The short answer
Most UK contractors operating through a limited company pay a fixed monthly fee of roughly £75–£150 + VAT for a full accountancy service. Sole traders typically pay less. The right question isn't just "how much" — it's "what's included, and what does it save me?"
Typical price ranges
Contractor accountancy is usually sold as a fixed monthly package. As a rough guide to the UK market:
| Set-up | Typical fee | Usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | £20–£60 / mo | Self assessment, bookkeeping support |
| Limited company contractor | £75–£150 / mo | Accounts, CT, payroll, VAT, self assessment |
| Premium / advisory | £150+ / mo | The above plus proactive tax planning |
Figures are indicative of the wider market, not a quote. Beware fees that look too low — they often exclude payroll, VAT, or your personal tax return, which then appear as add-ons.
What a good package includes
What affects the price
- →Whether you are VAT registered (adds quarterly returns)
- →Payroll — just you, or employees too
- →How your bookkeeping arrives (tidy cloud records cost less than a shoebox)
- →Whether you need IR35 contract reviews
- →The level of proactive tax planning you want
Is it worth it?
For most limited company contractors, yes — comfortably. A good accountant usually pays for itself several times over by structuring your salary and dividends efficiently, making sure you claim every allowable expense, and keeping you clear of penalties. At around £100 a month, the fee is often a fraction of the tax it saves — and that's before you count the hours you get back.
Want to see the numbers for your own rate? Try our contractor take-home calculator, or if you work under CIS, the CIS tax refund calculator.
How we price it
We charge a fixed monthly fee, agreed upfront, with no surprise bills. You know exactly what you'll pay and exactly what's included before you commit, and the fee only changes if the scope of your work does. See our contractor accountancy service, or get a tailored quote in a free consultation.