Best Accountant for Small Limited Companies UK (2026)
An honest guide for small limited company directors — what accounting services you actually need, what they should cost, and how the leading online providers compare.
Quick Summary
- Small limited companies typically pay £80–£130/month for an online accountant covering all statutory requirements.
- The most important things to check: named accountant included, Self Assessment in the package, and no hidden per-service charges.
- Clever Accounts includes everything — year-end accounts, CT600, VAT, payroll, Self Assessment, and FreeAgent — for £104.50/month.
- Online accountants deliver the same statutory services as high-street firms, typically at 40–60% lower cost.
What a small limited company actually needs
These are the statutory and practical services every limited company director requires. Make sure they're all included in your monthly fee.
Year-end statutory accounts
Filed at Companies House within 9 months of your accounting year-end. Required by law for all limited companies.
Corporation Tax return (CT600)
Filed with HMRC within 12 months of your year-end. Corporation Tax is paid 9 months and 1 day after year-end.
Quarterly VAT returns
Prepared and submitted to HMRC — typically due one month and 7 days after each quarter end.
Payroll (directors + staff)
Monthly payroll processing with RTI submissions to HMRC. Payslips produced. Includes employer NI calculations.
Companies House filings
Annual confirmation statement and accounts filed on time. We track all deadlines so you never miss one.
Personal Self Assessment
Your personal tax return filed annually, covering your salary, dividends, and any other income.
Unlimited advice
Call or email your dedicated accountant as often as you need — no meter running, no extra charge per question.
Accounting software
FreeAgent included free. Real-time view of your profit, VAT liability, and estimated Corporation Tax bill.
Common hidden extras to watch for
- Personal Self Assessment charged separately (often £100–£200/year extra)
- Payroll for employees beyond directors charged per employee per month
- Accounting software not bundled — add £16–£35/month for FreeAgent or Xero
- Mortgage reference letters charged at £50–£150 each
- Ad hoc advice billed at hourly rates above a low threshold
How much should you pay?
Monthly fees vary significantly depending on the level of service and whether everything is bundled.
Budget online
£65–£85/mo
- Year-end accounts
- Corporation Tax return
- Basic VAT
- Portal-based support
- ✗ Named accountant
- ✗ Self Assessment included
- ✗ FreeAgent bundled
- ✗ Proactive advice
Full-service online
£85–£130/mo
- Everything in Budget
- Named accountant
- Self Assessment
- Accounting software
- Unlimited advice
High-street / traditional
£100–£250+/mo
- Full service
- Face-to-face access
- Bespoke advice
- Named partner contact
- ✗ Often higher cost for same output
- ✗ Less real-time visibility
Leading providers compared (2026)
Prices last verified April 2026. Verify directly with each provider — pricing changes regularly.
| Provider | Monthly fee | Software | Named accountant | Payroll included | Self Assessment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clever AccountsOur pick | £104.50/mo | FreeAgent | Small limited companies wanting full-service at a clear monthly price | |||
Crunch | From £82/mo | Crunch platform | ✗ | ✗ | Business owners comfortable with self-serve software | |
Xero + local accountant | £120–£200+/mo | Xero | Businesses needing bespoke advice or complex requirements | |||
inniAccounts | From £79/mo | inniAccounts platform | Tech-forward small businesses wanting strong software | |||
Gorilla Accounting | From £95/mo | FreeAgent | Small businesses wanting boutique personal service | |||
Quickbooks + accountant | £100–£180+/mo | QuickBooks | Businesses already using QuickBooks or needing its inventory features |
Full-service online accountant with 20+ years' experience across sole traders, limited companies, and contractors. Includes a dedicated named accountant, FreeAgent, payroll, VAT, and your personal Self Assessment — all in one fixed monthly fee. No hidden charges.
One of the UK's largest online accountants. Lower-tier plans are portal-based with limited personal contact; the Professional plan adds a named accountant. Self Assessment is an add-on on most plans. Good if you're tech-confident and price-sensitive.
Pairing Xero with a local or specialist accountant gives maximum flexibility and face-to-face access, but typically at a higher price. Worth considering for businesses with employees, inventory, or complex structures. Less competitive for straightforward limited companies.
Strong platform with real-time tax position visibility. Originally contractor-focused but works well for small limited companies. Consistently high Trustpilot scores and well-regarded for proactive advice.
Smaller firm with genuinely high-touch personal service and excellent Trustpilot scores. More boutique than the larger online providers — you get a real relationship with your accountant.
QuickBooks has strong inventory and e-commerce integrations, making it a reasonable choice for product-based businesses. Less natural for pure service businesses or consultancies.
Clever Accounts
Full-service online accountant with 20+ years' experience across sole traders, limited companies, and contractors. Includes a dedicated named accountant, FreeAgent, payroll, VAT, and your personal Self Assessment — all in one fixed monthly fee. No hidden charges.
Crunch
One of the UK's largest online accountants. Lower-tier plans are portal-based with limited personal contact; the Professional plan adds a named accountant. Self Assessment is an add-on on most plans. Good if you're tech-confident and price-sensitive.
Xero + local accountant
Pairing Xero with a local or specialist accountant gives maximum flexibility and face-to-face access, but typically at a higher price. Worth considering for businesses with employees, inventory, or complex structures. Less competitive for straightforward limited companies.
inniAccounts
Strong platform with real-time tax position visibility. Originally contractor-focused but works well for small limited companies. Consistently high Trustpilot scores and well-regarded for proactive advice.
Gorilla Accounting
Smaller firm with genuinely high-touch personal service and excellent Trustpilot scores. More boutique than the larger online providers — you get a real relationship with your accountant.
Quickbooks + accountant
QuickBooks has strong inventory and e-commerce integrations, making it a reasonable choice for product-based businesses. Less natural for pure service businesses or consultancies.
How to choose: five questions to ask
Is a named accountant included?
You want a specific person responsible for your account — not a call centre. Ask: 'Who will be my accountant, and how do I contact them directly?'
Is my personal Self Assessment included?
Many providers charge this separately. As a limited company director, you need a Self Assessment every year — confirm it's in the monthly fee.
What's your response time?
Ask directly: 'If I email Tuesday morning, when will I hear back?' The answer should be same or next business day — not 'we aim to respond within 5 working days'.
Is accounting software bundled?
FreeAgent or Xero should be included. If not, add the licence cost to their monthly fee to make a fair comparison.
What triggers an additional charge?
Ask specifically: 'What's NOT included in the monthly fee?' Things like payroll for extra employees, mortgage letters, or amended returns should have clear, disclosed rates — not ambiguous 'reasonable' charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from small limited company directors about accounting, tax, and costs.
Everything your limited company needs, one fixed fee
Dedicated accountant · FreeAgent included · Year-end accounts · VAT · Payroll · Self Assessment — all for £104.50/month. No hidden extras.