Business Start-up Support
Structure, records, budgets and cash-flow planning from day one.
We advise on business structure, accounting records, budgets and cash-flow planning as you establish your business. We help you start with the right structure and records, so your first filings and first year are straightforward.
Based in Greater Manchester, supporting clients across the UK.
At a glance
- Who it is for
- Founders, new businesses and people about to start trading
- What we advise on
- Business structure, registration, accounting records, budgets and cash-flow planning
- What we set up
- Bookkeeping records and software, and your first filings
- What you decide
- Sole trader or limited company, with the practical differences explained
- After the start
- Ongoing accounts, tax returns and reporting
How we support new businesses
Choosing a structure
We explain the practical differences between trading as a sole trader and through a limited company. See Who We Work With: Sole Traders.
Registration and first steps
We guide you through registering with HMRC and Companies House, as relevant. See Self Assessment & Personal Tax.
Records from day one
We set up bookkeeping and cloud accounting so your records are right from the start. See Bookkeeping & Cloud Accounting.
Budgets and cash flow
We plan the first year’s income, costs and cash needs. See Business Consultancy & Cash-Flow Forecasting.
Start-up accountants for new businesses
Starting a business raises questions in a short space of time: how to trade, what to register, what records to keep, what to charge, how much cash you need and when tax falls due. Getting these right early is cheaper than correcting them later. We work with you before you start trading or in the first months, and then continue with your accounts and tax returns if you wish.
We explain choices in plain language and set out the facts, so you decide with the figures in front of you. We do not promise tax savings, and where a matter needs a solicitor or another specialist, we say so.
Sole trader or limited company?
GOV.UK says most businesses register as a sole trader or a limited company, and that the structure affects the way you pay tax and your legal responsibilities. A sole trader is the simplest to set up and keep records for. A limited company is legally separate from the people who own it and is run by directors, with more responsibilities. You can change later, and it is usually easier to move from sole trader to limited company.
We explain what each route means for your records, filings, tax and costs, using your own plans and expected income. Sources: GOV.UK, Set up a business, Set up as a sole trader and Set up a private limited company, checked 11 November 2026.
Key start-up dates
Dates checked against GOV.UK on 11 November 2026.
| Action | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Sole trader: tell HMRC you need to complete a Self Assessment return | 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started |
| Limited company: file first accounts with Companies House | 21 months after the date you registered with Companies House |
| Limited company: file annual accounts with Companies House | 9 months after the financial year ends |
| Limited company: file a Company Tax Return | 12 months after the accounting period ends |
Sources: GOV.UK, Self Assessment tax returns: deadlines and Accounts and tax returns for private limited companies. VAT registration has its own rules; see VAT & Making Tax Digital.
What we set up in your first months
- Your accounting records and software, so income and expenses are recorded from the start
- A simple budget and cash-flow forecast for the first year
- Your registrations and first filings, as they apply to your structure
- A calendar of the dates that matter to you
- A plan for when to register for VAT, if relevant, and whether to run payroll
How we work with you
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Discuss your plansWe learn what you are starting, your expected income and your priorities.
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Agree the structureWe explain the options and what each involves.
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Set upWe help with registration and set up your records.
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Plan the first yearWe prepare a budget and cash-flow forecast.
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ContinueWe prepare your accounts and returns when they fall due.
What affects the fee for start-up support
We do not publish fixed prices. The fee depends on how much set-up and registration support you want, the complexity of the business, and whether we continue with ongoing accounts and tax work. We agree the scope and fee in writing before work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to common questions about this service.
Should I start as a sole trader or a limited company?
It depends on your income, risk and plans. GOV.UK notes that the structure affects tax and legal responsibilities. We explain the differences so you can decide, and you can change later.
Can you help register my business?
We guide you through registering with HMRC and, for a limited company, Companies House, and we set up your records.
Do I need an accountant before I start trading?
Not legally, but advice early on structure, records and cash flow is usually easier and cheaper than correcting problems later.
Becoming a Client
Contact us to discuss your plans for a new business and the structure, records and planning support you need.
We agree the scope and fees in writing before work begins. Any additional work and costs are agreed with you in advance.