Startup Accountants Who Help You Build From Day One
From choosing the right business structure to filing your first tax return and planning for growth, we give new businesses the financial foundations they need to succeed.
Starting a Business? Get the Financial Foundations Right
You’ve got the idea, the ambition and the energy. But somewhere between launching your business and landing your first customers, there’s a list of financial decisions that can make or break your first year. Which business structure should you choose? When do you need to register for VAT? How do you pay yourself tax-efficiently? And how do you keep on top of the books when you’re doing everything else?
Getting these things right early saves you time, money and stress later on. Getting them wrong can mean surprise tax bills, penalties from HMRC, and a cash flow crisis at exactly the moment you can least afford one.
That’s where having the right startup accountant matters. At Bevan Buckland, we’ve been helping people start and grow businesses in Wales and across the UK for over 125 years. We’re ICAEW-regulated chartered accountants with the technical depth to handle everything from company formation to R&D tax credits, and the personal approach to make sure you actually understand what’s happening with your money.
Whether you’re a sole trader testing a new idea, a tech founder building a product, or an owner-manager ready to incorporate and hire your first employee, we’ll help you build your business on solid financial ground.
What We Do for Startups and New Businesses
Choosing the Right Business Structure
This is one of the first and most important decisions you’ll make, and it affects everything from how much tax you pay to how much personal risk you carry. Should you start as a sole trader for simplicity, or set up a limited company for tax efficiency and liability protection? What about a partnership or LLP?
We talk you through the options in plain English, weighing up your expected income, growth plans, risk profile and long-term goals. Then we help you register with Companies House and HMRC, set up your accounting system, and get everything in place before you start trading.
Company Formation and Registration
If you decide to incorporate, we handle the process for you. That includes registering your company with Companies House, setting up your corporation tax with HMRC, registering for VAT and PAYE where needed, and making sure you understand your filing obligations from the start. We’ll also advise on share structures, financial year-end dates and other details that are easy to overlook but matter down the line.
Bookkeeping and Accounting Systems
Starting with the right accounting system saves you hours of work and prevents the kind of messy records that lead to late accounts and incorrect tax returns. As a Xero Gold Partner, we set up and configure Xero for your business, connect your bank feeds, design your chart of accounts, and train you on how to use it. If bookkeeping isn’t your thing, we offer monthly bookkeeping support so your records stay clean and current without eating into your time.
Tax Planning From the Start
Tax planning isn’t something to think about at year-end. The decisions you make in your first few months, how you structure your salary and dividends, which expenses you claim, whether and when you register for VAT, all have a direct impact on how much you’ll owe. Our chartered tax advisers work with you from day one to make sure your setup is as tax-efficient as possible and that you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to.
Self Assessment and Corporation Tax Returns
When it’s time to file, we’ve got it covered. For sole traders, we prepare and submit your Self Assessment tax return. For limited companies, we handle your annual accounts, corporation tax return and confirmation statement. Everything is filed accurately and on time, so you never have to worry about penalties or HMRC chasing you for late submissions.
VAT Registration and Returns
The VAT registration threshold is currently £90,000, but there are situations where registering earlier can benefit your business, particularly if you’re making zero-rated supplies or your customers are VAT-registered businesses. We advise on the right time to register, the best VAT scheme for your circumstances (flat rate, cash accounting or standard), and then prepare and submit your quarterly returns.
Payroll
As soon as you hire your first employee, or pay yourself a salary through your limited company, you’ll need to run payroll. We set up and process payroll for startups, handling RTI submissions to HMRC, payslips, auto-enrolment pension compliance, P60s and P11Ds. You’ll know your staff are paid correctly and your obligations are met.
Business Planning and Cash Flow Forecasting
A strong business plan isn’t just something you write to impress a bank manager. It’s a tool that helps you understand your numbers, set realistic targets and make better decisions. We help startups build financial forecasts and cash flow projections that are grounded in reality, not wishful thinking. If you’re applying for a business loan, grant or investment, we prepare the financial documents that lenders and investors expect to see.
R&D Tax Credits
If your startup is developing new products, processes or services, or improving existing ones, you may qualify for R&D tax relief. This is a valuable relief that many new businesses miss entirely. We identify qualifying activities, prepare robust claims, and deal with HMRC on your behalf to make sure you receive the full benefit. For loss-making startups, R&D tax credits can be claimed as a cash payment, which can be a real lifeline in the early stages.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) Readiness
Making Tax Digital for VAT is already compulsory, and MTD for Income Tax has already rolled out since the start of April 2026 for qualifying sole traders and landlords. We make sure your systems are set up correctly from day one so you’re ready for digital reporting without any last-minute scramble.
Who We Work With
Why Choose Bevan Buckland for Your Startup
An Accountant You Won’t Outgrow
Most startup accountants are great for filing a basic tax return, but what happens when you need to claim R&D tax credits, set up an EMI share scheme, deal with an HMRC enquiry, or plan your exit? With Bevan Buckland, you get a single firm that covers it all. We have chartered tax advisers, registered auditors, a licensed insolvency practitioner, and a full advisory team under one roof. You’ll never have to switch accountants because your business has grown beyond what they can handle.
