How Much Do Accountants Charge in the UK? Accountant Fees Explained 2026/27

Is your business expanding and are you thinking of hiring an accountant? Then you should understand how much do accountants charge in the UK. Yes, this is important to ensure you don’t overpay or pay too little. 

Now, you must be wondering how much an accountant costs in the UK. There is no fixed price that every accountant must charge. The cost varies depending on whether you are a sole trader, limited company or another type of business. It also depends on the amount of work and services you need.

This blog explains typical UK accountant fees in 2026, what factors affect the accountant cost in the UK, and what you should check before hiring an accountant. 

Why Do Businesses Need to Hire an Accountant? 

Before discussing how much do accountants charge, let’s first understand why you need them. Not every business is required to hire an accountant. If your accounting is simple, you can manage your accounting and tax obligations yourself. 

However, if your business is growing and managing your financial and tax matters is complex, you need to hire an accountant. 

An accountant offers a wide range of services, from one-off tax return assistance to ongoing accounting and tax support. Depending on the services you choose, an accountant can help you with 

• Regular bookkeeping, 
• Preparing business accounts
• Setting up a limited company
• Filing a Self Assessment tax return
• Helping calculate or plan for relevant Income Tax and National Insurance liabilities 
• Identifying allowable business expenses

They may also support you with:

• Registering with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• VAT registration and returns
• Complying with Making Tax Digital (MTD), where applicable

Some services are non-recurring tasks, while others need ongoing support. This is why accountant fees can vary significantly.

How Much Do Accountants Charge in the UK?

Basic Self-Assessment tax returns can start from £150-£500. Ongoing small business accounting may generally be charged on a fixed monthly basis anywhere between £100 and £400+ per month.

More detailed support, such as limited company accounts, payroll, bookkeeping, VAT returns, and tax planning, will usually cost more. This is because there is more work involved and more deadlines to manage. 

Here is a rough guide to accountant fees for different businesses in the UK:

Disclaimer: These are indicative UK accountants’ fee ranges for 2026. Costs can vary depending on the accountant, business structure, complexity, and services required.

How Much Do Accountants Charge for Small Businesses in the UK? 

Accountant fees for small businesses can vary depending on the complexity of the business and the services required.

For instance, a small business such as a sole trader with simple income and expenses may only need help with Self Assessment and basic accounting. Another sole trader may need bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, and ongoing tax support.

Moreover, you may also be able to pay for specific services rather than an ongoing package. For example, if you only need help with a basic Self Assessment tax return, you could ask for a fixed fee rather than paying for a monthly accounting package.

The table below outlines a rough estimate of sole trader accountant fees:

Disclaimer: These are indicative UK fee ranges for 2026. Costs vary depending on the accountant, business structure, complexity, and services required.

How Much Do Accountants Charge for a Limited Company in the UK? 

Note that limited company accounting can involve more compliance work than a straightforward sole trader tax return. The cost of an accountant for a limited company is often higher than a sole trader because of the business structure, complexity and the services required. 

Depending on your company’s circumstances, an accountant may provide services such as Corporation Tax returns, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, preparation of annual accounts, and tax advice.

What Determines Accountant Fees?

Learning the factors that determine the accountant fees UK is a part of understanding how much do accountants charge. Here are some of the factors that can affect how much you pay an accountant: 

Business Structure

A business with straightforward finances may need fewer services than a company with complex financial matters. For example, a sole trader costs less than a limited company that needs annual accounts, a Company Tax Return and other compliance work.

Services Required

Fees may increase when you need additional services, such as bookkeeping, self-assessment, annual accounts, Corporation Tax, VAT returns, payroll, and tax advice. Furthermore, some firms include several services within a package, while others charge separately for VAT, payroll, bookkeeping, or advisory work. So, you have to look for the services required and choose wisely.

Complexity of Your Accounts

The number of transactions, VAT obligations, employees, and complexity of your tax affairs can affect the amount of work required and therefore the cost.

Quality of Your Records

Accurate and well-organised records may reduce the amount of bookkeeping and checking your accountant needs to do. Disorganised or incomplete records may require additional work.

Pricing Structure

Accountants may charge hourly rates, fixed fees, or monthly packages, depending on the service. Always check what is included and whether additional charges apply.

How Much Do Accountants Charge Per Hour?

In the UK, accountants also charge per hour, and the indicative market rates are around £35–£60 per hour for basic accounting services. However, for more specialist work, they charge around £70–£150. Moreover, individual accountants can charge different rates.

How to Choose an Accountant?

Once you know which services you need and how much do accountants charge, consider the following when hiring an accountant for your business: 

• Check the qualifications, credentials, and professional memberships of the accountant. Bodies such as ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS, and CIMA have different roles and membership requirements. That is why you need to check the accountant’s specific credentials.
• Compare fees and services to see whether the quote covers the services you need.
• Consider an accountant with relevant experience in your industry or business structure. 
• Check software and digital support they provide. 
• Consider the accountant’s availability and communication style.

Making Tax Digital and Accountancy Costs

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is a crucial consideration when choosing an accountant.

From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income of more than £50,000 must use MTD for Income Tax. From April 2027, the threshold will reduce to £30,000 and from April 2028, it will further reduce to £20,000. Those affected must keep digital records and use compatible software to send quarterly updates to HMRC.

An accountant can help you check whether MTD applies to you. Additionally, they can help you choose compatible software and manage the relevant reporting requirements.

Why Should You Hire an Accountant?

Although you are not legally required to hire an accountant, hiring an accountant can be worth the cost. Working with an accountant can save you time and provide support with tax and accounting responsibilities. 

Need an accountant for your growing business? Accounting Firms is here to help. Our platform helps you find the best UK accountants by industry, location, services, and qualifications. You can also search by qualification, compare services, and then compare suitable options based on your requirements. 

The Bottom Line

Understanding how much do accountants charge is essential before hiring an accountant. There is no fixed fee that accountants charge in the UK. Accountant fees depend on your business structure, transaction volume, accounting needs, complexity, and the services included.

Remember when comparing accountants, look beyond the headline price. You should check exactly what is included, whether the service matches your accounting and tax requirements, and whether there are additional charges.