Accountants Fees
Accountants fees in the UK vary considerably. Our guide will help you determine how much you should be paying and we outline our pricing to help you compare.
Accountancy Fees UK
Thinking of hiring an accountant but unsure about the cost? Whether you're a sole trader, limited company, partnership, or landlord, understanding what accountants charge—and why—can help you choose the right support at the right price.
In this guide, we break down accountancy fees for small businesses in the UK, what influences them, and how our fixed-price services provide exceptional value with no hidden costs.
When comparing accountants’ fees, it’s not just about finding the lowest price — it’s about getting real value, expert advice, and peace of mind that your accounts and tax are handled correctly.
At The Online Accountants, we believe in clear, fixed-price fees with no hidden extras, so you know exactly what you’re paying for from the start.
Why Do Accountant Fees Vary So Much?
When searching for “accountants fees,” it’s important to understand why costs can differ so widely between firms. Several factors influence pricing, including:
Business structure – Sole traders usually pay less than limited companies or partnerships because accounts are simpler.
Level of service – A once-a-year accounts filing is cheaper than ongoing tax planning and business advice.
Location – Traditional high-street accountants in London or large cities often charge more. Online accountants can keep fees lower by working efficiently.
Technology used – Cloud accounting software reduces admin time, allowing some firms to pass savings on to clients.
What’s usually included in Accountant Fees
Not all accountants include the same level of service in their quoted fees. At The Online Accountants, our fixed fees are designed to cover everything you need for compliance and peace of mind:
Preparation and filing of annual accounts.
Submission of tax returns to HMRC (and Companies House where required).
Checks for tax efficiency to make sure you’re not overpaying.
Digital filing using approved HMRC software.
Unlimited email and chat support for quick questions throughout the year.
This all-inclusive approach makes it easier to budget and ensures there are no hidden extras.
Accountancy Fees for Limited Companies
If you're running a limited company, you have legal responsibilities to submit annual accounts to Companies House and HMRC. Traditional firms may charge £750–£3,000+, depending on complexity.
Our fixed-price limited company accounts service:
From £349 (plus VAT)
Includes Companies House and HMRC filing
Full set of statutory accounts
CT600 corporation tax return
Director’s self-assessment tax returns can be ordered as an additional service from £199 (plus VAT)
Expert support and digital filing
Company Accounts Filing Made Simple
One complete statutory accounts service. One expert team. Choose the price band that matches your company size.
What’s Included – No Add-Ons. No Surprises.
Select Your Company Size
Pricing is based on turnover and balance sheet size — the service remains exactly the same.
Check Your Business Size
Here’s what to expect after you have placed your order
Our welcome message will request ID documents for AML checks and an engagement letter to sign online.
Register with our secure portal and upload ID documents, prior year accounts, and tax computations.
Grant access to your bookkeeping software or upload spreadsheets securely via the portal.
We prepare your statutory accounts and corporation tax return, then upload for your review and approval.
After your digital approval, accounts are filed with Companies House and HMRC. Sit back and relax!
Accountancy Fees for Sole Traders / Self-Employed
Sole traders typically need to file a self-assessment tax return. Local firms may charge £200–£1,000+ depending on the services.
Our self-employed accounts and tax return package:
From £399 (plus VAT)
Year-end accounts preparation
Self-assessment tax return filing
HMRC-compliant
No hidden extras
Self Employed Accounts Filing Made Simple
One complete year end accounts service. One expert team. Choose the price band that matches your business size.
What’s Included – No Add-Ons. No Surprises.
Select Your Business Size
Pricing is based on turnover and balance sheet size — the service remains exactly the same.
Accountancy Fees for Partnerships
Partnerships must file a partnership return and individual returns for each partner. Many accountants charge £400–£2,000+, depending on turnover and complexity.
Our partnership accounts and tax service:
From £499 (plus VAT)
Includes:
Full partnership accounts
Partnership tax return (SA800)
Individual partner returns (SA100) can be ordered as an additional service from £199 (plus VAT) each
HMRC submission
Partnership Accounts Filing Made Simple
One complete year end accounts service. One expert team. Choose the price band that matches your business size.
What’s Included – No Add-Ons. No Surprises.
Select Your Business Size
Pricing is based on turnover and balance sheet size — the service remains exactly the same.
Accountancy Fees for LLPs (Limited Liability Partnerships)
LLPs are legally required to file accounts with both HMRC and Companies House, like limited companies. Standard accountancy fees range from £750–£3,000+.
