Bookkeeping Services in Cheltenham
Gro Profit First Accountants run an in-house bookkeeping team from our office at 122 Bath Road, Cheltenham (GL53 7JX). We handle the day-to-day numbers — bank reconciliation, sales and purchase invoicing, expense tracking, VAT returns and monthly management reports — for businesses across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Cirencester, and remotely for clients right across the UK. Around 100 transactions per month would cost approximately £125 per month + VAT; this is a guide price, not a fixed tariff, and your books are reconciled and reviewed by our in-house team — not outsourced offshore, not handled by a chatbot. We're ACCA Chartered Certified Accountants.
Your in-house Cheltenham bookkeeping team
Bookkeeping at Gro is run by a small in-house team based in our Cheltenham office, working under the supervision of qualified accountants. Every set of books is coded to the same standards — clean reconciliation, VAT-ready, Profit-First-ready — and reviewed before management reports are released. You have a named point of contact for the day-to-day, and a chartered accountant on hand whenever the numbers raise a question that needs one.
Why Cheltenham businesses choose us for bookkeeping
We've been part of the Cheltenham business community for 25 years (originally as Cheltenham Tax Accountants, now Gro Profit First Accountants). That matters for two reasons. First, when something goes wrong with your VAT return or HMRC writes a stroppy letter, you can drive to our office on Bath Road and sit across the table from the person fixing it — not wait three days for a callback from a Manchester call centre. Second, because we run your bookkeeping under the same roof as your accounts, payroll and tax, your numbers feed straight into your annual accounts, your CT600 and your Profit First allocations. No double entry, no version-control problems, no "the bookkeeper said one thing and the accountant said another".
What's included
Every bookkeeping client at Gro gets the same core service: monthly bank-feed reconciliation in Xero; sales-invoice and purchase-invoice processing; expense capture via Xero's mobile app or Hubdoc; quarterly VAT returns filed under Making Tax Digital; monthly management reports showing your P&L, cash position and Profit First allocation balances; and unlimited email and phone support during the month for any "what does this cost code mean?" or "should I push this purchase to next month?" question. If you're a higher-tier client we also produce a written commentary on the month and a 13-week rolling cash forecast.
Cloud accounting with Xero, set up free
We're a Xero Platinum partner. We migrate your historical data from QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent or spreadsheets onto Xero as part of onboarding, set up your bank feeds, configure your chart of accounts to match your management reporting, and connect Hubdoc, Stripe, GoCardless and any other apps you need — all included free in the first month. You see your live numbers from your phone or laptop the day onboarding finishes; we do the work behind the scenes.
Profit First built into every transaction
Unlike a traditional bookkeeper, we don't just record your transactions — we map them into the Profit First allocation system. Every sale routes to your Income account, your Profit, Owner's Pay, Tax and Operating Expenses get allocated on the 10th and 25th, and your management report shows you the balances that actually matter (how much is yours to take, how much HMRC will want, how much you've got to spend on the business). Our Profit First clients average over £20,000 in extra annual profit and cash within the first 12 months.
Talk to Stephen
Call us on 01242 528412 (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm) or book a free 30-minute strategic meeting. We'll look at your current bookkeeping set-up, tell you honestly what's working and what isn't, and quote you a fixed monthly fee — no obligation, no sales pitch.
Bookkeeping services in Cheltenham—for businesses that want reliable numbers
Whether you want someone to handle your bookkeeping or support your team while you keep it in-house, Gro can help. From our office on Bath Road in Cheltenham, we provide managed bookkeeping, monthly Xero support and help getting untidy records back on track.
We start by understanding your business, your existing systems and where you need help. That might mean taking over the day-to-day bookkeeping, checking the quality of your records, or supporting the person already doing the work.
Hand over your bookkeeping—or get support doing it yourself
You don’t have to outsource your entire finance function to work with us. We can handle your bookkeeping, provide Xero advice and training, or agree a combination that suits your business.
If you need us to take over wider responsibilities currently handled by your finance team, that’s our separate outsourced finance function service.
Bookkeeping support that fits your business
Local bookkeeping in Cheltenham, whether you want to hand over the books or keep doing them with our support.
We do your bookkeeping
Hand over the day-to-day records to Gro. We help keep your books organised and your numbers current, so you can spend less time on the accounts and more time running your business.
You do the books. We support you.
Keep bookkeeping in-house, with monthly Xero support and advice from our team. This suits owners and staff who want to do the work themselves but need someone to turn to with questions. We agree the scope of support with you.
We help you get back on track
Start with a bookkeeping health check. If your records need attention, we can scope a clean-up and help you understand how to maintain them. Training and ongoing support can be discussed separately.
Strong finances start with reliable bookkeeping
Bookkeeping health check
First, we look at your bookkeeping systems, the quality of your records and the way information moves through your business. This helps us identify what is working and what needs attention.
