Fees, Services & How to Choose the Right Level of Support
One of the first questions every UK business owner asks is:
💬 “How much does it actually cost to hire an accountant?”
The honest answer? It depends.
But you deserve clarity, not guesswork.
Whether you’re a start-up, a limited company, a sole trader, a partnership, or a property investor, this guide breaks down the real costs of accounting services in 2025, what drives those prices, and how to choose the right level of support.
📊 At a Glance: Typical Accountant Fees in the UK (2025)
| Business Type | Average Annual Cost | Common Services Included |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Trader | £300 – £3,700+ | Bookkeeping, Self Assessment, VAT returns |
| Limited Company | £2,430 – £7,430+ | Accounts, CT600, Payroll, VAT, Director SA |
| Partnership | £800 – £3,800+ | Partnership & Partner Returns, VAT, Bookkeeping |
| Property Business / SPV | £650 – £5,100+ | Rental Accounts, CT600, CGT Returns, SPV Planning |
💡 Quick Summary: In 2025, small business accountant costs in the UK typically range between £300 and £7,500 per year, depending on business size, VAT, payroll, and level of advisory support.
⚖️ Why Accountant Costs Vary in the UK
Accounting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Prices vary based on:
- The type of business (Ltd, sole trader, partnership, property)
- The complexity of your accounts (transactions, staff, VAT, multiple entities)
- The level of support you want (basic compliance vs proactive advisory)
- Whether you need specialist expertise (property tax, CIS, international, R&D)
Think of it like building a house: the more rooms, extensions, and custom features you add, the higher the cost.
🏢 Accountant Costs for Limited Companies (UK 2025)
Limited company packages tend to be the most detailed, especially when you have staff, VAT, and director obligations.
🧾 What’s typically included
- Bookkeeping & cloud setup – £50–£350+/month
- Payroll & HMRC submissions – £8–£30/month per payslip
- VAT registration & quarterly returns – £150–£250/quarter
- Year-end statutory accounts (Companies House) – £400–£900/year
- Corporation Tax return (CT600) – £300–£500/year
- Director Self-Assessment (SA100) – £300–£500/year
- Company secretarial services – £50–£150/year
💷 Typical total: £2,430 – £7,430+ per year
Lower end: single director consultancy, simple VAT, no staff
Higher end: multiple employees, complex VAT, or multiple companies
🚀 Growth & Strategy Services for Limited Companies
- Management Accounts & reporting – £150–£500/month/quarter → Why Management Accounts Matter for Growing SMEs
- Cashflow forecasting – £300–£750/project → Rolling Cashflow Forecasts: How to Stay Ahead of Surprises
- Salary/dividend planning – £250–£500/year → How a Ltd Director Can Pay Themselves in 2025/26
- R&D and capital allowances – £500–£1,500+/project
- Exit & succession planning – £1,000–£3,000+
👉 Want to strengthen financial visibility? Download our Cashflow Clarity Guide (20 Cashflow Tips)
👤 Accountant Fees for Sole Traders (UK 2025)
If you’re a freelancer, contractor, or side-hustler, compliance is simpler, but still worth doing right.
🧾 What’s typically included
- Bookkeeping – £30–£150+/month
- Self-Assessment tax return (SA100) – £200–£400/year
- Year-end accounts – £100–£300/year
- VAT registration & returns (if applicable) – £100–£250/quarter
💷 Typical total: £300 – £3,700+ per year
Lower end: very small sole traders or side-hustles
Higher end: VAT-registered or higher-turnover businesses
🚀 Growth & Strategy Services for Sole Traders
- Cashflow forecasting & budgeting – £300–£750/project → Why DIY Forecasts Often Fail (and How to Fix Them)
- Allowable expense optimisation – £200–£400/year → DIY Bookkeeping Checklist (UK 2025/26)
- Transition planning (becoming a Ltd) – £300–£600/project → When Should a Sole Trader Become a Limited Company?
- Business growth advisory – £500–£1,500/year
👉 Book a free discovery call if you’re planning to scale and want to know when incorporation makes sense.
🤝 Partnership Accountant Costs (UK 2025)
Partnerships and LLPs require multiple layers of reporting, both for the business and individual partners.
