Accountant for the Self-Employed
An accountant for the self-employed who takes the tax off your plate.
Income that arrives in fits and starts, expenses to keep on top of, and a Self Assessment return looming every January. Accrue works with sole traders every day: a fixed monthly fee, AAT-qualified accountants, and questions answered the day you ask them.
- Your Self Assessment prepared and filed, well before the deadline
- Your tax bill known months ahead, so you can set the money aside
- Every expense you are entitled to, claimed properly
- FreeAgent or Xero included, so your books stay current
No long-term contract. If it is not working after three months, you leave with clean books and nothing owed.
Get a free quote
Fixed pricing. Same-day reply.
No long-term contract. Leave any time with clean books and nothing owed.
What our clients say
★★★★★
Tax-Efficient Advice, Year After Year
"I have always had great service from Ricky at Contrast Accounting over many years. He has always offered the most tax-efficient and cost-effective solutions to my accounting."
★★★★★
Advice Whenever I Need It
"Fully personalised advice and available whenever I need them. The guys are always there to give spot on advice."
★★★★★
Supportive From Day One
"I am so glad I chose Accrue. The team has been incredibly supportive, guiding me through the whole process with clear explanations and practical advice."
★★★★★
A Breeze to Keep Up to Date
"The team at Accrue have been incredible. Greg and Coral have always been around to help in a speedy and effective manner, making it a breeze to keep my accounts up to date."
Everything we do is underpinned by three objectives
Wealth
We turn your hard work into more take-home - every allowable expense claimed, your tax planned in advance, and the allowances you are due put to use.
Knowledge
We are fully AAT-qualified experts who handle Self Assessment and sole trader tax every day. You get clear answers without a lecture, in plain English.
Time
We make your time the priority - bookkeeping software, every deadline tracked and the admin you dislike most handled, so you can get on with the work.
Your accounts made simple
Keeping track of your finances does not have to be a headache. Three steps and the rest is handled.
Get in touch
Fill in the quote form with a few details about your work. We come back to you within one working day with a fixed-fee figure.
Discovery call
A short, no-pressure call to understand how you bill and what you need. You leave knowing exactly what happens next.
We'll handle the rest
We set up your software, sort any catch-up bookkeeping, and take it from there. Your books, Self Assessment and deadlines are then handled.
Sound familiar?
Self-employed tax is its own thing. Most people only think about it every January.
Self-employed income rarely arrives in neat monthly amounts, which makes tax harder to plan than it should be. Left to the last minute, the Self Assessment return becomes a scramble - and a guess at what is actually claimable usually leaves money on the table.
- Tax money set aside by guesswork, then hoping it covers the bill
- Receipts and invoices scattered across email, apps and the car
- No clear idea what you can actually claim, so you under-claim to be safe
What sorted looks like
Accrue handles the compliance, but also the planning behind it: your tax position year-round, your expenses claimed in full, and the numbers when a decision needs making.
- A running figure for your tax bill, so you set aside the right amount as you go
- Bank-connected software keeps your books current through the year
- Every allowable expense claimed properly, so you keep what is yours
- Fixed monthly fee, no charge for a ten-minute call
What self-employed clients say
Accrue works with sole traders and self-employed people across the UK. A few have been kind enough to say so in writing.
I switched early this year from another more expensive accountancy firm who had let me down and it was the best thing I ever did. They are super quick to reply and nothing is too much trouble. I could not recommend them more highly.
Had been with Intouch for about 5 years and they went downhill but Accrue done a really smooth transition and a bit extra to get me up to date, even found some overpayments. Very knowledgeable, helpful and quick to respond.
Three things your fee covers
Your Self Assessment handled end to end, your tax planned in advance, and every expense claimed properly. All through cloud accounting software.
Your tax bill, months in advance
We keep a running figure for what you will owe, so you can set the right amount aside as you go. Self assessment becomes a quick review rather than a January scramble, and there is no end-of-year shock.
Included as standardEvery expense, claimed properly
Home office, equipment, software, professional subscriptions, travel to client sites - claimed in full. FreeAgent or Xero is included, bank-connected, so nothing is missed and nothing is left on the table.
Software includedSelf Assessment, handled end to end
We prepare and file your return, calculate your Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance, and make sure your payments on account are right - so nothing is missed and nothing is paid that should not be.
