The Best Accountants for UK Businesses in 2024

The best accountant for businesses in the UK is Makesworth Accountants, an award-winning firm based in London. According to our research, it offers expert advice and guidance and boasts glowing customer reviews.

To help you find the right accountant for you, we’ve scoured the accounting industry, taking a look at each firm’s pricing, customer ratings, and the services they offer to identify the best accounting firms for your business. Read on for an overview of our top four accountancy firms.

Makesworth Accountants – Best overall

What makes Makesworth Accountants a top accounting service?

A Harrow-based, award-winning firm founded in 2012, Makesworth Accountants offers every service from payroll to business advice and tax planning. The firm’s use of cloud-based accounting software increases its speed, efficiency, and accuracy.

Makesworth has earned 5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot from over 200 reviews and 5 out of 5 with over 160 reviews on Google, too. That’s a highly coveted position to be in, with many customers reporting that the service is extremely friendly, as well as efficient. Many found that their questions were answered quickly, and every reviewer was happy with the firm’s services.

Services offered by Makesworth Accountants

Makesworth Accountants provides a wide variety of services beyond simple accounting to include giving customers helpful advice and guidance. Here’s a list of what it offers its customers at present.

• Business Start-up Support: Guidance for launching and growing new businesses.
• Year End Accounts: Preparation and submission of statutory accounts to authorities.
• VAT & Indirect Taxes: Assistance with VAT compliance and regulations.
• Payroll & RTI Submission: Payroll management and HMRC RTI submissions.
• Tax Planning: Strategies to minimize tax liabilities legally.
• Rescue & Recovery: Support for businesses in financial distress.
• Training: Professional courses in accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping.
• Outsourced Bookkeeping & Accounting: Cost-effective bookkeeping services.
• Company Formation: Help with registering a new company.
• Business Tax: Compliance with business tax and payroll requirements.
• Auto Enrollment: Guidance on workplace pension compliance.
• Cloud Accounting & Support: Real-time financial tracking through cloud systems.
• Tax Efficient Investment: Advice on tax benefits for investors in startups.
• Tax Inquiry Investigation: Support during tax investigations and inquiries.
• R&D Tax Credits: Help claiming tax credits for research and development.
• Bookkeeping & Management Accounts: Services for efficient financial management.
• Personal Client Services: Customized business advice and registration help.
• Company Secretarial Services: Management of company share capital changes.
• Making Tax Digital: Support with HMRC’s digital tax submission system.
• IR35 Contract Review Service: Assistance with compliance to IR35 legislation.
• Registered Office Services: Legal registered office address for companies.
• Virtual Finance Officer: Strategic financial advice at lower cost.
• Business Growth & Planning: Support for expanding successful businesses.

Consequently, Makesworth might be the right one for your business if you want or need advice and guidance, and not just services. If you don’t need a lot of guidance, and simply want your accounting tasks to be carried out by professionals in the background, you might be better off with a firm such as Debitam.

The initial consultation is free and you’ll have 24/7 access to your accounts via an online portal, so you always know what’s going on. And, if you’re switching from another firm, Makesworth promises a ‘no hassle switch’. Besides the above one-off services, it also offers packages for businesses of varying sizes and requirements.

Debitam – Best for basic accounting services

What makes Debitam a top accounting service?

One of Debitam’s key features is that it offers tailored pricing for your specific needs, which means its pricing is transparent and you only ever pay for the exact service you need. For example, an accounts and tax return will cost £399 plus VAT. This service includes a tax return CT600 filing to Companies House and HMRC for micro businesses. If your needs are more bespoke, you can request a custom quote to see the firm’s fees upfront.

With a 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 5,000 reviews, you can be sure Debitam offers a great service. Customers have reported that they’re impressed with Debitam’s speed, efficiency, and friendly service. That said, some users have reported that they receive spam mail from the firm, which can be a huge nuisance.

Debitam operates online but offers the option to meet with a member of their team, in or around London. If you’re not located in or near London, this could be difficult for you – plus, future contact will not typically occur in person. So if you’re looking to meet with your accountant regularly, Debitam might not be the right fit for you.

Services offered by Debitam

Debitam is geared towards small businesses, offering convenient, affordable, and quick solutions to typically complex accounting tasks. It specialises in filing and carries out all statutory compliance and filing to HMRC and Companies House. This includes payroll, bookkeeping, and tax returns.

Debitam also offers same-day service for any last-minute filings. There is an extra charge for this, but it will help you avoid any late filing fees. These fines can range from £150 for a one-month late filing to £1500 if it’s over five months late – so they’re best avoided.