Our fixed-fee LLP accounting service:
From £999 (plus VAT)
Statutory accounts (for Companies House)
Partnership tax return (SA800)
Individual partners’ tax returns can be ordered as an additional service from £199 (plus VAT) each
Fully digital service
Limited Liability Partnership Accounts Filing Made Simple
One complete statutory accounts service. One expert team. Choose the price band that matches your company size.
What’s Included – No Add-Ons. No Surprises.
Select Your LLP Size
Pricing is based on turnover and balance sheet size — the service remains exactly the same.
Accountancy Fees for Self Assessment Tax Returns
Need to file a one-off tax return? Fees vary widely—£150–£900+ depending on what’s included.
Our fixed-price self-assessment tax return service:
From £299 (plus VAT)
For employees, landlords, directors, investors & more
HMRC-compliant and expertly reviewed
Includes capital gains
Sef Assessment Tax Return Filing Made Simple
One complete tax return service. One expert team. Choose the price band that matches your self assessment size.
What’s Included – No Add-Ons. No Surprises.
Select Your Self Assessment Size
Pricing is based on total rental income, savings income, dividends, PAYE and capital gains — the service remains exactly the same.
Here’s what to expect after you have placed your order
Our welcome message will request ID documents for AML checks and an engagement letter to sign online.
Register with our secure portal and upload ID documents and details of all income and capital gains.
Grant access to your bookkeeping software for rental income or upload spreadsheets securely via the portal.
We prepare your tax return, calculate income tax, calculate capital gains tax and then upload for your review and approval.
After your digital approval, we file your tax return securely to HMRC. You then simply pay any tax due as advised.
What Services Are Usually Included in Accountancy Fees?
Here’s what most clients should expect from a standard accountancy service:
| Service Included | Sole Trader | Partnership | Limited Co. | LLP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-End Accounts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| HMRC Tax Return | ✅ | ✅ (SA800) | ✅ (CT600) | ✅ |
| Filing to Companies House | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Director/Partner Tax Returns | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Digital Filing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited Support (email/chat) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Why Fixed Fees Beat Hourly Rates
Some traditional accountants still charge by the hour—often £75–£250 per hour—but this can quickly become unpredictable and expensive.
With fixed fees:
You know exactly what you're paying
No surprise invoices
Better budgeting for your business
Increased transparency and trust
We built our services to be entirely fixed-price so you can stay in control.
Choosing the Right Accountant: What to Look For
When comparing accountant fees, consider more than just price:
✅ Are they qualified and regulated (e.g. ACCA, ICAEW)?
✅ Do they offer clear pricing with no hidden extras?
✅ Can they support you digitally and remotely?
✅ Do they have experience with your type of business?
✅ Will they file everything directly to HMRC and Companies House?
At The Online Accountants, we tick all of the above—and our reviews speak for themselves.
How to Get Started
Choose your service from our range of fixed-fee packages
Send your records securely through our online portal
We prepare, review and file your accounts and tax returns
Stay compliant and avoid penalties—hassle-free
Summary: Typical Accountancy Fees in the UK
| Business Type | Typical Market Range | Our Fixed Fee (From) |
|---|---|---|
| Self Employed | £200–£1,000+ | £399 |
| Partnership | £400–£2,000+ | £499 |
| Limited Company | £750–£3,000+ | £349 |
| LLP | £750–£3,000+ | £999 |
| Self-Assessment Only | £150–£900+ | £299 |
How to Choose the Right Accountant for Your Budget
Choosing an accountant is about more than just cost. Here are a few pointers to help you decide:
DIY vs Professional Support – If your tax affairs are very simple (e.g. one employment income), you may not need an accountant. But if you’re self-employed, a landlord, or running a company, a professional often saves you more than they cost.
Value over Price – The cheapest option isn’t always the best. Poor advice or missed deadlines can lead to penalties far higher than the savings.
Ongoing Support – Look for an accountant who offers year-round access, not just once-a-year contact.
Transparency – Fixed fees help avoid surprises and make it easier to budget.
Why Our Clients Choose Us Over Cheaper Alternatives
While you can always find a cheaper accountant, our clients stay with us because:
We proactively save them money on tax.
We use leading accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent.
We offer unlimited support — not just once a year.
We’re fully qualified and regulated by the ACCA.
Tips on How to Reduce Your Accountancy Fees
Improve your bookkeeping
This is the easiest way to bring down your accountants fees. Accurate bookkeeping, ideally using proprietary software, will significantly improve how much your accountants charge and enable them to offer you a better price for your year end accounts.
