Fees index
What UK accountants actually charge
Accountancy pricing is famously opaque. These are our independent benchmarks for every common service — published in full, updated as the market moves, and used consistently across the whole site.
- £39–£89
- Sole trader / month
- £83–£227
- Limited company / month
- £150+
- One-off tax return
- Free
- To compare quotes
Fees by service
Typical monthly fee
£83–£227
How much does an accountant cost for a limited company?
Micro limited company, core compliance
See the full breakdown →
One-off return
£150–£350
How much does an accountant charge for a self assessment tax return?
Straightforward employment plus side income
See the full breakdown →
Typical monthly cost
£25–£75
How much does bookkeeping cost in the UK?
Small business, outsourced bookkeeping
See the full breakdown →
Base fee plus per employee
£15–£35 + £5
How much does payroll cost per employee in the UK?
Per month, per employee per pay run
See the full breakdown →
Typical add-on cost
£20–£45/mo
How much does a VAT return cost?
Quarterly MTD VAT returns
See the full breakdown →
Accountant fees by city
Typical monthly packages in the UK's largest cities. Ranges step with city size and nation; central London practices often charge 10–20% above the London range, while online firms serving the whole UK often price below these local ranges.
| City | Sole trader / month | Limited company / month |
|---|---|---|
| London | £45–£102 | £95–£261 |
| Manchester | £45–£102 | £95–£261 |
| Birmingham | £45–£102 | £95–£261 |
| Leeds | £45–£102 | £95–£261 |
| Glasgow | £42–£96 | £90–£245 |
| Edinburgh | £42–£96 | £90–£245 |
| Liverpool | £45–£102 | £95–£261 |
| Bristol | £41–£93 | £87–£238 |
| Sheffield | £45–£102 | £95–£261 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £41–£93 | £87–£238 |
| Nottingham | £41–£93 | £87–£238 |
| Cardiff | £41–£93 | £87–£238 |
| Belfast | £41–£93 | £87–£238 |
Indicative ranges: our UK benchmarks adjusted for city size and nation, reviewed 2026-07-17. Not quotes — confirm the scope and VAT treatment in writing.Download the benchmark data.