How much does an accountant cost? (Updated 2025/2026)
How much does an accountant in the UK cost for small business owners and individuals? This is a question you may be searching for if you've just started a new business for the first time. You may even be wondering what the benefits of having an accountant are, or "Do I need an accountant?" — we'll cover those questions in another article.
Price Guide for Accountant Costs & Fees
The prices depend on your circumstances and the size of your business. How much does an accountant cost typically for the following services:
- Individual tax return – £75 to £500+vat per annum
- Self-employed tax return and accounts – £250 to £1,000+vat per annum
- Limited company – £60 to £250+vat per month for accounts, tax returns and payroll (excluding bookkeeping)
Fixed Fee Guide for Accountants: Sole Trader / Self-Employed / Limited Company / Bookkeeping / Tax Return Cost
| Service | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Individual Tax Return | £75 – £500 + VAT (per annum) |
| Self-Employed Tax Return & Accounts | £250 – £1,000 + VAT (per annum) |
| Limited Company (Accounts, Tax Returns & Payroll) | £60 – £250 + VAT (per month) |
| Bookkeeping Services | From £1 per transaction |
| Sole Trader / Self-Employed Fees | |
| Turnover up to £10,000 | £300 + VAT (per annum) |
| Turnover up to £30,000 | £350 + VAT (per annum) |
| Turnover up to £80,000 | £600 + VAT (per annum) |
| Turnover up to £150,000 | £800 + VAT (per annum) |
| Limited Company Fees | |
| Turnover £10k – £30k | £69 + VAT (per month) |
| Turnover £30k – £80k | £79 + VAT (per month) |
| Standard UK Tax Return (Non-Business Owner) | £90 – £300 + VAT |
| Payroll for Directors | From £18 + VAT (per month) |
| All-Inclusive Package (Exc. Bookkeeping & VAT Returns) | £100 – £130 + VAT (per month) |
| Bookkeeping Costs | £1 – £2 per transaction |
We explain below how typical accountant fees are derived. If you want a fixed fee now for a standard tax return, look no further.
Not done your bookkeeping?! How much does bookkeeping cost?
No problem. We can do this for you. It does impact the cost, so if you want to do it yourself we can send you some free training resources. If you want us to do it, it will be from £1 per transaction to bring up to date. So 100 transactions for a year will just be £100+vat.
How to get started?
Just book a free call with us. Tell us what you need, where you fit in terms of revenue, whether you're a sole trader or limited company, and what year you need your tax return completed. We'll then send you an official proposal based on the fees above.
Not self-employed?
- If you have rental income, we charge the same as the fees above (per tax return), depending on your gross rents received.
- If you just need to complete a tax return but are not self-employed, not a director of a limited company, nor a landlord — a typical tax return fee is £180+vat.
- Limited company accounts are more complex — please book a chat to discuss.
Accounting Fees
The actual reason that most accountants do not talk about cost on their website is that they have no consistent and official pricing system. In some cases, they may as well just stick their finger in the air and make up a number!
A typical method is to find out how much you're paying your current accountant and quote the same or a bit less to try and win the work. The issue with this is that it's not consistent, not fair on other clients paying different amounts, and quite frankly making it up as you go along.
We charge for preparing a set of accounts based largely around three different factors:
- Whether you are self-employed or a limited company
- The size of your business (measured by annual turnover)
- The quality and type of your bookkeeping system/records
Self-employed example
We charge £35+vat per month for a self-employed person's accounts with a turnover between £10k to £30k where the books are kept on a simple spreadsheet (we can provide a template) or online using Xero or QuickBooks.
You will also need to add £18+vat per month for the completion and submission of your self-assessment tax return, so the total fee all-in would be around £50+vat per month. Be careful to include VAT on any fees if you are not a VAT-registered business yourself (where you can claim it back).
Limited company example
A limited company set of accounts has far more requirements than a sole trader. These need to be submitted to Companies House and must comply with more rigorous accounting rules. You must have a more complete bookkeeping system to enable the completion of these accounts. If you have a limited company with a turnover between £10k to £30k (or you are a contractor) then the fees for the accounts are around £69+vat per month. If the revenue is £30k to £80k then this increases to £79+vat per month, and it goes up slightly depending on the size of the business.
