Your first-year accounts, done right from the start.
A lot of new founders reach their first year-end without a clear picture of what they owe, what they can claim, or what filing actually involves. That changes quickly. First-year accounts prepared and filed on time, Corporation Tax calculated correctly, and plain English throughout — no jargon, no surprises. Every enquiry reviewed personally by Annabel, AAT Licensed Accountant.
- First-year statutory accounts filed on time, no penalties
- Corporation Tax calculated correctly from day one
- Know your tax bill well before HMRC sends a reminder
- Plain English — you will always know what your numbers mean
No long-term contract. If it is not working after three months, you leave with clean books and nothing owed.
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What our clients say
★★★★★
Set Up Right From Day One
“Having never been self employed or a limited company before, the support and advice I have had has been extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease.”
★★★★★
Smooth Process, Clear Guidance
“She has made the whole process of changing accountants so smooth and stress-free. Her step-by-step guidance and clear communication made everything easy to follow.”
★★★★★
Saved Thousands, Fixed Past Mistakes
“She has fixed so many lazy, unprofessional mistakes by my old accountant by being so meticulously thorough, offering amazing business advice and has saved me thousands.”
★★★★★
Genuinely Cares About Your Business
“I 100% trust Annabel and she proves time and time again why it was the best move for my business to switch to her.”
Not sure what your first year-end actually involves?
Most new founders get to month ten or eleven and realise they have very little idea what is due, when it is due, or how to work out the Corporation Tax figure. The Companies House deadline crept up quietly. The bookkeeping is somewhere between a spreadsheet and a best guess. And nobody told you that your accounting period might not end on 5 April.
- No clear picture of what Corporation Tax you actually owe
- Bookkeeping left in a state that needs untangling before accounts can be prepared
- Deadlines for Companies House and HMRC filing approaching with no plan in place
What your first year-end sorted looks like
First-year accounts prepared from clean, reconciled records. Corporation Tax computed accurately, with allowable expenses and reliefs checked. Statutory accounts filed with Companies House and CT600 submitted to HMRC — on time, documented and signed off.
- Corporation Tax calculated correctly, with reliefs and allowances checked
- Bookkeeping reconciled and year-end records clean before accounts are prepared
- Companies House and HMRC deadlines tracked and met — no last-minute scramble
- A fixed-scope proposal based on your actual situation, not a template package
What new founders say after their first year
Both of these clients came to Next Level at or near the start of their business. Here is what they found.
I have recently had the pleasure of the wonderful service of Annabel, appointed as my bookkeeper and accountant. Having never been self employed or a limited company before, the support and advice I have had has been extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease knowing that any problems or queries I have will be handled or answered. Friendly, supportive and very quick to respond to any queries or sort advice. I would 100% recommend.
Working with Annabel has been fantastic. She has made the whole process of changing accountants so smooth and stress-free. Her step-by-step guidance and clear communication made everything easy to follow, even for someone who does not naturally “speak accounts.” Annabel’s energy, passion, and genuine desire to help people understand their business finances really shine through in everything she does. Her support and knowledge have been superb, and I now see her as a vital part of my business and its continued growth. Thank you, Annabel, for all your help; you truly live up to your company name.
What first-year accounts actually covers
The scope varies by business, but these are the three things most new limited companies need sorted in their first accounting period.
Year-End Accounts and CT600
Statutory accounts prepared from your records, Corporation Tax computed and the CT600 filed with HMRC. Allowable expenses, capital allowances and any available reliefs are checked before the return is submitted — not after. Companies House filing is handled at the same time, so nothing slips through.
Included as standardBookkeeping and Records Reconciliation
If the bookkeeping for your first year is incomplete or sitting in a spreadsheet, it is reconciled and brought up to date before accounts are prepared. Cloud bookkeeping via Xero is set up at the same time, so your second year starts with real-time financial data rather than another year-end scramble.
Available from month oneTax Planning and Commercial Advice
First-year accounts are also the right time to look at salary and dividend structure, VAT registration thresholds and how the business is set up for the year ahead. The compliance is a given — the value is in knowing what to do next, not just what happened last year.
Included in discovery callConsistent results, not one-off luck
Three different clients, three different situations. The common thread is knowing where they stand and having someone who actually handles it.
Fixed Mistakes, Saved Thousands, Gave Real Advice
“I switched accountants to work with Annabel because I felt she truly cared about helping businesses to take control of their finances. She opened my eyes to how an accountant actually should work with you. She has fixed so many lazy, unprofessional mistakes by my old accountant by being so meticulously thorough, offering amazing business advice and has saved me thousands.”
