https://therightaccountant.co.uk/ Guides and research for UK business owners on finding, checking and changing an accountant. en-gb https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/does-my-company-need-an-audit/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/does-my-company-need-an-audit/ What a company audit is, how the small company audit exemption works (the size test for financial years from 6 April 2025), dormant companies, and when an audit is needed anyway. From GOV.UK and Companies House. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/financial-year-or-tax-year/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/financial-year-or-tax-year/ A company's financial year runs to its own year end, while the personal tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. What each one is, how to find your company's year end, the deadlines that follow, and an example for a 31 December year end. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/who-owns-uk-accountancy-firms/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/who-owns-uk-accountancy-firms/ 92.4% of trading UK accountancy companies list only individuals as owners. 776 have a company owner that owns 3 or more companies on our list. Figures from Companies House, 12 October 2026. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/how-big-are-uk-accountancy-firms/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/how-big-are-uk-accountancy-firms/ 67% of trading UK accountancy companies with a staff number in their accounts have 1 or 2 staff. 37 have more than 100. Figures from Companies House, 1 October 2026. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/how-old-are-uk-accountancy-firms/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/how-old-are-uk-accountancy-firms/ Half of trading UK accountancy companies were incorporated about 9 years ago or less. 31.7% are under 5 years old. Company age, from Companies House 1 October 2026; not the same as practice age. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/do-i-need-an-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/do-i-need-an-accountant/ No law says a business must use an accountant. When you can manage on your own, when it is worth paying for help, and the deadlines either way. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/accountant-for-a-new-limited-company/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/accountant-for-a-new-limited-company/ What a new limited company has to file in its first year or two, when each deadline falls, and what an accountant can do for you in year one. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/accountant-for-a-sole-trader/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/accountant-for-a-sole-trader/ What a sole trader has to do for HMRC: Self Assessment, records and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, and when paying an accountant may be worth it. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/first-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/first-accountant/ Hiring an accountant for the first time: what to check before you sign, what to ask, and how to compare quotes that cover different work. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/what-does-an-accountant-do/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/find/what-does-an-accountant-do/ The services an accountant can provide to a small business, from year-end accounts and tax returns to monthly figures and forecasts, and what may cost extra. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/ Signs it may be time to change accountant, signs it may not be, and what to try with your current firm before you move. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/how-to-change-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/how-to-change-accountant/ The steps to change accountant, who does each one (you, the new firm or the old firm), how professional enquiry works, and how long it can take. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/what-your-old-accountant-must-hand-over/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/what-your-old-accountant-must-hand-over/ When you change accountant, what your old firm must pass on: your own records, and for ACCA members the last approved accounts and a detailed trial balance, free of charge even if fees are unpaid. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/my-accountant-was-bought/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/my-accountant-was-bought/ What usually changes when an accountancy firm is bought by a group, what to ask, and your options. With Companies House figures on group ownership. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/ What our finance support standards are, how they are built from law, published guidance, lenders' requirements and our own judgement, and how to read them. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-250k/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-250k/ The finance support a business turning over about £250,000 a year may have, set against our seven kinds of support, with the legal requirements cited. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-1m/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-1m/ The finance support a business turning over about £1 million a year may have, set against our seven kinds of support, including the micro-entity turnover limit. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-2m/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-2m/ The finance support a business turning over about £2 million a year may have, set against our seven kinds of support, and what changes from £1 million. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-5m/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/business-turnover-around-5m/ The finance support a business turning over about £5 million a year may have, set against our seven kinds of support, with the audit exemption tests explained. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/monthly-reporting/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/monthly-reporting/ What a monthly reporting pack can include beyond management accounts: key measures, how long customers and suppliers take to be paid, cash, a forecast update and a commentary. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/management-accounts/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/management-accounts/ What management accounts should contain, how often a business should get them, and the questions to ask if yours are missing or late. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/cash-flow-forecast/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/cash-flow-forecast/ What a useful cash flow forecast contains, how often it is updated, and why it matters even for a profitable business. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/proactive-advice/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/proactive-advice/ How often an accountant might contact a business during the year, why there is no official standard, and how the engagement letter decides what was agreed. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/finance-director-involvement/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/standards/finance-director-involvement/ Signs a business may benefit from finance director support, and when better reporting or a management accountant may be enough instead. