YF Accounting7 min read
Most UK small businesses pay between £25 and £150 a month for an accountant in 2026, or £150 to £400 as a one-off fee for a self assessment tax return. Where you land in that range depends on your business structure, how tidy your records are and what the fee actually covers. This guide sets out the going rates service by service, so you can judge any quote in front of you, including ours.
Typical accountant fees in the UK in 2026
Most firms now charge a fixed monthly fee rather than billing by the hour. As a rough guide:
- Sole trader or self assessment only: £25–£60 a month, or £150–£400 for a one-off return, rising to £500 or more where property, capital gains or foreign income are involved.
- Limited company: £50–£150 a month for year end accounts, the corporation tax return and the director’s self assessment.
- Full service with bookkeeping, VAT and payroll: £150–£400 or more a month, depending on transaction volume and headcount.
Here is the same picture at a glance, with our own published fees alongside for comparison:
| What you need | Typical UK price | YF Accounting fixed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader / self assessment | £25–£60 a month, or £150–£400 one-off | From £35/month |
| Limited company (accounts, corporation tax, director’s self assessment) | £50–£150 a month | From £50/month |
| Limited company with VAT returns | £90–£200 a month | Quoted up front |
| Full service (bookkeeping, VAT and payroll) | £150–£400+ a month | From £200/month |
| Management accounts and fractional CFO | £500–£2,000+ a month | Tailored quote |
As a benchmark, most small limited companies end up somewhere between £70 and £130 a month plus VAT for the core compliance work every company needs. If a quote is far below that, check what has been left out. Our own fees are published openly on our pricing page: self assessment from £35 a month, limited companies from £50 a month and full bookkeeping, VAT and payroll from £200 a month.
Accountant fees by service
If you only need help with one thing, it makes more sense to price the individual service. These are the ranges UK firms are charging in 2026:
| Service | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Self assessment tax return | £150–£500 one-off | Simple returns at the lower end; property, capital gains or foreign income at the top |
| Limited company accounts and corporation tax return | £600–£1,500 a year | Usually spread as a monthly fee; depends on turnover and record quality |
| VAT returns | £75–£200 a quarter | Lower where cloud software is tidy and reconciled |
| Payroll | £5–£12 per payslip | Watch for setup fees and pension auto enrolment charged as extras |
| Bookkeeping | £100–£500 a month | Driven almost entirely by transaction volume |
| Management accounts | £100–£300 a month | Monthly or quarterly packs with commentary |
| Fractional CFO and advisory | £500–£2,000+ a month | Forecasting, board reporting and strategy for growing businesses |
| Company formation | £50–£150 one-off | Often free or discounted inside an annual package |
Bookkeeping varies more than anything else in quotes, and our small business bookkeeping guide explains why. At the other end of the scale, advisory work such as fractional CFO support is priced on the value of the person doing it, not the filing.
What accountants cost by business type
Sole traders and freelancers
A consultant, tradesperson or freelancer with one income stream and tidy records should expect £25–£60 a month, or £150–£400 for a one-off return. Costs rise once you add property income, CIS refunds or multiple income sources.
Limited companies
Most small companies pay £50–£150 a month for the core set: statutory accounts, corporation tax return, confirmation statement and the director’s self assessment. Still weighing up whether to incorporate at all? Our guide to sole trader vs limited company runs the 2026/27 numbers.
Contractors
Limited company contractors usually pay £80–£150 a month, reflecting IR35 considerations, dividend planning and payroll for the director. Our contractor accountant service covers what that should include.
Landlords
A landlord with one or two properties typically pays £250–£500 for a self assessment return including the property pages. Larger portfolios, incorporated landlords and capital gains calculations push fees higher.
Growing businesses
Once you have staff, VAT and a need for monthly numbers, £200–£400 a month is a realistic budget for a full service package. Management accounts and CFO level advice sit on top of that, and are usually where an accountant starts paying for themselves rather than just filing for you.