First Limited Company, Mind Put At Ease
“Having never been self employed or a limited company before, the support and advice I have had has been extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease knowing that any problems or queries I have will be handled or answered.”
Clear Communication, Even Without Accounting Knowledge
“Her step-by-step guidance and clear communication made everything easy to follow, even for someone who does not naturally “speak accounts.””
Why founders choose Next Level for their first year-end
There are plenty of accountants who will file your first-year accounts. Fewer will tell you what you should have done differently — and what to do next.
Commercial Advice, Not Just Compliance
Filing the accounts is the minimum. The more useful conversation is about salary and dividend structure, whether VAT registration makes sense yet, and what your margins actually look like now you have a full year of data. Annabel has worked inside real businesses at a strategic level for 16 years — the advice reflects that.
Deadlines Tracked, Never Chased
Companies House accounts are due nine months after your accounting period end. The CT600 is due twelve months after the period end, with tax due nine months and one day after. Both are tracked and filed on time — you will not receive a reminder letter before the return has been submitted.
Plain English, Every Time
No jargon, no overwhelming spreadsheets, no unexplained adjustments. Every set of accounts is explained in plain English — what the numbers mean, what you owe, what you can do about it. If something in your first year needs flagging, you hear about it directly from Annabel.
Up and running in three straightforward steps
Most new clients are fully onboarded within a week. The admin sits with us, not with you.
Free discovery call
A free, no-obligation 20-30 minute call. Annabel asks about your business, your current setup and what your first accounting period looks like — no scripts, no pitch deck. You get honest advice whether you become a client or not.
Tailored proposal
A proposal built around your specific situation — not a template tier. Scoped to what your first year actually needs, with a clear fee and no surprises. If the bookkeeping needs catching up before accounts can be prepared, that is costed separately and explained clearly.
Onboard and hand over
We take the admin off your plate — Xero set up or connected, records pulled together and reconciled, and your first-year accounts prepared from a clean base. The transition is handled entirely by us.
First year-end, done
Statutory accounts filed, CT600 submitted, tax liability confirmed. You know what you owe, when it is due and what the year ahead looks like. Which is, frankly, the way it should be.
“I 100% trust Annabel and she proves time and time again why it was the best move for my business to switch to her. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for someone who genuinely cares, who is meticulously thorough and offers great advice.”
Things founders usually ask before getting started
My first accounting period is not twelve months — does that affect how the accounts are prepared?
Yes, and it is worth knowing before you get to year-end. If your company incorporated part-way through the year, your first accounting period may be shorter or longer than twelve months, which affects your Corporation Tax deadlines and how certain calculations work. This is covered during the discovery call so there are no surprises when the filing dates arrive.
What does it cost to have first-year accounts prepared?
Fees are scoped to each client’s specific situation and discussed on the free discovery call — there is no standard package. The main variables are the volume and state of the bookkeeping, whether VAT returns are in scope, and whether payroll needs to be picked up. You will receive a clear, fixed proposal before any work begins.
My bookkeeping for the year is not in great shape. Can you still prepare the accounts?
Yes. Most first-year accounts involve some degree of records reconciliation — incomplete records, bank feeds not connected, or transactions sitting in a spreadsheet rather than accounting software. The bookkeeping catch-up is scoped separately and completed before the year-end accounts are prepared. The cost depends on how much work is involved, and that is assessed honestly at the outset.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. There is no minimum term. Most clients stay because the service is worth it, not because they are contractually obligated to. If it is not working after three months, you leave with clean books and nothing owed.
Do I need to register for VAT in my first year?
Not automatically — VAT registration is mandatory once your taxable turnover exceeds the current threshold in any rolling twelve-month period. Your turnover is monitored as part of the ongoing service, so you will not cross the threshold without knowing about it in advance. Whether voluntary registration makes sense before that point is a conversation worth having early.
What is the most tax-efficient way to pay myself in the first year?
For most owner-directors of limited companies, a combination of a small salary and dividends is more efficient than salary alone — but the right split depends on your profit levels, other income sources and National Insurance position. This is covered as part of the first-year accounts process, not left until after the return is filed.
Related services for new businesses
Get your first year-end sorted properly.
First-year accounts prepared and filed on time, Corporation Tax calculated correctly, and plain English throughout — scoped to your specific situation after a free discovery call.