Agency finances rarely look like a normal services business. Retainers, project fees and commission-based income can all land in the same month, freelancers and contractors move on and off jobs constantly, and client recharges for media spend, stock imagery or printing need to be tracked separately from your own fees. Add in R&D tax relief for agencies building tools or campaigns, and IR35 questions every time you bring in a contractor, and generic bookkeeping quickly falls short. We work with marketing and creative agencies who need their numbers to keep pace with how the studio actually runs.
We cover all the financial and compliance work a marketing or creative agency needs to keep its numbers accurate and its cash flow predictable.
We track retainers, fixed-fee projects and commission income separately, so your management accounts reflect what has actually been earned, not just what has been invoiced.
We calculate your VAT position correctly, including the treatment of disbursements and recharged media spend, and file on time every quarter.
From salaried staff to freelancers and contractors, we run payroll accurately and handle IR35 status assessments where they apply.
We prepare your annual accounts and corporation tax return, and make sure R&D relief is claimed where your agency is developing tools, platforms or novel campaign approaches.
From software subscriptions and freelancer invoices to client-recharged costs, we make sure every legitimate expense is recorded and reduces your tax bill.
We manage all your deadlines and make sure every submission is accurate and on time. You will never face a late filing penalty because something was overlooked.
A clear view of profitability by client and by project, not just total billings
Cash flow forecasts that account for retainer timing, project payment terms and freelancer costs
Correct handling of client recharges so they never distort your actual fee income
Someone to call when a contractor status question or a client query comes up
We work with you throughout the year, not just when a deadline is due.
On paper, an agency with steady retainers and a healthy project pipeline looks financially secure. In practice, retainer renewals, staggered project payment terms, and freelancer invoices that need paying before the client has settled up can all put real pressure on cash flow, even when the business is profitable.
We help agencies see past the top-line billings figure to what is actually happening with cash. That means separating retainer income from one-off project fees, tracking work in progress properly, and giving you a realistic forecast of what is coming in and going out over the next few months.
Something we see regularly: agencies that look profitable on their year-end accounts but have spent the year juggling supplier payments because nobody was tracking the gap between doing the work and getting paid for it. Once that timing gap is visible, it becomes much easier to manage.
Getting on top of this early means you can make better decisions about which clients and project types to prioritise, and when it is safe to take on new freelance capacity.
Beyond bookkeeping and VAT, this is where a specialist accountant earns their fee.
IR35 status assessments and contractor payment set-up, so freelancers and contractors are engaged correctly and HMRC risk is managed.
Work-in-progress and project profitability tracking, so you know which clients and project types are actually making money.
R&D tax relief reviews for agencies building proprietary tools, platforms or data-driven campaign methods.
Cash flow forecasting that accounts for retainer renewal timing, staggered project payments and freelancer costs.
Advice on structuring client recharges (media spend, stock, print, third-party costs) so they never distort your true fee income.
Our agency packages start at £175/month for a limited company doing up to £250k turnover, including year-end accounts, corporation tax, quarterly VAT, monthly bookkeeping and management accounts. Agencies running payroll for a team, engaging contractors, or claiming R&D relief typically sit in the £300–£750/month range. Fixed fee, no hourly surprises.
Yes. We assess the status of each engagement, help you document the decision correctly, and set up payments so contractors are paid inside or outside IR35 as appropriate.
Yes. We set up your bookkeeping so recharged costs are tracked separately from your own fee income, which keeps your VAT treatment correct and your profitability figures accurate.
Often, yes — particularly where you are building proprietary tools, platforms, automation or data-driven campaign methods rather than running standard creative or media work. We review your projects to see what genuinely qualifies.
Xero as the core ledger, with time-tracking or project management tools feeding into it depending on how your studio works. If you’re on spreadsheets and want to modernise, we handle the migration end-to-end, usually within a few weeks.
Yes. R&R is regulated by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). All work is signed off by an ACCA-qualified accountant.
Our head office is in Blackburn, and we work with agencies in Preston, Burnley, Accrington, Chorley, Leyland, Bolton, Wigan, Bury and Manchester. Being cloud-based means location barely matters — most of our agency clients never need to set foot in the office — but face-to-face meetings are available at our Blackburn office when you want them.
Related specialities:Accountants for e-commerce & online sellers · Owner managed businesses · VAT returns & MTD · Cloud bookkeeping · Monthly management accounts
Book a free consultation. We’ll review your last VAT return, your project profitability and your management accounts, and give you three concrete things to change — whether or not you switch to us. Call 01254 839543 or book online.
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 in Blackburn and across the North West, so you can get support wherever you are