Hourly rates, and why fixed fees have won
Where firms still bill by the hour, qualified accountants typically charge £50–£150 an hour, with senior people at larger firms at £200 or more. Hourly billing has mostly died out for small business work, and for good reason: it punishes you for asking questions. A fixed fee agreed up front means you know the cost before you commit and can pick up the phone without watching a meter.
What makes the price go up or down
- Business structure: a sole trader return is simpler and cheaper than a limited company’s full accounts and CT600.
- VAT: registration is compulsory once taxable turnover passes £90,000, and each quarterly return adds to the fee.
- Making Tax Digital: since 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 must keep digital records and file quarterly updates, and the threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027. Four extra filings a year affects pricing. Our Making Tax Digital guide explains the system itself.
- Payroll: priced per payslip, so headcount matters.
- Complexity: rental property, capital gains, foreign income and multiple shareholders all add work to a return.
- Record quality: a reconciled Xero or QuickBooks file costs less to work with than a bag of receipts in January.
Does location change the price?
Less than it used to. London firms charge the most, city centre offices add overhead everywhere, and fully digital firms are often cheaper because you are not paying for premises. We publish a separate breakdown of accountant costs in Manchester if you want local figures. What matters is not the postcode but whether the fee is fixed, transparent and covers what you need.
What a fair fixed fee should include
For a limited company, a good fixed fee typically covers:
- Year end statutory accounts filed at Companies House
- Corporation tax return (CT600) filed with HMRC
- The director’s self assessment
- The Companies House confirmation statement
- Accounting software, or support for the software you already use
- Ongoing support and deadline reminders through the year
Always ask whether the director’s self assessment, software and support are included or billed as extras. That is where cheap quotes usually stop being cheap. For a fuller checklist, read our guide on how to choose an accountant.
Is an accountant worth the money?
For most trading businesses, yes, and the payback usually comes three ways. Tax first: expenses claimed properly, capital allowances and the right salary and dividend mix routinely save more than the fee. Penalties second: a late self assessment return triggers an automatic £100 penalty before further charges, and late company accounts mean automatic Companies House fines. Time third: a few hours a month back from bookkeeping and filings is worth real money to any owner. The exception is a very simple tax position with modest income, where software and a careful evening may be enough. A decent firm will tell you that rather than sign you up anyway.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant cost per month in the UK?
For most small businesses, £25–£60 a month covers a sole trader, £50–£150 a month covers a limited company, and £150–£400 or more a month buys a full service with bookkeeping, VAT and payroll. Complexity and transaction volume move you up each range.
How much should I pay for a self assessment tax return?
A one-off return typically costs £150–£400. Simple employment or single trade returns sit at the lower end, while rental property, capital gains or foreign income push fees to £500 or more. Spread monthly, budget £25–£60.
How much do accountants charge per hour in the UK?
Where hourly billing still exists, expect £50–£150 an hour, and £200 or more for senior staff at larger firms. Most small business work is now quoted as a fixed monthly fee instead, which is easier to budget and does not penalise questions.
Why are some accountants so cheap?
A very low headline price usually excludes something you need, such as the director’s self assessment, software or support, and some cheap providers are not qualified at all. Anyone can call themselves an accountant, so check for ACCA or ICAEW letters and get the full price in writing. Our guide on how to choose an accountant lists the questions to ask.
What does YF Accounting charge and how do I get started?
Our fees are fixed and published: sole traders from £35 a month, limited companies from £50 a month and growing businesses with bookkeeping, VAT and payroll from £200 a month, all with unlimited support included. See the pricing page for details, then book a free call and we will confirm your exact fee up front before any work starts.
If you would rather have a number than a range, so would we. YF Accounting works on fixed fees agreed before any work starts: sole traders from £35 a month, limited companies from £50 a month and growing businesses from £200 a month, with one point of contact and unlimited support included. Book a free call, phone 0161 531 0959, or compare plans on our pricing page and we will quote your exact fee for 2026.
Founder of YF Accounting, a fixed-fee, fully digital accountancy practice in Manchester serving SMEs, sole traders and landlords across the UK. One point of contact, unlimited support, no surprise bills.
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