Filing includedSimple, fixed monthly pricing for sole traders
No hourly billing and no surprise invoices. Pick the level that fits, and change it whenever your needs do.
Sole Trader Basic
£50 + VAT
per month
- Unlimited advice and support
- Online accounting software with real-time updates
- HMRC registration
- Self Assessment tax return
- Never miss a deadline with our reminders
- VAT registration and submission (Making Tax Digital)
- CIS returns and submissions to HMRC
Sole Trader ACCRUE
£60 + VAT
per month
- Unlimited advice and support
- Online accounting software with real-time updates
- HMRC registration
- Self Assessment tax return
- Never miss a deadline with our reminders
- VAT registration and submission (Making Tax Digital)
- CIS returns and submissions to HMRC
Not sure which you need? Tell us about your work and we will point you to the right one - there is no charge for asking.
A 5/5 record, and clients who stayed
The themes that come up most: quick replies, fixed fees that pay for themselves, and switching made painless.
Knowledgeable and Quick to Respond
“This company offers a great accountancy service. They are very knowledgeable, helpful and very quick to respond to any queries. Exactly what I need as they understand my situation.”
Made It Far Less Daunting
“I did not hesitate in contacting Ricky and using Contrast Accounting. Ricky is super helpful and explains everything clearly, which as someone new to it made the whole thing far less daunting.”
Totally On Top of His Game
“I moved to Contrast Accounting as I felt my regular tax accountant was not personalised enough. I am very happy with the support that I receive from Ricky. He is totally on top of his game.”
What separates a specialist from a once-a-year accountant
Most accountants will file your return in January. Fewer will tell you in good time what to set aside and what you can claim.
Fixed monthly fees, nothing hidden
You know exactly what you pay, with no surprise invoices and no charge for every question you ask. Unlimited advice is included - call, email or message your accountant as often as you need, at no extra cost.
A named accountant, not a call centre
You get one qualified accountant who knows your situation from day one, replies the day you ask, and explains things in plain English. Reviews mention the same names year after year for a reason.
Switching handled for you
We handle the move from your old accountant, so you do not have to do anything complicated to come across. Clients regularly describe the transition as smooth - and a few have had overpayments found in the process.
“Had been with Intouch for about 5 years and they went downhill but Accrue done a really smooth transition and a bit extra to get me up to date, even found some overpayments. Could not recommend them more highly.”
Things the self-employed usually ask first
Do you handle Self Assessment for the self-employed?
Yes - sole traders and self-employed people are a core part of who we work with. Income that varies month to month, expenses spread across the year, and the Self Assessment return itself are all familiar ground. We prepare and file the return for you, well before the January deadline, so it is never a last-minute scramble.
What does it cost, and what is included?
Pricing is fixed monthly and set out clearly before you commit - no hourly billing and no surprise invoices. There are two options for the self-employed: Sole Trader Basic at GBP 50 + VAT a month, and Sole Trader ACCRUE at GBP 60 + VAT a month, which adds unlimited advice and support. The service covers cloud accounting software with real-time updates, HMRC registration, your Self Assessment tax return, and reminders so you never miss a deadline - with VAT registration and submission under Making Tax Digital, and CIS returns and submissions to HMRC, where you need them.
My books are behind, or I have a late return. Can you help?
Yes. Catch-up work and overdue returns are common, and we deal with them regularly. The cost of bringing things current is quoted separately from the ongoing monthly fee, so there are no surprises. Most people arrive with things in some state of disarray and leave with considerably less to worry about.
Is there a minimum contract period?
No long-term tie-in. The service is rolling and monthly. If it is not working out, you leave with clean, filed records and nothing owed beyond the work completed. The expectation is a long-term relationship because it works, not because of a contract.
What can I claim, and what about registering and National Insurance?
As a sole trader you can claim the costs of running your business - things like equipment, software, a proportion of home and phone use, and allowable travel. We make sure you claim what you are entitled to and nothing you are not. We also handle registering you for Self Assessment if needed, and calculate your Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance as part of the return.
Will I get the same accountant each time?
Yes. You work with one named, qualified accountant who knows your situation, rather than a different person in a call centre each time. It is the difference our reviews mention most - personal support and replies that arrive the day you ask.
Less guessing about your tax. More certainty.
Accrue prepares your Self Assessment, plans the tax and keeps your books current - fixed fee, AAT-qualified, available when you need them.