Small Business Accountant for Sole Traders and Limited Companies

Running a small business means the bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and tax all land on the same desk as the actual work. R&R Chartered Certified is an ACCA-registered practice in Blackburn, and we act as the small business accountant for sole traders, partnerships and owner-managed limited companies across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the wider UK.
You get a named accountant, a fixed monthly fee agreed before we start, and answers in plain English rather than jargon.

What We Do for Small Businesses

Bookkeeping and cloud accounting. We keep your records accurate in Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent so your figures are current, not six months old.
VAT returns. Quarterly MTD-compliant VAT returns, plus advice on flat rate, cash accounting and whether registering early makes sense for you.
Payroll. Weekly or monthly payroll with RTI and pension auto-enrolment handled, including CIS returns for construction.
Year-end accounts and tax. Statutory year-end accounts filed with Companies House, plus the corporation tax return or your self assessment.
Management information. Monthly or quarterly management accounts so you can see margin, cash and profit while you can still act on them.

How Much Does a Small Business Accountant Cost?

Fees depend on turnover, VAT registration, payroll headcount and how tidy your records are. A sole trader with a single income stream sits at the lower end; a VAT-registered limited company with staff and stock sits higher. Everything is quoted as a fixed monthly amount before we begin, so there are no hourly surprises. Our guide to how much an accountant costs in the UK sets out typical ranges.

When Small Businesses Usually Need an Accountant

You are approaching the VAT threshold. Getting the timing and the scheme right is worth real money — see when to register for VAT.
You are taking on staff. PAYE, pensions and the employment allowance all start at once.
You are incorporating. A limited company brings statutory accounts, corporation tax and decisions about salary versus dividends.
You have fallen behind. Late returns and HMRC penalties are far cheaper to fix early than to leave.

Industries We Know Well

Alongside general practice work we specialise in construction and CIS, e-commerce and Amazon sellers, landlords, transport and logistics, wholesale and healthcare professionals. Industry experience means fewer questions and fewer missed claims.

Switching to Us

Changing accountant is more straightforward than most people expect. You tell your current accountant you are moving, we request your records through professional clearance, register as your agent with HMRC and take over your filing calendar. You do not have to have an awkward conversation about anything technical — we handle that side.
If you would rather meet in person, see our accountant in Blackburn page for office details and opening hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a small business accountant cost in the UK?
Most small businesses pay between £75 and £300 plus VAT a month depending on turnover, VAT registration and whether payroll and bookkeeping are included. A sole trader with a simple tax return can pay considerably less, and we agree the fee in writing before any work starts.

Do I need an accountant for a small business?
There is no legal requirement to use one. In practice most owners take one on when they register for VAT, take on staff, incorporate a limited company, or find the admin is costing them more in lost trading time than the fee.

What does a small business accountant actually do?
Bookkeeping and record keeping, VAT returns, payroll, year-end accounts, the corporation tax or self assessment return, and advice on how to draw money out of the business efficiently. Good ones also flag problems before deadlines rather than after.

Can you take over from my current accountant?
Yes. We write to them for your records under the standard professional clearance process, register as your agent with HMRC and pick up your filing calendar. It usually takes a couple of weeks and nothing is missed in between.

Do you work with businesses outside Blackburn?
Yes. Most of our work is done through cloud accounting, so we act for small businesses across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the rest of the UK. Local clients are welcome to meet at our Blackburn office.

Which accounting software do you use?
Mainly Xero, and we are Xero certified. We also work with QuickBooks and FreeAgent, and we can migrate you across and train your team if your current setup is holding you back.