRC registrations and bank account
- Tax planningFounder pay, pre-trading costs and reliefs
- FundingSEIS and EIS advance assurance for investors
With you from idea to first investment
Every stage of a new business brings different tax and admin decisions. Here's how we help at each one as your startup accountant.
- Stage 1
The idea
Before you register anything, we look at your plans and advise on the right structure, how you'll pay yourself and which costs you can already claim.
- Sole trader or limited company
- Early tax planning
- Business plan and forecasts
- Stage 2
Setting up
We form your company, register it with HMRC, and help you open a business bank account and choose your registered office.
- Free company formation
- Corporation Tax and PAYE registration
- VAT decision
- Stage 3
Launching
We set up cloud accounting software, invoicing and bank feeds, and run payroll when you take on your first employee.
- Bookkeeping from day one
- Payroll and pensions
- Deadlines tracked for you
- Stage 4
Growing
As you grow, we help you raise investment, claim reliefs and keep a clear view of your cash, so you can make decisions with confidence.
- SEIS and EIS for investors
- R&D tax relief
- Cash flow forecasting
Your company formed for free
Choose one of our packages and we'll register your limited company with Companies House at no extra cost.
Your startup starter pack
Many firms charge separately for the things a new business needs. With us, they come with your package.
Free company formation
Your limited company registered, with all official documents.
London registered office
A prestigious address for your company, keeping your home address private.
Business bank account
Open your account at the same time as forming your company.
Online company hub
Manage your company details and documents in one place.
Cloud accounting set up
Software, bank feeds and invoicing ready before your first sale.
Business plan support
Help with the plan and forecasts that lenders and investors ask for.
Small business insurance
The cover a new business needs, arranged alongside your accounts.
Evenings and Saturdays
Help when founders actually have time, not just office hours.
What's included for startups
The core services every new business needs, covered by one fixed monthly fee agreed before we start.
Company registration
Your company set up with the right shares and directors from day one.
Bookkeeping
Income, costs and receipts recorded in cloud software as you go.
VAT registration and returns
Advice on registering early to reclaim start-up costs, and every return filed.
Payroll for your first hire
PAYE set up, payslips and RTI submissions when you take someone on.
Workplace pensions
Auto-enrolment handled so you meet your duties as an employer.
Year-end accounts and tax
Your first accounts and Corporation Tax return prepared and filed.
Funding and growth support
When you're ready to raise money or invest in innovation, these services help you get the most from the reliefs available.
SEIS and EIS
SEIS gives your investors 50% income tax relief and EIS gives 30%. We apply for HMRC advance assurance before you raise.
R&D tax relief
Developing new products, software or processes? We check whether your work qualifies and prepare the claim.
Founder tax planning
How you split shares and pay yourself, planned early so you keep more of what the business earns.
Management accounts and cash flow
Regular reports and cash flow forecasts that show how the business is performing and how long your money will last.
Business plans
A clear plan with financial forecasts for banks, lenders and investors.
Business insurance
Public liability, professional indemnity and other cover arranged for you.
Key dates and rules for new companies in 2026/27
The deadlines that catch out new founders most often.
| Requirement | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Register for Corporation Tax | Within 3 months of starting to trade |
| First company accounts | Due at Companies House 21 months after incorporation |
| Corporation Tax payment | 9 months and 1 day after the end of your accounting period, at 19% to 25% |
| Confirmation statement | At least once every 12 months |
| Director identity verification | Directors must verify their identity with Companies House |
| VAT registration | Once taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months, or earlier by choice |
| Pre-trading costs | Business costs from up to 7 years before you start trading can usually be claimed |
Sources: GOV.UK setting up a limited company, GOV.UK company accounts, GOV.UK Corporation Tax.
Fixed fee accountant for startups
Early-stage budgets are tight and every pound counts. As a fixed fee accountant for startups, we agree one monthly price before we start, so you can plan your costs and ask as many questions as you need.
- A cost you can budget for
- No charge for questions
- Price agreed before we start
Online accountant for startups
Founders work fast and often from anywhere. As an online accountant for startups, we connect to your bank and software, answer by phone, email or video, and keep your numbers up to date as you grow.
- Live figures in cloud software
- Open weekday evenings and Saturdays
- Support anywhere in the UK
Still at the idea stage?
A short conversation before you register can save you tax for years. Tell us your plans and we'll talk you through your options.
Startup FAQs
When should a startup speak to an accountant?
Ideally before you register anything. The choice between sole trader and limited company, how shares are split between founders and how you'll pay yourself all affect your tax for years. A conversation at the idea stage costs little and can prevent expensive changes later.
Should my startup be a sole trader or a limited company?
A sole trader is simpler and suits testing an idea or low early profits. A limited company separates your personal and business finances, is often more tax-efficient as profits grow, and is usually needed if you plan to raise investment. We'll compare both using your own forecasts.
How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
With us, company formation is free when you choose one of our packages. You get your incorporated company and all official documents, and you can open a business bank account at the same time.
Can I claim costs from before I started trading?
Usually, yes. Business costs incurred up to 7 years before you start trading can normally be treated as if they were spent on your first day of trading, as long as they would have been allowable once trading had begun.
What are SEIS and EIS?
They are government schemes that encourage people to invest in young companies. Investors in qualifying companies can claim income tax relief of 50% under SEIS and 30% under EIS. Applying to HMRC for advance assurance before you raise gives investors confidence that your company qualifies.
Should a new business register for VAT voluntarily?
You must register once taxable turnover passes £90,000, but registering earlier can make sense if you sell mainly to VAT-registered businesses or have large start-up costs to reclaim. If you sell mainly to consumers, it can make you more expensive. We'll advise based on your customers.
Do I need a separate business bank account?
A limited company must keep its money separate from yours, so a business bank account is essential. Sole traders aren't legally required to have one, but it makes records and tax returns much simpler. You can open one when we form your company.
How much does an accountant for startups cost?
It depends on your structure, how many transactions you have, and whether you need payroll, VAT or funding support. We charge one fixed monthly fee, agreed before we start, and company formation is included free with our packages.
Talk to an accountant for startups
Tell us about your idea and we'll confirm your fixed monthly fee, with no obligation.