How much does an accountant cost in the UK? 2026 prices
It is the first question everyone asks and the one most accountants dodge: what is this actually going to cost? The honest answer is that UK accounting fees vary enormously, and most of the variation has nothing to do with quality. Here are the real numbers for 2026, what should be included, and the pricing games to watch out for.
Typical UK accounting fees in 2026
Across the UK market, a straightforward Self Assessment return typically costs £150 to £400. Limited company accounts with the corporation tax return usually run £600 to £2,500 a year depending on size and how tidy the records are. Monthly packages for a small limited company sit anywhere between £60 and £250 or more. Bookkeeping is commonly £25 to £35 an hour, payroll a few pounds per payslip, and VAT returns £100 to £300 a quarter when charged separately. One-off tax advice sessions range from £150 to £500.
Hourly rates versus fixed fees
Hourly billing means you pay for slowness and you find out the price after the work is done. Fixed monthly fees mean you know the cost before you commit, the accountant carries the risk of a job taking longer, and you can actually pick up the phone without wondering what the call costs. For almost every small business, fixed wins.
What actually drives the price
Four things move the number more than anything else: turnover, people on payroll, whether you are VAT registered, and the state of your records. A carrier bag of receipts in January attracts what the trade quietly calls the shoebox premium. Industry matters too: construction under CIS, property portfolios and crypto trading all add genuine complexity. What should not move the number is drip pricing, where a headline fee grows £30 here and £50 there for things any business obviously needs.
What should be included, as standard
Before comparing two quotes, check both include the same things: annual accounts and the corporation tax return, your personal Self Assessment, payroll, VAT returns, bookkeeping, software, HMRC agent status so letters go to the accountant instead of you, and the ability to ask questions through the year without a meter running. A cheap quote that excludes half of this list is not cheap.
Our prices, in the open
We publish ours. Packages start from £115 a month with everything above included, and a simple standalone Self Assessment is £349 fixed. Rather than reading a price list, answer five questions in our instant quote tool and see your own number in about 60 seconds. No email address required.
The better question: what does a good accountant save you?
Fees are only half the equation. Getting the salary and dividend mix right, claiming everything you are entitled to, and planning before year end rather than reporting after it routinely saves more than the annual fee. An accountant who only files what you hand them is a cost. One who plans with you is an investment.
Already with an accountant and paying more for less? Switching takes one email and we handle the rest. Or book a free consultation and get your exact fee in writing the same week.