Clean-up, if required
If historical records need correcting, we agree the work needed to bring them into a reliable state. You do not need a clean-up simply because you are moving to Gro.
Keep your books current
Our finance roadmap calls for up-to-date bookkeeping at least twice a month. We agree who supplies the records, who does the bookkeeping and the working rhythm that fits your service.
Understand the numbers
Reliable records support useful financial reporting. We help you understand performance, identify the numbers worth watching and build a habit of reviewing them rather than waiting until year-end.
Where those foundations lead
Once the foundations are in place, the wider roadmap moves into Profit Plan & Strategy, Accountability & Review, and Wealth & Tax Planning. Accurate bookkeeping makes those conversations useful. These are wider services to agree with us, not a promise that every bookkeeping package includes all seven steps.
What working with our bookkeeping team looks like
Gather the records
We agree how sales, purchases, receipts and bank information reach your bookkeeping system, and which tasks stay with you. If you keep your own books, we agree where our Xero support fits.
Check and reconcile
For managed bookkeeping, we record and categorise transactions, reconcile the bank and raise questions about missing or unclear information. Keeping the records current gives the next stage a dependable starting point.
Review and use the information
We agree the reports and VAT work your service needs. You can use the resulting information to understand performance, plan payments and make better-informed decisions.
Switching bookkeeper or catching up?
Changing bookkeeper or dealing with a backlog can feel daunting. We start by understanding your current system and the records you have, then identify missing information and any historical work that needs attention. We agree the handover and clean-up scope before moving into ongoing bookkeeping or Xero support. There is no one-size-fits-all completion date: the starting point determines the work.
Bookkeeping prices: a practical guide
Around 100 transactions per month: approximately £125 per month + VAT.
Around 200 transactions per month: approximately £250 per month + VAT.
These examples are approximate monthly fees excluding VAT, based on the transactions we handle. They are not a fixed per-transaction tariff. We discuss your requirements before confirming the fee. Monthly Xero support and training are scoped separately.
A larger finance function needs a different approach
We look at your systems, processes and the responsibilities you want us to take over, including work currently handled by in-house team members.
Explore our outsourced finance serviceDoing your own books? Meet The Xero Guy.
Stephen runs The Xero Guy YouTube channel, teaching people to do their own bookkeeping. Explore the channel for Xero training, or talk to us about monthly support tailored to the questions you and your team need help with.
Watch The Xero Guy on YouTubeFrequently asked questions about bookkeeping in Cheltenham
How much does bookkeeping cost in Cheltenham?
For straightforward bookkeeping, we price around the number of transactions we handle each month. Around 100 transactions per month would cost approximately £125 per month + VAT; around 200 would cost approximately £250 per month + VAT. These are guide prices, not a fixed per-transaction tariff. We discuss your requirements before confirming your fee. Monthly Xero support and larger outsourced finance services are scoped separately.
Can you support us if we do our own bookkeeping?
Yes. You do not have to outsource your bookkeeping to work with Gro. If you or your team maintain your own records, we can provide ongoing monthly Xero support and bookkeeping advice. We agree what help you need, so you can keep the day-to-day work in-house while having someone to turn to with questions.
Can you help me learn to use Xero?
Yes. We can discuss the Xero training and support you need to handle your own bookkeeping. Stephen also runs The Xero Guy YouTube channel, where he teaches people to do their own bookkeeping. Training requirements and any ongoing support are agreed separately; they are not automatically included in the transaction-based guide prices.
Can you check our bookkeeping before we decide what support we need?
Yes. Our bookkeeping health check looks at your systems, data quality and areas that need attention. It gives us a starting point for discussing whether you need a clean-up, managed bookkeeping or support for the person already doing the work.
Can you help with overdue or untidy books?
Yes. We start by understanding the condition of your records and what information is available. If a clean-up is needed, we agree the scope with you and identify any missing records or questions to resolve. The amount of work and timing depend on your starting point.
Can you help us move from our current bookkeeper?
Yes. We can discuss the handover, access to your bookkeeping system and the records needed to take over. We agree responsibilities and timing with you before work starts, including whether any historical clean-up is required.
Do I need to come into your Cheltenham office?
No. We can support you remotely through Xero and agreed contact with our team. If you are local and would prefer to meet, you are welcome to arrange a visit to our office at 122 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7JX.
What if we need more than bookkeeping?
For larger businesses, transaction counts do not tell the whole story. We look at your systems, processes and the responsibilities your team currently handles, then scope an outsourced finance service around what you need. This can include taking over work currently handled by in-house team members.
How does bookkeeping fit into your seven-step finance roadmap?
The first four steps establish the foundations: a bookkeeping health check, clean-up if required, current bookkeeping and basic financial reporting. Those foundations support Profit Plan & Strategy, Accountability & Review, and Wealth & Tax Planning. The wider services are agreed separately rather than automatically included in every bookkeeping package.