Starting a business? Get the foundations right.
Most founders find out about tax registration, payroll obligations and company structure after they have already got them wrong. Annabel works with new founders to get the setup right from day one — structure, tax, bookkeeping and payroll, in plain English, with fees scoped to what you actually need.
- Company structure and tax setup done correctly from the start
- Know your tax position before the first bill arrives, not after
- Payroll and auto-enrolment handled from the first employee onwards
- Cloud bookkeeping via Xero — your numbers current, always
No long-term contract. If it is not working after three months, you leave with clean books and nothing owed.
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Fees scoped to your setup. Reply within 1 working day.
What our clients say
★★★★★
Set Up Right From the Start
“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.”
★★★★★
Changing Accountants Made Effortless
“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.”
★★★★★
Fixed Mistakes, Saved Thousands
“She has fixed so many lazy, unprofessional mistakes by my old accountant by being so meticulously thorough, offering amazing business advice & has saved me thousands.”
★★★★★
Quick Answers When You Need Them
“Friendly, supportive and very quick to respond to any queries or sort advice. I would 100% recommend.”
You have launched. The questions are already piling up.
Structure, tax registration, payroll, VAT thresholds — none of it came with an instruction manual. Getting it wrong in the first year tends to be expensive to fix. Most founders either put it off or try to work through it alone, which is how avoidable mistakes become compliance problems later.
- Not sure whether to trade as a sole trader, partnership or limited company
- No idea what tax registrations apply or when deadlines hit
- Bookkeeping left to accumulate until year-end becomes a genuinely stressful exercise
What a solid start looks like
Getting the structure and tax setup right early removes most of what makes the first year difficult. Clean books from month one mean no year-end scramble. And having an accountant who already knows your setup means you get answers, not generic guidance.
- Structure assessed and set up for your specific situation, not a default answer
- Tax registrations handled and deadlines tracked — nothing missed, no surprises
- Bookkeeping current every month via Xero — nothing builds up, nothing gets lost
- Fees scoped to what your business actually needs — no unnecessary extras billed in
What new founders say about working with us
Both of these clients came in at the start of their business — one as a new limited company, one switching from an accountant who had not served them well.
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!
Everything a new business needs to start right
From company formation through to monthly bookkeeping and year-end accounts — scoped to your situation, handled by Annabel directly.
Company Formation and Tax Setup
The right structure for your situation, registered correctly and with the appropriate tax registrations in place from the start. VAT threshold monitoring, PAYE registration when you need staff, Corporation Tax and Self Assessment handled so nothing is missed in year one. Getting this right early avoids the corrective work that catches founders out later.
Included in startup packageBookkeeping and Monthly Accounts
Accurate cloud bookkeeping via Xero, reconciled every month, with bank feeds and VAT-ready records. Your books are current and accessible — not something you dread opening. When your first year-end arrives, there is no scramble because the work has been done throughout the year.
Ongoing from day onePayroll, Pensions and Compliance
Monthly payroll, PAYE, RTI submissions, payslips and auto-enrolment pension setup handled as you take on staff. Regulatory requirements met on time without you needing to track them. One less thing to get wrong at a point when most founders have enough to focus on.
From your first employeeA consistent picture across different businesses
Three reviews, three different types of client — new founders, businesses switching accountants, and those rescuing a compliance backlog. The same things come through each time.
Fixed Years of Mistakes, Saved Thousands
“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 & has saved me thousands! She even went through my dad’s accounts who had been through liquidation & had a really tough time just because she cared & wanted to see if she could help. I 100% trust Annabel & she proves time & 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 & offers great advice!”
Switching Accountants Was Smooth and Clear
“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.”
First-Time Founder, Mind Completely 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. Friendly, supportive and very quick to respond to any queries or sort advice. I would 100% recommend.”
Not your average accountants — for good reason
There are plenty of accountants who will process your numbers. Fewer who have sat inside growing businesses and understand what decisions those numbers need to support.
Structure advice grounded in experience
Annabel has 16 years of in-business experience — strategic and operational, not just desk-based. When she recommends a structure, it is based on how real businesses work, not a standard template applied to everyone. You get a considered answer, not the default one.
Every registration tracked and filed on time
HMRC deadlines, VAT registration thresholds, RTI submissions, Corporation Tax due dates — all monitored and filed without you needing to remember them. Nothing sits in a drawer getting worse. Surprises are largely avoidable when the compliance is properly managed from day one.
Cloud-based — wherever you are
The practice runs entirely on Xero, which means your books are current and accessible whether you are based in Bournemouth, across Dorset and Hampshire, or anywhere else in the UK. Onboarding and ongoing support happen via Xero, video and phone — location is not a constraint.
Up and running in three straightforward steps
Most new clients are properly set up and operational within a week or two of the initial call. There is very little you need to do beyond the first conversation.
Free discovery call
A free, no-obligation 20 to 30 minute call. Annabel asks about your business, your current setup and what you are trying to build — no scripts, no pitch deck. You get honest advice whether you become a client or not.
Tailored proposal, clear fee
A proposal built around your specific situation — not a template tier. Scoped to what your business actually needs, with a clear fee and no surprises. Nothing is added to the scope without a conversation first.
Set up and running
Company formation, tax registrations, Xero setup and bookkeeping onboarded — all handled by Annabel. The admin comes off your plate from day one, which is, frankly, the way it should be.
Run your business, not your books
Your numbers are current, your compliance is tracked, and there is an accountant who already knows your setup when questions come up. You get back the hours that were going on financial administration, and the decisions you make are based on what is actually happening.
“I 100% trust Annabel & she proves time & 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 & offers great advice!”
Things founders usually ask before getting started
I have never run a business before. Do I need to know anything before I call?
No. The discovery call is specifically designed for founders who are starting from scratch. Annabel will ask about what you are building and walk through structure, tax registration and setup in plain English. You do not need to arrive with questions prepared — most of the useful ones come up naturally in the conversation.
What does startup accounting actually cost?
Fees are scoped to each client’s situation after the discovery call — proposals are built around what the business actually needs, not a template tier. There is no pricing on the website because a retail startup with staff has different requirements from a solo consultant. The discovery call is free and there is no obligation to proceed.
My books are already a bit of a mess from the past few months. Is that a problem?
It is a common starting point, and it is not a problem. Catch-up bookkeeping and backlog clearance are handled as part of onboarding. The cost and effort of that work is scoped honestly in the proposal so there are no surprises. Once the catch-up is done, everything runs on a clean monthly basis going forward.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. There is no lock-in. If it is not working after three months, you leave with clean books and nothing owed. The aim is to be genuinely useful, not to make leaving difficult.
Do you handle Making Tax Digital and VAT registration for new businesses?
Yes. VAT threshold monitoring is included as standard — you will not cross the registration threshold without knowing it is coming. When registration is required, the MTD-compliant setup and first return are handled, along with advice on which VAT scheme suits your business. HMRC liaison is handled by the practice, not passed back to you.
When will I actually know what my tax bill is going to be?
You will have a clear view of your likely tax position throughout the year, not just when the return is prepared. Management accounts and bookkeeping that are current every month mean there are no end-of-year shocks. Salary and dividend planning for limited company founders is part of the advisory work — the structure of how you draw income affects your tax bill, and that conversation happens early, not as an afterthought.
Related services for new and growing businesses
Stop guessing at your finances. Get them sorted.
A free discovery call with Annabel. No scripts, no pitch deck. You leave knowing exactly what your startup needs, what it costs and what happens next.