Typical UK accountancy fees in 2026 range from around £150 for a simple sole trader self-assessment to £2,000+ for a small limited company year-end with corporation tax, accounts and director's tax return. Most modern SME-focused firms now bundle services into fixed monthly retainers of £100 to £500 per month covering bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, accounts, and tax. Fees vary significantly by region, specialism, and complexity.
Headline benchmarks for 2026
| Service | Typical UK fee range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Sole trader self-assessment (simple) | £150 to £400 |
| Sole trader self-assessment with accounts (under VAT threshold) | £300 to £700 |
| Limited company year-end + corporation tax (small / dormant) | £400 to £900 |
| Limited company year-end + corporation tax (active OMB) | £900 to £2,000+ |
| Director's self-assessment tax return (alongside company) | £150 to £350 |
| Confirmation statement filing | £50 to £100 |
| Quarterly VAT return | £75 to £200 per return |
| Monthly payroll (1 to 5 employees) | £25 to £75 per month |
| Bookkeeping (small business, monthly) | £100 to £400 per month |
| Monthly retainer (typical SME limited company) | £150 to £500 per month |
| R&D tax credit claim | 10% to 25% of credit, or fixed fee £2,000 to £15,000+ |
| Statutory audit (small company, where required) | £3,000 to £15,000+ |
| Independent examination (charity) | £500 to £2,500 |
These ranges reflect typical UK SME-focused practice rates in 2026. Fees in London and the South East tend to be 20% to 40% higher; specialist firms (audit, R&D, financial services) charge significantly more.
What drives fee differences?
Even for the same headline service, prices vary widely. Common drivers include:
- Quality of records: tidy bookkeeping in Xero/QuickBooks costs less to work with than shoebox receipts
- Complexity: multiple income sources, foreign income, share schemes, capital gains, partnerships, group structures all add cost
- Industry specialism: regulated sectors (FCA, charity, healthcare, construction CIS) need specialist knowledge
- Service standard: high-touch client experience and proactive advice cost more than reactive compliance only
- Software inclusion: bundled software adds £15 to £50 per month to package prices
- Location: London and Home Counties typically 20% to 40% above national averages
- Firm size: Big Four and large mid-tier firms charge significantly more than small or solo practices
What you typically get for a £150 to £250 monthly retainer
- Year-end accounts and corporation tax return
- One director's self-assessment
- Confirmation statement
- VAT returns under MTD
- Payroll for one or two directors
- Email and phone support, response within 1 to 2 working days
- Often: bundled accounting software subscription
What you typically get for £300 to £500+ monthly
- All of the above
- Full bookkeeping done by the practice
- Higher-volume payroll (e.g. 3 to 10 employees)
- Quarterly management accounts and review meetings
- Tax planning conversations and proactive advice
- Faster response times
Fee comparisons only work when the scope of services is matched. A £100/month "limited company" deal that excludes bookkeeping, payroll and the director's tax return is not equivalent to a £250/month package that includes them all.
How to use these benchmarks if you're a client
If you are a small business owner deciding whether your accountant's fees are reasonable, look at:
- What services are included (and excluded)
- Whether software is bundled
- The qualification and licensing of the firm (ICAEW, ACCA, AAT)
- The standard of communication, responsiveness, and proactive advice
- Whether the firm specialises in your sector
Headline price alone is rarely the right basis to choose. The cheapest accountant is often the most expensive over time.
How to use these benchmarks if you're a practitioner
If you are setting prices for your practice, use these ranges as a sanity check rather than an instruction. Your specific costs (premises, software stack, AML burden, PII), local competition, and client base will determine the right level. Many sole practitioners find the upper half of these ranges achievable with strong specialism and a clear value proposition.
Key Takeaways
- Typical UK SME accountancy fees in 2026 range from £150 for a simple self-assessment to £500+ per month for a fully bundled limited company retainer
- Fees vary 20% to 40% by region, with London and the South East at the top end
- The biggest fee drivers are records quality, complexity, sector specialism and service standard
- Compare like-for-like: included services and software inclusion matter as much as headline price
- The cheapest accountant is rarely the best value over time
Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant cost for a small limited company in the UK?
For a typical owner-managed small company, expect £150 to £400 per month or £900 to £2,000+ per year, including accounts, corporation tax, the director's self-assessment, and basic VAT and payroll.
How much does it cost to do a self-assessment?
£150 to £400 for a simple return; more for complex returns with multiple income sources, capital gains or foreign income.
Are accountancy fees tax-deductible?
Fees relating to your business or self-employment are generally allowable as a business expense. Personal tax return preparation for a non-business return is not normally deductible.
Why are accountants cheaper online than locally?
Online practices benefit from cloud automation, scale and lower overheads. Their fees are often 10% to 30% lower than traditional high-street firms, but service models differ; weigh price against responsiveness and access to a named adviser.
Are R&D claim fees on contingency normal?
Yes, contingency or success-based fees of 10% to 25% of the credit are common, although fixed-fee R&D services are increasingly available and often better value for larger claims.