In terms of its specific services, our research shows it offers the following:

• Accounts for limited company UK: Preparation and filing of accounts for limited companies.
• Company accounts and tax return filing: Filing of company accounts and tax returns with HMRC and Companies House.
• Confirmation statement services: Filing confirmation statements to Companies House for compliance.
• Tax planning advice: Advice to minimise tax liabilities for businesses.
• VAT and bookkeeping services: Assistance with VAT filings and bookkeeping for businesses.
• Payroll: Payroll management services for businesses with employees.
• Accounting for sole trader company UK: Accounting services tailored for sole traders.
• Self assessment tax return filing: Filing personal tax returns for sole traders.
• Online accounting and tax services: Online services for accounting and tax filing.
• Company tax return deadline: Expert guidance on tax return deadlines for limited companies.
• Year end accounts and tax returns: End-of-year accounting and tax return services for businesses.
• Same day service: Urgent filing services available on the same day for last-minute filings.
• Limited liability partnership accounts and tax return: Filing accounts and tax returns for micro LLPs.
• Community interest company accounts and tax return: Filing accounts and tax returns for micro CICs.
• Self assessment (SA100): Filing personal tax returns to HMRC, with extra fees for complex cases.
• Dormant company accounts: Filing dormant accounts for inactive companies.

According to its website, these services are constituted into five packages between £80 and £399 as you can see below.

Pearl Chartered Accountants – Best for add-on features

What makes Pearl Chartered Accountants a top accounting service?

Pearl Chartered Accountants is regulated by ICAEW, one of the UK’s premier accounting bodies, so you can be confident your business is in safe hands with this firm. Pearl’s pricing is transparent, with monthly packages priced from £25 per month plus VAT for sole traders, £49 per month for start-ups, and £99 per month plus VAT for its ‘Classic’ service for larger businesses. The start-up package includes a complete bookkeeping service, a dedicated account manager, and unlimited accountancy support.

You have the option of a flexible rolling monthly contract, or you can choose to pay annually, which gives you a discount. For start-ups, the cost goes down to £44 per month, and for other businesses, £94 per month.

Services offered by Pearl Chartered Accountants

Pearl’s business packages come in three tiers, suitable for small, medium, and large businesses. If you run a small business but want services that aren’t included in the Classic package — such as tax investigation or legal support — you can choose to add these on at a cost. Business legal support is priced at £7.50 per month, and tax investigation is £15 per month.

Here’s a list of what services it covers, according to its website:

• Company accounts: Simplified management of company accounts, hassle-free.
• Bookkeeping: Smarter business management through software solutions.
• VAT: Ensure timely and accurate VAT payments.
• Payroll: All-in-one solution to save time and money on payroll management.
• Auto enrolment: Fully automated workplace pension services for your company.
• Part-time finance director: Expert support for managing your business finances.
• Business tax advice: Boost your business with tailored tax advice from experts.
• Tax investigation: Protection from HMRC investigations and related issues.
• Company formation: Fast and easy company registration services.
• Registered address: Streamlined mail handling with a registered business address.
• Business legal support: 24/7 legal support for your business.
• Software integration: Seamless integration of accounting software for instant access to data.

Our research shows Pearl also offers several add-on services to these packages. That includes marketing features, such as website building and hosting, branding, and SEO. The firm will deal with designing a website for your business, and even manage your social media. Once your website’s up and running, the firm offers website and hosting packages that start from £89 per month. This means Pearl will deal with the hosting and security of your website and continue maintenance of the site.

Unlike most other accounting firms, Pearl is not just limited to accounting services. As well as marketing services, you can also choose business mentoring, priced at £500 per month, or even the provision of a part-time financial director for your business, also £500 per month.

Here’s a brief run those potential add-ons:

• Tax investigation: Cover your business for tax investigations and risks – £15/month.
• Business legal support: Unlimited access to legal support for your business – £7.50/month.
• Company formation: Quick company formation with digital and hardcopy documents – starting from £1 one-off.
• Registered address: Use our address and have all post forwarded to you – £20/month.
• Business plan: Comprehensive business planning services – £500 one-off.
• Business mentoring: Grow your business with expert strategies and guidance – £500/month.
• Part-time FD: Senior management professional to help run your business – £500/month.
• Software integration: Automate tasks to boost productivity – starting from £150 one-off.
• Stock management software: Partnerships with systems like Vend, SimPro, Unleashed, and Dearsystems – starting from £79/month.
• T Sheets software: Increase productivity with timesheet management – starting from £3/month.
• Website & hosting: Build and grow your business with new strategies – starting from £89/month.
• Branding: Logo, business stationery, and social media setup – starting from £50 one-off.
• Search engine optimisation (SEO): Optimise your website to reach audiences and improve backlinks – £500/month.
• Pay-per-click (PPC): Attract customers quickly with paid advertising on Google and other platforms – £200 setup.