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/accountant-retiring/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/accountant-retiring/ What happens when your accountant retires, closes or sells their practice: who takes over, what happens to your records, and your options. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/questions-to-ask-a-new-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/questions-to-ask-a-new-accountant/ A practical list of questions to ask a new accountant before you sign, grouped by topic: the firm, the work and fee, the handover, day-to-day service and leaving. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/records-and-liens/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/switching/records-and-liens/ When an accountant can hold on to your records until a bill is paid (a particular lien), the conditions, and the records they cannot keep, including a company's statutory books and accounting records. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/check/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/check/ How to compare the support you get from your accountant with what you agreed in your engagement letter and with what your business may need now. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/check/have-i-outgrown-my-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/check/have-i-outgrown-my-accountant/ The signs your business needs more than your accountant provides, what to ask them first, and when it makes sense to add support or move. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/check/how-often-should-my-accountant-contact-me/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/check/how-often-should-my-accountant-contact-me/ There is no official standard for how often an accountant contacts you. What contact to expect depends on what you agreed, and what to do if it is not happening. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/accountant-not-responding/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/accountant-not-responding/ What to do, step by step, when your accountant stops replying, how to protect your deadlines, and how to move if you need to. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/accountancy-fees-went-up/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/accountancy-fees-went-up/ What to do when your accountancy fee goes up: check your engagement letter, ask what changed, ask for a breakdown, compare like for like and decide. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/lender-wants-management-accounts/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/lender-wants-management-accounts/ What to do when a bank or lender asks for management accounts: find out exactly what it wants, check what you have, and ask your accountant to produce them. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/reaching-the-vat-threshold/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/reaching-the-vat-threshold/ What to do as your taxable turnover nears the £90,000 VAT threshold: how to work out turnover, when you must register, your effective date, and what help you may need. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/taking-on-first-employee/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/taking-on-first-employee/ What to do before you pay your first employee: register as an employer, set up payroll, tell HMRC each payday, set up a workplace pension, and decide who runs it. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/growing-fast/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/growing-fast/ The finance support a fast-growing business may need: up-to-date records, management accounts, a cash flow forecast, financial controls, and when to add more help. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/profit-but-no-cash/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/profit-but-no-cash/ Why a business can make a profit and still run short of cash, what to do first, and who can help: late-paying customers, stock, tax bills, loan repayments and growth. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/more-than-one-company/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/more-than-one-company/ The extra work that comes with running more than one company: filing for each company, money moving between them, possible group accounts, and why one accountant across them can help. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/accountant-made-a-mistake/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/accountant-made-a-mistake/ What to do if your accountant made a mistake: protect your deadlines, raise it in writing, use the firm's complaints process, complain to a professional body, and when to take legal advice. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/bookkeeper/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/bookkeeper/ What a bookkeeper does, who may need one, how a bookkeeper differs from an accountant, the professional bodies bookkeepers can belong to, and what to ask before you hire one. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant/ What an accountant does for a small business, what chartered and chartered certified mean, how accountants are supervised, and what to ask before you choose one. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/specialist-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/specialist-accountant/ What a specialist accountant is, which sectors have their own tax rules, how to test whether an accountant really knows your sector, and when a general accountant may be enough. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/tax-adviser/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/tax-adviser/ What a tax adviser does, how a tax adviser differs from an accountant, what Chartered Tax Adviser and ATT membership mean, the new HMRC registration rule, and what to ask before you hire one. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/management-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/management-accountant/ What a management accountant does, how the role differs from your accountant and a finance director, what CIMA membership means, and when better monthly figures from your current accountant may be enough. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/outsourced-finance-team/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/outsourced-finance-team/ What an outsourced finance team is, what it can cover from bookkeeping to finance director, how it differs from a traditional accountant, and what to check before you sign up. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/financial-controller/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/financial-controller/ What a financial controller does, how the role sits between a bookkeeper and a finance director, in-house or part-time options, and what to ask before you hire one. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/fractional-fd/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/fractional-fd/ What a part-time (fractional) finance director does, when a business needs one, how it differs from an accountant, and what to ask before hiring. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/fractional-cfo/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/fractional-cfo/ What a part-time (fractional) CFO does, how the title overlaps with part-time finance director, when a business may benefit from one, and what to ask before you hire one. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant-or-bookkeeper/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant-or-bookkeeper/ The difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant, which one your business needs, and when it makes sense to use both. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant-or-management-accountant/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant-or-management-accountant/ How an accountant and a management accountant differ, which one may fit your business, and when a business uses both. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant-or-fractional-fd/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/accountant-or-fractional-fd/ How an accountant and a part-time (fractional) finance director differ, which one may fit your business, and when a business uses both. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/fd-or-cfo/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/fd-or-cfo/ What people mean by finance director and chief financial officer (CFO), why the titles overlap, and how to choose the help your business needs. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/outsource-or-hire/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/outsource-or-hire/ The difference between paying an outside firm for bookkeeping, accounts or finance support and employing someone to do it, and what to weigh up. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/when-you-need-management-accounts/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/support/when-you-need-management-accounts/ There is no legal requirement to have management accounts. Signs they may help your business, when a lender may ask for them, and when yearly accounts may be enough. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/fees/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/fees/ How UK accountants charge (fixed monthly, yearly or by the hour), what changes the price, and what to check before you agree a fee. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/fees/what-a-fee-should-include/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/fees/what-a-fee-should-include/ A checklist of what can be in a basic accountancy fee, what can be charged extra, and why the engagement letter is where the scope is set. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/online-fixed-fee-accountants/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/online-fixed-fee-accountants/ Published starting prices for sole trader and limited company packages from 13 UK online accountancy firms, read on each firm's own website on 12 October 2026, with what the cheapest package includes. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/ Signs that selling online may need an accountant with ecommerce experience (marketplaces, stock, selling abroad, high order numbers, several sales channels) and when a general accountant may be enough. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/what-an-ecommerce-accountant-does/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/what-an-ecommerce-accountant-does/ The extra work online sellers may need help with: matching marketplace payouts to sales, stock, VAT on sales at home and abroad, and the software that links your shops to your accounts. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/vat-for-online-sellers/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/vat-for-online-sellers/ How UK VAT works for online sellers: the £90,000 registration threshold, when an online marketplace accounts for the VAT, selling goods to customers in the EU, the Northern Ireland position and digital VAT records. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/amazon-fba-and-stock-abroad/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/amazon-fba-and-stock-abroad/ What changes when your stock is stored in another country, for example in a marketplace's warehouses: VAT registration where the goods are kept, who accounts for VAT on the sale, and what to ask an accountant. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/stock-and-cost-of-sales/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/stock-and-cost-of-sales/ Why stock records matter for an online seller's profit and tax: cost of sales explained plainly, what a limited company must record, and cash basis or traditional accounting for sole traders. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/marketplace-payouts/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/marketplace-payouts/ Why the money a marketplace pays into your bank rarely equals your sales (fees, refunds, reserves, VAT the marketplace accounts for, currency) and how the figures get matched up. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/accountant-or-finance-director/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/accountant-or-finance-director/ For a growing online seller: when better monthly figures from an accountant may be enough, and when a part-time finance director may help with cash tied up in stock, forecasting and funding. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/fees/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/fees/ How accountancy for online sellers can be charged (by turnover, orders, sales channels or item by item), what changes the price, and examples of advertised prices from firms' own ecommerce pricing pages. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/switching/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/specialists/ecommerce/switching/ What to ask an accountant with ecommerce experience before you move (marketplaces, software, VAT registrations abroad, stock) and what to move across: software access, marketplace reports and VAT records. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/making-tax-digital/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/situations/making-tax-digital/ Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: who has to use it and when, who is exempt, what you have to do each quarter, and the penalty rules, in plain terms. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/do-accountancy-firms-file-on-time/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/do-accountancy-firms-file-on-time/ 3.3% of trading UK accountancy companies had a filing shown as overdue on Companies House, against 6.6% of all trading UK companies. Data at 1 October 2026. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/when-are-company-accounts-due/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/when-are-company-accounts-due/ 19.3% of trading UK companies have a financial year end in March. 579,306 companies had accounts due on 31 December 2026 that were not yet filed. A filing calendar from Companies House data, 1 October 2026. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/making-tax-digital-who-it-affects/ https://therightaccountant.co.uk/research/making-tax-digital-who-it-affects/ 864,000 sole traders and landlords had qualifying income over £50,000 in HMRC's figures for 2023 to 2024. 172,000 of them had neither an agent nor software. Who Making Tax Digital for Income Tax affects, from HMRC data. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000