What the published ranges say
Accountancy fees are not regulated, so prices vary widely. One 2026 cost guide from the online accountancy firm Sleek (page updated 23 September 2026) describes a “market range” drawn from several UK sources of £60 to £250+ a month for a small limited company, around £500 to £1,500 for a one-off annual accounts job covering basic year-end work, and roughly £125 to £300 an hour for a qualified accountant billed by the hour.
Treat these as a guide to what you may be quoted, not as what any firm charges. They come from a commercial website, and what is included changes the price more than the headline figure does.
What pushes the price up or down
The same guide lists six factors that move a quote:
- Transaction volume. More invoices and bank lines mean more bookkeeping time.
- VAT registration. Quarterly VAT returns add regular work.
- Payroll. Each employee adds a monthly run and reporting.
- Number of directors. Each director who files Self Assessment adds a return.
- Whether your books are up to date. Catch-up work comes first.
- Industry. Some sectors carry extra reporting, such as the Construction Industry Scheme.
It also notes that VAT returns, payroll, bookkeeping and catch-up work are usually billed on top of a core monthly fee.
Three ways accountants charge
- A fixed fee per filing. One agreed price for a defined job, such as year-end accounts and the Corporation Tax return. It suits a company with tidy records that mainly needs compliance work. VAT, payroll and bookkeeping are usually priced separately.
- A monthly package. A set monthly amount for a bundle of recurring work, often bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and year-end accounts. It suits businesses that want regular support, but check what the monthly figure actually covers and any limits on transactions or payslips.
- Hourly billing. You pay for time spent. It can suit one-off problems, but it is hard to budget across a year.
“Fixed fee” and “fixed price” mean the same thing: the cost is agreed before work starts. A fixed monthly package is also a fixed fee, so ask whether a quote is per filing or per month.
Our fixed fees
Fees are fixed and agreed before any work starts. Prices exclude VAT unless stated. Everything below is a one-off fee per filing, not a monthly subscription.
| Service | Fee | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Company accounts + Corporation Tax return | £399 + VAT | Year-end statutory accounts prepared and filed with Companies House, plus the CT600 and iXBRL tax computations filed with HMRC. For micro-entity companies. |
| LLP accounts + partnership return | £399 + VAT | Year-end accounts filed with Companies House plus the SA800 partnership return filed with HMRC. For micro-entity LLPs. |
| CIC accounts + Corporation Tax return | £399 + VAT | Year-end accounts and CT600 for micro community interest companies, including the CIC report filing. |
| Director Self Assessment (SA100) | £199 + VAT | Your personal tax return prepared and filed with HMRC — salary, dividends and straightforward income. Complex returns (foreign income, capital gains) quoted before we start. |
| Dormant company accounts | £99 + VAT | Dormant accounts prepared and filed with Companies House to keep a non-trading company compliant. |
| Confirmation statement | £35 + VAT, plus £50 Companies House filing fee | We prepare and file your confirmation statement. Our service fee is £35 + VAT; Companies House charges a separate £50 filing fee with no VAT. |
Payroll, VAT returns and bookkeeping are quoted separately before we start. Full fee details and exclusions.
Comparing like with like
A simple sum shows why scope matters. A package at £60 a month is £720 a year; a one-off filing fee of £399 is a different amount of work. Neither figure tells you which is cheaper until you know what each includes and whether it is quoted with or without VAT. Ask every accountant, including us, to confirm:
- Year-end accounts prepared and filed at Companies House
- The Corporation Tax return (CT600) and computation filed with HMRC
- The confirmation statement and its separate Companies House fee
- Director Self Assessment returns
- Bookkeeping, VAT and payroll, and any limits on volume
- Software subscriptions and who pays for them
- Whether the price is with or without VAT, and what counts as out of scope
When a fixed fee per filing may suit you
A one-off fixed fee tends to suit a small company with clean records, no payroll and no VAT that only needs its annual filings done properly. If you need regular bookkeeping, payroll or quarterly VAT, a monthly package or separate quotes for those services may be better value. If your records need substantial rebuilding first, any accountant should quote that before starting.