If you're not sure how to do this yourself then perhaps you should consider engaging a professional bookkeeper to handle this for you.
If accountants can see that your trial balance shows debits and credits on the correct side this will give them confidence that entries have been made correctly.
If the profit and loss report figure for the year also appears in the balance sheet retained reserves section this is another good marker.
Using manual records?
We understand that not everyone uses software to maintain their evidence of income and expenditure.
Spreadsheets are fine but should show all sales and expenses net of vat. The payments made out should also be analysed by category totals for the year so that your accountant can easily create detailed accounts for the period end accounts.
We often receive bank statement downloads from clients but these are not sufficient as we cannot be expected to make assumptions on your behalf as to what the expenditure relates to and whether or not they are bona fide business payments or personal expenditure.
Provide a reconciled bank account
If you're using double entry bookkeeping software you should be using the import feature to bring in each transaction from your bank. These should then be matched correctly to customer receipts against outstanding sales invoice to reduce your trade debtors, supplier expense invoices to reduce trade creditors and other items of income and expenditure not running through the control account ledgers.
If your using manual records you should obtain your bank balance at the start of the year, add on your turnover and other capital introduced, deduct your summary of payments made and capital withdrawn by way of directors dividends or directors loan repayments and ideally finish with the closing bank balance as per your bank statement.
If your accountant can see that the bank accounts reconcile you can expect lower fees.
Providing a summary of income and expenditure?
You can also provide your accountant with a summary of income and expenditure. This can be in any format provided the expenses are itemised by expenditure type totals for the whole year.
The types of expenditure we would expect to see are travel, phone, purchases for resale, stationery, advertising, use of home as office, dividends taken, drawings, capital introduced, capital expenditure such as laptops, salaries paid under PAYE schemes, repairs and renewals, light and heating costs and any other category that you consider necessary.
Please see our expenses guide for more help.
Ensure VAT returns are correctly filed through MTD
You should have connected your software to the HMRC Making Tax Digital VAT account on the Government Gateway if registered for VAT and have submitted all VAT returns after checking them thoroughly before placing your order for year end accounts.You should review all the detailed entries that make up each box number on the VAT return.
Another good check is to ensure that all standard rated net sales multiplied by the VAT percentage approximates to the output VAT being declared and the same check should be made for payments made in relation to the input VAT being claimed.
If your advisor can see promptly filed VAT returns with figures that make sense they will gain confidence that the reports produced by your software for year end purposes are not materially deficient in accuracy and provide reduced accountancy bills to you.
Keep well organised self assessment tax records
If you expect your accountant to give you a good price for your personal self assessment tax return you should ensure you are able to provide a good summary of all your savings and rental income.
Rental income and expense summaries should be made for each property individually and for the total portfolio. You should also ensure that any mortgage interest is split out from capital repayments.
Bank interest and dividends also need to be summarised for the year ending 5 April.
Our Expertise
At The Online Accountants, our qualified team (ACCA & ICAEW members) have helped thousands of UK businesses and individuals with their accounting needs. We specialise in:
Limited companies, contractors, and freelancers.
Self-employed sole traders and partnerships.
Landlords and property investors.
Start-ups looking for tax-efficient structures.
By focusing on fixed fees and digital efficiency, we make professional accounting affordable and accessible nationwide.
Historical Trends in Accountant Prices
Over the past decade, the cost of hiring an accountant in the UK has shifted alongside tax law changes and technology adoption.
2015: Most small businesses relied on traditional firms, with fees averaging £500–£1,200 for limited company accounts.
2020: Cloud software adoption reduced admin time. Online accountants became more popular, bringing costs down to £400–£800 for many services.
2025: With Making Tax Digital in place, fees have stabilised, but value now comes from ongoing tax advice and compliance support rather than just annual filings.
This trend shows that while traditional accountancy fees have risen, online services like ours have kept prices affordable without compromising quality.
Regional Differences in Accountant Charges
Accountant fees often vary depending on where you’re based. High-street accountants in London and the South East tend to charge more than firms elsewhere in the UK. The Online accountants, however, can offer the same expertise at lower, fixed rates.
| Location | Sole Trader Fees (Avg) | Limited Co. Fees (Avg) |
|---|---|---|
| London / South East | £800 – £1,200 | £1,000 – £3,500 |
| Midlands | £650 – £800 | £750 – £2,500 |
| North England / Wales | £500 – £700 | £600 – £2,000 |
| The Online Accountants | From £399 fixed | From £349 fixed |
Accountant Charges vs DIY Accounting
Some people consider filing their accounts themselves to save money. While this can work in simple cases, the risk of mistakes or penalties often outweighs the savings.
| Option | Upfront Cost | Hidden Risk | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY Accounting | £0 – £200 (software) | High – errors may lead to penalties | Simple tax returns |
| The Online Accountants | £349 – £749 fixed | Low – expert filing included | Sole traders, landlords, small/medium companies |
| Local Accountant | £750 – £3,000+ | Low – but higher cost | Larger or complex businesses |
Are Accountancy Fees Tax Deductible?