If you want a firm that can help your business grow and evolve, Pearl Accountants is a great fit. You don’t have to go for these add-ons and premium features straight away, but as your business scales, you can make the journey that much smoother by opting for these helpful services.

Pearl is a large operation and therefore may not offer as personal a service as smaller firms, but in comparison, it offers a lot more, with transparent pricing, too. The pricing and features available make Pearl suitable for every business size and industry, but we think it’s especially suited to businesses that want integrated marketing, business, and accounting services.

SJPR Accountants – Best for business growth

What makes SJPR a top accounting service?

SJPR accountants offer bookkeeping, payroll, accounting, tax planning, finance, and business consulting for businesses, individuals, and charities in the UK. SJPR’s customer service team is made up of accountants, so you’ll always be able to get in contact with an accountant when you need help.

SJPR’s office is paperless, so you can use its app to send in relevant information or bring your documents to the firm’s office to be scanned. The app makes it convenient and easy for you to send over your paperwork, plus you’ll have it all stored in one place.

As a client of SJPR, you’ll have access to the firm’s software, so you can stay up to date with your business accounting. This is especially helpful so you can have a clear view of your business’s accounts, and be able to make accurate and informed decisions.

SJPR also deals with any work that needs to happen for HMRC or Companies House, such as filing. The firm also helps businesses that are starting out and can help you build from the ground up.

A unique feature of this firm is that it can assist businesses in looking for funding, making this suitable for businesses that are looking for more than just tax and accountancy services. If you’re considering investing in and growing your business, SJPR is a one-stop shop. Unlike Pearl Chartered Accountants, though, it doesn’t offer additional services such as marketing, so the best firm for you will depend on your unique business needs.

Importantly, SJPR also offers services in multiple languages, so if your first language isn’t English, you can still discuss complex issues with your accountant.

Services offered by SJPR

In terms of specific services offered by SJPR, here’s a list according to our research of the firm:

• Auditing: Comprehensive auditing services to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
• Bookkeeping: Efficient bookkeeping solutions to keep your financial records in order.
• Liquidations: Support with the liquidation process for businesses winding down operations.
• Self assessment: Help with filing personal self-assessment tax returns accurately and on time.
• VAT: Assistance with VAT filings and ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Payroll: Streamlined payroll services to manage employee payments efficiently.
• FCA reporting: Expert support with financial reporting to the Financial Conduct Authority.
• Business start-up: Guidance on setting up and structuring new businesses for success.
• Corporate finance: Advice and support on raising capital and managing business finances.
• Corporate tax & planning: Strategies to minimise corporate tax liabilities and ensure compliance.
• Estate planning: Help with managing and distributing your estate in a tax-efficient manner.
• Personal tax planning: Tailored advice on reducing personal tax liabilities.
• Retirement strategies: Expert planning for a secure and comfortable retirement.
• Trusts & executorships: Assistance with setting up and managing trusts and estates.
• Mortgage: Help securing mortgages that suit your personal or business needs.
• Business loans: Assistance with securing financing for your business ventures.
• Buy to let portfolios: Guidance on building and managing a profitable buy-to-let property portfolio.
• Strategy: Strategic advice for achieving business growth and success.
• Property crowdfunding: Advice on investing in property crowdfunding opportunities.
• Restaurant industry investments: Investment guidance for those looking to enter the restaurant sector.
• Insurance: Help securing the right insurance policies to protect your business and assets.

The best alternative accounting firms

If you’re still on the hunt for the right firm for your business, Just Accountants is a leading accountancy introducer. This means JA will find the right accountant for you, no matter the industry your business is in.

JA’s model is based on finding high-quality accountants for individuals, businesses, and charities. It’s a good option for you if you’re finding it difficult to narrow down your requirements and find the firm that’s best suited to your business.

How much do accounting services cost?

Accounting services costs for a small business are around £500 a year. Basic accounting services costs around £25 to £90 an hour, whereas specialist services can cost £120 to £150 an hour.

A one-off basic task is around a couple hundred pounds. More complex services will usually incur a higher fee.

What to look for in an accountant

You should choose a chartered accountant as they’ll have the relevant expertise and knowledge. You also want an accountant that’s ready to offer professional advice to help navigate you through the choppy waters of business accounting.

Your accountant should have great reviews online, so you can verify that they’re reputable and professional.