How much does an accountant charge to do a tax return?
If you are not a business owner then your self-assessment tax return may be more straightforward. In this instance, a standard UK tax return would cost from £90 to £300.
At the lower end, you have services like Taxscout who file tax returns from £119+vat. They are not looking to provide a substitute for a genuine accountant's service — they compete with filing your own tax return for free direct with HMRC. For taxpayers with simple affairs this may be an option, but bear in mind with the fee there is an element of you get what you pay for. There are typically no phone calls, meetings, or proactive tax planning included.
How much does an accountant charge/cost for bookkeeping?
With a limited company, there are several other services you're likely to require. The standard ones include your personal tax return for £18+vat p/m and potentially the management and submission of a PAYE scheme to pay yourself as the director, which can be as low as £18+vat p/m. An all-inclusive package excluding bookkeeping and VAT returns would be in the region of £100 to £130+vat p/m.
Bookkeeping is something that you as the business owner could potentially do yourself — we even provide training for you to do it! A good rule of thumb is to allow around £1 to £2 per transaction per month. If you have 50 transactions per month, your bookkeeping fees could be as little as £50+vat per month. If your business transactions are 1,000 per month, this could cost anything from £500 to £2,000 for bookkeeping alone.
Even with automation through software such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Dext, and Hubdoc, it's not as simple as clicking a button as these providers suggest. Ultimately they want you to buy their software so will over-promise on usability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accountant Costs
1. How much does an accountant cost for a small business?
The cost varies depending on the services required. For small businesses, fees typically range from £60 to £250 per month for limited companies and from £250 to £1,000 per year for self-employed individuals.
2. How much does an accountant charge for a self-employed tax return?
For self-employed individuals, a tax return typically costs between £250 and £1,000 + VAT per year, depending on the complexity of the accounts.
3. What is the cost of a limited company accountant in the UK?
For a limited company, accounting services (including accounts, tax returns, and payroll) generally cost £60 to £250 + VAT per month, depending on the size and complexity of the business.
4. What does bookkeeping cost, and is it included in accounting fees?
Bookkeeping is usually charged separately and costs around £1 to £2 per transaction. Some accountants offer bookkeeping as part of a package, but it is often an additional service.
5. How much does it cost to file a personal tax return if I'm not self-employed?
If you only need to file a personal tax return (e.g., for rental income or dividends), costs typically range from £90 to £300 + VAT.
6. Are there additional costs for VAT returns and payroll services?
Yes, VAT return filings are often charged separately, and payroll services for directors or employees start from £18 + VAT per month.
7. Can I get a fixed-fee accountant instead of paying hourly?
Yes, many accountants, including Gro, offer fixed-fee services to provide clarity and avoid unexpected charges. This means you pay a set monthly or annual fee rather than hourly rates.
8. Does the cost of an accountant change based on my business turnover?
Yes, larger businesses with higher turnover and more transactions typically pay higher fees. For example, a sole trader with £10,000 turnover may pay £300 per year, while one with £150,000 turnover may pay £800 per year.
9. Are cheap online accountants worth it?
Some online accountants offer low-cost services starting at £119 + VAT per year, but these may lack personalised tax planning, meetings, or phone support. You often get what you pay for.
10. How can I reduce my accounting costs?
You can lower your costs by maintaining organised records, using accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks, and doing your own bookkeeping. However, working with an accountant can often save more in tax than their fee.
Why you may want to avoid a cheap accounts or tax service
In a nutshell, you can't have your cake and eat it — there needs to be a compromise which is often one of the following three elements of service:
- Quality
- Price
- Speed of delivery and service
To Summarise
We love what we do and care about your business and your money. Keeping our clients happy doesn't just benefit you but also us, hopefully from singing our praises to friends, family, and contacts.
View our pricing page for our current Gro packages, or book a free meeting to discuss your needs.