Yes — accountant fees are a fully deductible business expense if you’re self-employed, run a company, or earn rental income. This means the cost of preparing and filing accounts reduces your taxable profits.
For employees, the rules are different. You can only claim for accountancy services directly related to employment income, such as tax advice on allowable expenses or help correcting PAYE errors.
Small business owners can significantly reduce their accountants’ fees by staying organised, adopting cloud tools, and working proactively with their accountant. The table below outlines practical, proven ways to save costs while keeping your finances compliant.
| Way to Reduce Fees | How it Helps | Effort Level | Actionable Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep tidy records year-round | Reduces time your accountant spends sorting and reconciling data. | Low | Use one business bank account and upload receipts weekly. |
| Use cloud accounting software | Automates data entry, VAT tracking, and bank feeds. | Moderate | Choose a platform your accountant supports (e.g. Xero or QuickBooks). |
| Do basic bookkeeping yourself | Reduces accountant time spent on routine reconciliations. | Moderate | Reconcile transactions monthly and flag only unusual items. |
| Provide clearly labelled source files | Saves time searching for invoices, payroll data, or receipts. | Low | Use consistent file names like “2025-03-15_supplier_invoice.pdf”. |
| Agree a fixed scope or price | Removes hourly surprises and encourages efficiency. | Low | Ask for a fixed-fee quote for year-end accounts or VAT returns. |
| Bundle services (VAT + payroll + accounts) | Accountants often discount bundled packages. | Low | Request a combined package for better overall value. |
| Schedule regular short check-ins | Prevents small issues from growing into costly fixes. | Moderate | Hold a quick monthly or quarterly review call. |
| Prepare payroll and pensions early | Minimises last-minute corrections and penalties. | Low | Submit payroll data ahead of deadlines and keep records current. |
| Ask for a price list before work starts | Avoids unexpected extra charges and clarifies what’s included. | Low | Request an upfront quote for all recurring and ad-hoc services. |
| Train one team member on bookkeeping basics | Creates an informed contact who reduces back-and-forth queries. | Higher | Ask your accountant for a short training session for your staff. |
| Review and renegotiate annually | Ensures your fees still reflect your needs and market rates. | Low | Request a fee review each year and compare alternative quotes. |
Accountancy Fees FAQs
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Select the correct band by ensuring both your Sales and Gross Assets figures fall within the size criteria. We define Gross Assets as the maximum Fixed Assets plus Current Assets at any point in time during the year. No deduction from assets should be made for any liabilities such as mortgages, bank loans, directors loans or other creditors.
Small Company Example- Sales £25k Bank, Fixtures Fittings & Equipment £80k (Both figures below small threshold)
Medium Company Example- Sales £95k Bank, Computer Equipment & Plant & Machinery £50k (Sales Medium, Assets Small - Medium company needed due to sales larger than £30k)
Large Company Example- Property Rental Sales £20k Freehold Rental Property Cost £495k (Sales meets small company threshold but property value means that large company needs to be selected) -
Higher fees may reflect more complex services, in-person meetings, or bespoke tax advice. At The Online Accountants, we keep overheads low and pass the savings on to you.
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Not with us. All our packages are clearly priced upfront. No hourly billing, no end-of-year surprises.
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Yes, accountancy fees for preparing your business accounts are tax-deductible for sole traders, partnerships, LLPs and limited companies.
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Once we receive your complete records, most filings are completed in 5–10 working days.
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Our fixed-price packages include year-round support via email or telephone at no additional cost.
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You will receive an engagement letter for approval online
An invitation to our secure document exchange portal will be sent to you
We will request access to your bookkeeping software package or other records
Accounts will be prepared and uploaded for approval before filing online
You will receive confirmation that this has been done and a big thank you for your business!
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After placing your order we will ask for your existing accountants contact details
We then follow formal etiquette procedures of requesting professional clearance from them
Your existing agent will then send all the information requested to us
Seamless continuation of service!