🧾 What’s typically included
- Bookkeeping – £50–£250+/month
- VAT registration & quarterly returns – £150–£250/quarter
- Partnership accounts – £300–£600/year
- Partnership tax return (SA800) – £300–£400/year
- Individual partner tax returns (SA100s) – £200–£400 each
💷 Typical total: £800 – £3,800+ per year
Lower end: small partnerships, no VAT
Higher end: LLPs, multiple partners, VAT-registered
🚀 Growth & Strategy Services for Partnerships
- Management Accounts (performance reporting) – £250–£500/quarter
- Cashflow forecasting & funding prep – £300–£750/project → Outsourced Cashflow Forecasting UK: Pros, Cons & Costs
- Profit-sharing & drawings planning – £300–£600/year
- Restructuring or Ltd transition – £750–£2,500/project → Limited Company Setup Checklist 2025/26
👉 Book a discovery call to explore how better reporting keeps partners aligned and cashflow predictable.
🏠 Property Accountant Costs (UK 2025)
Property businesses and landlords face unique tax rules, from Section 24 to 60-day CGT deadlines, so choosing an experienced accountant is essential.
🧾 What’s typically included
- Bookkeeping – £50–£250+/month
- VAT registration & returns (commercial or mixed-use) – £150–£300/quarter
- Rental accounts & schedules – £150–£300/year per property
- Director Self-Assessment – £200–£400/year
- Year-end accounts (SPV) – £400–£900/year
- Corporation Tax (CT600) – £300–£500/year
- Section 24 mortgage interest advice – included
- 60-day CGT returns – £200–£500+/return
- Non-resident landlord compliance – £200–£400/year
💷 Typical total: £650 – £5,100+ per year
Lower end: one rental or start-up investor
Higher end: portfolio investors, SPVs, VAT-registered property companies
🚀 Growth & Strategy Services for Property Clients
- SPV structuring & portfolio planning – £750–£1,500+/project → Should You Hold Property in an SPV or Your Own Name?
- SDLT & surcharge planning – £300–£600+/project
- FHL tax optimisation – £400–£800+/year
- Inheritance tax planning – £750–£2,000+/project
- CIS compliance for developers – £300–£600+/year → CIS Explained: What Property Developers Need to Know in 2025/26
- Project-based forecasting – £500–£1,500+/project → Seasonal Businesses & Cashflow Forecasting
👉 Get our Cashflow Clarity Guide to see how forecasting helps property businesses stay tax-efficient and cash-positive.
🌟 Premium Add-Ons (For All Business Types)
- Management Accounts – £250–£500/month → Why Management Accounts Matter for Growing SMEs
- Forecasting & Cashflow Advisory – £300–£750/project → Rolling Cashflow Forecasts: How to Stay Ahead of Surprises
- Specialist Tax Planning – £500+ → Tax Planning Calculator Excel 2025/26
These add-ons turn compliance into control, giving you clarity, confidence, and cashflow visibility year-round.
❓FAQs About Accountant Fees in the UK (2025)
💬 Why don’t most accountants show prices?
Because every client is different. But clarity builds trust, and avoids nasty surprises.
💬 I’m just starting out, will these apply to me?
Yes. If you’re a start-up, these ranges show what basic compliance costs and how support grows as your business scales.
💬 What drives costs up or down?
Transaction volume, staff size, VAT, properties, and whether you want pure compliance or proactive advice.
💬 Are there hidden fees I should watch for?
Some firms add extras for VAT, payroll, or Self-Assessments. Always confirm what’s included. See our post on Hidden Payroll Fees UK SMEs Often Miss.
💬 How can I reduce accounting costs?
Keep records tidy and use cloud accounting properly, check our DIY Bookkeeping Checklist (UK 2025/26) to cut wasted hours.
🧭 The Bottom Line
Accounting costs vary, but they shouldn’t be a mystery.
- Start-ups: these ranges give clarity from day one.
- Limited companies: packages scale with staff and complexity.
- Sole traders: affordable compliance with room for growth.
- Partnerships: clear reports keep partners aligned.
- Property businesses: specialist planning avoids costly tax mistakes.
👉 The key is to choose a level of support that fits your goals, not just your budget.
If you’d like a tailored quote or want to compare packages, book a free discovery call — no surprises, no pressure.