Most people ask "how much is an accountant?" and get the answer "it depends". Here are the numbers, from the prices UK firms publish in 2026, so you know what is normal before you ask for a quote.
The short answer
| What you need | Typical price in 2026 |
|---|---|
| One Self Assessment tax return, simple, records in order | £150 to £300 |
| Sole trader with clean books, one income | about £200 to £250 + VAT |
| Sole trader plus a rental property | about £275 to £350 + VAT |
| Crypto, foreign income or several rentals | £400 + VAT and up |
| Sole trader: yearly accounts and tax return together | £300 to £600 a year |
| Sole trader: monthly package, basic | £25 to £50 a month |
| Sole trader: monthly package with VAT returns and support | £50 to £100+ a month |
| Small company: accounts plus the director's tax return | £600 to £1,200 a year |
| One-person contractor company, monthly | £60 to £150 a month + VAT |
The ranges come from published guides by ByteStart (September 2026) and Sleek (September 2026). Central London firms charge about 20% to 30% more than firms elsewhere.
Notice the "+ VAT". Most firms quote before VAT, so a "£50 a month" accountant often costs £60 a month in practice. If the firm is VAT registered and you are not, you cannot claim that VAT back.
One-off return or a monthly package?
A one-off tax return suits you if your income is simple, your records are tidy and you only need help once a year. You send everything after 5 April, the accountant prepares the return, you approve it, and they file it.
A monthly package suits you if you want your bookkeeping kept up as you go, someone to ask during the year, and no January rush. It also spreads the cost.
From April 2026, the choice matters more. Making Tax Digital now applies to sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000, and to those over £30,000 from April 2027. That means four updates to HMRC a year, plus the final return. A "once a year" accountant is not set up for that, so many now charge extra for the quarterly updates. Our guide to Making Tax Digital for sole traders explains what is involved.
What pushes the bill up
The headline price is rarely the whole price. These are the usual extras. Ask about each one:
- VAT returns. Often a separate monthly or quarterly charge.
- Payroll. Usually charged per person, even if you are the only one on it.
- Making Tax Digital quarterly updates. New for 2026, and often not in older packages.
- Bookkeeping. Some fees assume you do your own bookkeeping in software. If the accountant does it, the price goes up.
- Catch-up work. If your records are months behind, expect a one-off charge to bring them up to date. See what an accounts clean-up involves.
- Phone calls and emails. Firms that charge by the hour may bill for small questions.
- A second tax return. For a company director, the director's own return is sometimes extra on top of the company's accounts.
ByteStart's advice is simple: ask what the fee covers before you agree, and check whether VAT returns, support and year-end accounts are included.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the price fixed, or by the hour?
- Is VAT added to your price?
- Which returns are included: Self Assessment, VAT, Making Tax Digital updates, payroll?
- Who does the bookkeeping, you or me?
- Is there a minimum term, and what does it cost to leave?
- Is a qualified accountant checking the work? (Look for ICAEW, ACCA or CA ANZ.)
- What do you need from me each month, and how do I send it?
If two quotes look different, put them side by side against this list. Most of the gap is usually in what is included, not in the hourly rate.
Worked example: a sole trader on £40,000
Sam is a self-employed plumber with £40,000 of income, no VAT registration and no staff.
Option A: pay for a one-off return each year. About £200 to £250 + VAT, so roughly £240 to £300. Sam still has to keep the books, and to send the quarterly updates once the income passes the Making Tax Digital limit.
Option B: a monthly package. At £25 to £50 + VAT a month, that is about £360 to £720 a year. This usually covers the bookkeeping and the return, and support during the year.
The cheapest option is not always the best value. If doing the books yourself takes a weekend each quarter, a monthly package that includes them may cost less than your own time.
What we charge
We are a small UK practice run by a chartered accountant. Our prices are fixed by turnover, and there is no VAT to add.
| Up to £50k turnover | Up to £150k | Up to £300k | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | £30 a month | £50 a month | £75 a month |
| Limited company | £75 a month | £100 a month | £150 a month |
The sole trader price includes bookkeeping from your bank statements and receipts, the Making Tax Digital quarterly updates, your Self Assessment return and your payments on account worked out.
The company price includes bookkeeping, the annual accounts at Companies House, the Corporation Tax return (CT600), the confirmation statement, dividend paperwork, and the director's own tax return.
The only extras are VAT returns (£15 a month) and payroll (£10 a month per person). If your books are behind, we quote the catch-up once, up front, from £595.
So Sam, the plumber above, would pay £360 a year, with the bookkeeping, the quarterly updates and the tax return done for Sam.
See the prices and start. Contractors with their own company: see our contractor page.
Quick answers
Is it worth paying for an accountant as a sole trader?
If your income is small and simple, you can file your own return. An accountant earns their fee when they save you time, find costs you can claim, keep you clear of penalties, or handle Making Tax Digital for you.
Can I claim the accountant's fee as an expense?
Yes. Accountancy fees for your business are an allowable business expense, so they reduce your taxable profit.
Why do some accountants charge so much more than others?
Mostly because of what is included, how much bookkeeping they do, and where they are. A London high-street firm charging by the hour will cost more than an online firm with a fixed monthly fee.
When is the cheapest time to change accountant?
Just after a tax return or year-end accounts are filed, so the new firm starts with a clean year. Our guide to changing accountant explains the handover.
Should I pick a sole trader or a limited company first?
That decision changes your tax and your accountancy costs. See sole trader or limited company in 2026.
Sources
- ByteStart: How much should you pay for an accountant if you're self-employed? (updated September 2026)
- Sleek: How much do accountants charge for Self Assessment? (updated 11 September 2026)
- GOV.UK: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax