Online accountant for freelancers and contractors

Freelancers, contractors, small limited company directors and online sellers who are happy to deal with an accountant remotely.

Monthly subscription-style fixed fees by package, with extras for payroll, VAT returns and tax planning.

• Accounts and tax knowledge
• Confident with cloud accounting tools
• Online marketing and writing helpful content
• Clear communication by email and video

• Anti-money laundering supervision and client identity checks are needed, check with HMRC or a professional body
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Data protection and cyber security, since you hold sensitive financial details
• Check the rules on using titles such as accountant, and which services need specific qualifications
• Pricing too low to win clients can leave you overworked, so set fees against your time
• Online competition can be strong, so a clear niche helps

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your software, insurance, website and marketing choices. These are estimates, so compare quotes for professional indemnity insurance and cloud accounting tools before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £4,500, depending on your niche, your fees and how many clients you take on. That is revenue before costs, so it helps to set fees against your time.

Check anti-money laundering supervision and client identity checks with HMRC or a professional body. Also check professional indemnity insurance, data protection and cyber security, and the rules on using titles such as accountant and which services need specific qualifications.