A Dedicated Named Contact From Day One
You’ll be assigned a dedicated contact who gets to know your business and your goals. When you call, you’ll speak to someone who already understands your situation, not a different person each time. That consistency matters when you’re making important financial decisions in the early stages of your business.
Over 125 Years Supporting Businesses in Wales
We’ve been helping people start and grow businesses in Wales since the 1890s. Every major company started as a startup, and some of the businesses we’ve supported over the decades have grown into major Welsh employers. We know the local funding landscape, the Welsh Government grants and schemes available to new businesses, and the industries that drive the economy here.
Genuine Local Presence Across South and West Wales
With offices in Swansea, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Cowbridge and Carmarthen, you can meet your accountant face to face whenever you need to. That personal connection matters, especially when you’re just getting started and have a hundred questions. And for clients outside Wales, we work just as effectively online and over the phone.
Xero Gold Partner
We don’t just recommend Xero; we’re a certified Gold Partner. That means our team has deep expertise in setting up, customising and supporting Xero for businesses at every stage. You’ll get cloud accounting that works properly from day one, with training and ongoing support to make sure you’re getting the most from it.
Transparent, Fixed Fees With No Surprises
We agree your fee upfront and it covers all your routine phone and email queries at no extra cost. That’s important when you’re a new business owner with lots of questions and a tight budget. You’ll always know what you’re paying, and you won’t hesitate to pick up the phone because you’re worried about the bill.
How It Works
Step 1: Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll discuss your business idea, where you are in the process, and what support you need.
Step 2: We recommend the right structure, set up your company and accounting systems, and register you with all the right bodies.
Step 3: Your dedicated contact manages everything going forward, from day-to-day bookkeeping and compliance to proactive tax planning and growth advice as your business develops.
Startup Accountant Fees
We know that every pound counts when you’re starting out. That’s why we’re upfront about our fees and flexible in how we structure them*.
What you pay depends on the structure you choose, the complexity of your requirements and how much support you need. Some startups just want company formation and a year-end tax return. Others need full bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, management accounts and advisory support from the outset. We’ll build a package that matches where you are now and scales with you as you grow.
Not sure where to begin? Book a free consultation and we’ll help you work out exactly what you need.
*Additional fees will include anything outside the agreed scope of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t legally need one, but most founders find that an accountant pays for itself within the first year. The right accountant helps you choose the best structure, avoid costly mistakes with HMRC, claim reliefs you might not know about, and keep your finances organised so you can focus on building your business. If you’re spending hours each week on admin instead of selling or developing your product, professional support is almost certainly worth the investment.
Fees vary depending on your business structure and the services you need. At Bevan Buckland, we agree fixed fees upfront with no hidden charges, and all routine queries are included
It depends on your expected income, risk exposure and growth plans. Sole trader is simpler and cheaper to run, but you’re personally liable for business debts. A limited company offers liability protection and can be more tax-efficient once profits reach a certain level, particularly through salary and dividend structuring. We help you weigh the options based on your actual numbers and goals, not generalities.
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) offer generous tax reliefs to investors who put money into qualifying early-stage businesses. If you’re looking to raise external investment, having SEIS or EIS advance assurance can make your business significantly more attractive to investors. We advise on eligibility, prepare the application, and handle the HMRC approval process.
Yes. If your startup is developing new products, processes or technology, or making appreciable improvements to existing ones, you may qualify for R&D tax relief. For small companies, this can mean a cash payment from HMRC even if you’re not yet profitable. We identify qualifying expenditure, prepare the claim, and submit it to HMRC on your behalf.
For most startups, we recommend Xero. It’s cloud-based, intuitive, and integrates with your bank, invoicing and payroll. As a Xero Gold Partner, we set it up for you, connect your bank feeds, and provide training so you’re confident using it from the start. If you’re already using another platform, we can work with that too.
You must register once your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over any rolling 12-month period. But there are situations where registering voluntarily before you hit the threshold makes sense, particularly if your customers are VAT-registered businesses or you’re making significant zero-rated sales. We’ll advise on the right timing for your specific situation.
HMRC expects you to keep records of all income and expenses, including invoices, receipts, bank statements and payroll records. You should keep these for at least six years. Good record-keeping from day one makes everything easier, from filing your tax return to applying for finance to dealing with any future HMRC enquiry. We help you set up systems that make this straightforward rather than a chore.
Yes. We prepare business plans and financial forecasts for startups seeking bank loans, grants, or investment. Our plans are grounded in realistic financial projections, not optimistic guesswork, and are formatted to meet the expectations of lenders and investors. We also use business planning as a practical tool to help you set targets and track your progress.
That’s exactly what we’re built for. Because Bevan Buckland offers the full spectrum of accounting, tax and advisory services under one roof, you’ll never need to switch firms as your needs evolve. Whether you need management accounts, audit services, R&D tax claims, employment tax advice, or business exit planning in the future, your dedicated contact can draw on our wider team to get you the specialist support you need, without starting from scratch with a new firm.
