Written for the first year, and for anyone who set things up quickly and never went back to check. These guides cover incorporation, what an accountant should be doing for you, how the money moves through the company, and the decisions worth getting right before they become habits.
The library
7 guides on contractor accounting basics.
Judge a contractor accountant fee by the scope behind it, not by the monthly figure. Decide which package shape fits how you work, then confirm in writing whether year-end accounts, payroll, VAT, your self assessment, status support and software sit inside the fee or outside it. Scope gaps, not headline numbers, decide the real cost.
5 min read
Incorporation takes a day. The month after it carries the deadlines that matter: tell HMRC the company is active within three months, register for PAYE before the first payday, settle the VAT question before the first invoice, and open the business bank account first because it is the slowest step of all.
5 min read
The wrong accountant costs a contractor far more than a cheaper monthly fee. A genuine contractor specialist handles IR35 status support, extraction planning around the 2026/27 rate changes, pension strategy and the Managed Service Company risk boundary that a general practice accountant will not even know exists. This guide sets out exactly what to test before you sign.
17 min read
Switching contractor accountant is simpler than most contractors expect, but the timing and preparation determine whether the handover is clean or creates gaps. This guide covers the professional clearance process, what to gather before you switch, how year-end timing affects the move, and the questions a specialist firm asks that a generalist never does.
13 min read
The Managed Service Company legislation in Chapter 9 ITEPA 2003 is a separate and often-overlooked risk for limited company contractors. Unlike IR35, it does not require a status test to apply, and unpaid tax can become a personal debt. This guide explains how the legislation works, what makes a company an MSC, and why the accountancy carve-out in section 61B(3) matters when choosing how you run your PSC.
14 min read
Going limited is a sequence of practical decisions, not a single form. This guide walks through whether a personal service company is right for you, how to incorporate at Companies House, which tax registrations you need, and the financial setup that follows, with 2026/27 figures throughout.
16 min read
A contractor accountant is a specialist who works exclusively or primarily with limited-company contractors, umbrella workers and freelancers. Their knowledge of IR35, off-payroll rules and PSC tax planning goes far beyond what a general practice firm offers. This guide explains what they do, how they differ from a generalist accountant, and how to know whether you need one.
12 min read
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Company, bank account, VAT, payroll, bookkeeping and the accountant: getting the order right at the start saves unpicking it later. We do the setup work and explain what each piece is actually for.
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