Transport and logistics businesses run on tight margins. Fuel costs fluctuate, driver wages must be managed carefully, vehicles need maintaining, and invoices must go out promptly to keep cash flowing. On top of all of that, you have VAT returns, payroll submissions and annual accounts to deal with. Most general accountants do not have a clear picture of how a haulage, courier or logistics operation works financially. We do, and we help transport businesses across the UK keep their numbers accurate and their cash flow under control.
We cover everything a transport or logistics business needs to stay on top of its finances and compliant with HMRC.
We record all your fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, insurance and road tax throughout the year, making sure the VAT is reclaimed correctly and all costs are allocated to the right vehicles and jobs.
We run payroll for your employed drivers each month and make sure subcontractor payments are handled correctly for tax purposes. We also advise on IR35 where it applies to self-employed drivers working regularly for your business.
We help you keep track of what has been invoiced and what has been paid, giving you a clear picture of your cash flow at any point so you always know whether you have enough come in to cover your costs.
We prepare and submit your VAT return each quarter, making sure all fuel and vehicle VAT is reclaimed correctly and that your return is filed through Making Tax Digital compliant software before the deadline.
We give you regular reports showing your income, costs and profit so you can see which contracts, routes or customers are most profitable and make better decisions about where to focus your business.
Transport businesses face unpredictable fuel price changes and seasonal fluctuations in demand. We help you plan by forecasting your income and costs so that quieter periods or cost spikes do not catch you off guard.
We keep your finances organised throughout the year so running the business never gets complicated by paperwork.
VAT reclaimed in full each quarter with nothing missed and nothing overstated
A clear view of your profit margins so you know which jobs and contracts are worth taking
All fuel, vehicle and driver costs recorded correctly so your tax bill reflects your actual position
Someone to call when fuel prices spike, a big contract comes up, or you are thinking about expanding your fleet
Fuel is one of the biggest costs in any transport business and the VAT on it needs to be reclaimed correctly every quarter. Fleet vehicles have their own tax and capital allowance rules depending on whether they are cars, vans or HGVs. Driver wages, subcontractor payments and owner driver arrangements all have different tax treatments. And if you have vehicles that are used for both business and personal journeys, HMRC has specific rules about how those costs can be claimed.
Getting any of these wrong means either paying more tax than you should or creating a liability that HMRC can challenge later. We make sure every cost in your business is recorded and claimed in the right way, so your accounts accurately reflect how your business operates and your tax bill is as low as it legitimately can be.
Something we see regularly: transport business owners who are not reclaiming all the VAT they are entitled to on fuel and vehicle costs, often because their records are not detailed enough to support the full claim. Over the course of a year this can add up to a meaningful amount of money left on the table.
We help you put simple record keeping processes in place that make sure every legitimate claim is captured without adding hours to your workload.
A lot of transport business owners know roughly how much they are turning over but have a much less clear picture of what they are keeping after fuel, wages, vehicle costs, insurance and tax. It is entirely possible to be busy and growing but still running very thin margins without realising it until something goes wrong.
We help you understand your true profit position, broken down by vehicle, route or contract type if that is useful, so you can price your jobs correctly, identify which work is worth taking on and which is not, and build a business that is genuinely profitable rather than just busy.
Expert Chartered Certified Accountants helping UK businesses protect and grow their income.
Friendly support from a local team that understands your business. Book your free consultation today and take the first step towards financial clarity and peace of mind.
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74 St James Road, Blackburn, BB1 8ET
We work with clients across the UK, so you can get support wherever you are
