Accountants for Start‑Ups & Entrepreneurs in the UK
We are Chartered accountants for start‑ups, founders, and entrepreneurs across the UK. We support businesses from pre‑incorporation through to growth and scale, providing clear, proactive accounting, tax, and advisory services designed specifically for early‑stage and growing companies.
As dedicated accountants for start‑ups in the UK, we specialise in helping entrepreneurs set up, run, and grow limited companies. From company formation and tax registration to ongoing accounting, compliance, and strategic advice, we provide founders with the clarity and support they need at every stage.
We are not just compliance accountants, we act as a financial sounding board for founders who want clear answers, calm guidance, and confidence in their decisions from day one.
We are specialist accountants for start‑ups and entrepreneurs in the UK, supporting founders from pre‑incorporation through to growth and scale. As experienced startup accountants, we provide business structure advice, company incorporation, HMRC, VAT and payroll setup, cloud accounting, bookkeeping, management accounts, statutory accounts, Corporation Tax, forecasting, and fractional CFO support.
We work with founders at every stage of the journey, from choosing the right business structure and incorporating your company, through to tax registration, payroll setup, financial systems, ongoing compliance, and strategic financial advice. Our approach combines clear advice, fixed fees, and stress‑free compliance, so you can focus on building your business with confidence.
Starting and running a business involves more than just filing accounts and tax returns. Founders need clarity, structure, and confidence in their financial decisions. We provide joined‑up accounting and tax support that covers:
Business structure and ownership advice
Company incorporation and statutory setup
HMRC, VAT, and payroll registration
Finance systems and bookkeeping
Management reporting and forecasting
Accounts, Corporation Tax, and director tax returns
Strategic and fractional CFO support as you scale
We act as a long‑term finance partner for entrepreneurs who want clear answers, reliable compliance, and proactive support, not just year‑end paperwork.
We specialise in providing clear, commercially focused accounting and tax advice to start‑ups and owner‑managed businesses. Our work is practical, structured, and designed to support real‑world decision‑making, whether you are incorporating your first company or preparing for growth and investment.
All of our Partners are ACA Chartered Accountants who trained and worked at Big 4 accounting firms. This background means we bring institutional‑grade technical expertise, deep HMRC knowledge, and strong commercial judgement, applied in a practical and approachable way for founders and entrepreneurs.
Book a free consultation today using our online enquiry form. For more information about Halliday Styan, read more about us here:
UK-Wide Support With a Personal Approach
We work with a wide range of start‑ups and entrepreneurs across the UK, including:
First‑time founders starting a limited company
Early‑stage start‑ups preparing for growth or investment
Founder‑led and owner‑managed businesses
UK‑based and internationally‑backed start‑ups
Service‑based, technology, and professional services businesses
Whether you are incorporating your first company or scaling an established start‑up, we provide clear, proactive accounting and tax support tailored to your stage of growth. Our advice is tailored to your stage, sector, and growth plans, ensuring your accounting and tax support evolves as your business grows.
Whether you are launching a new venture, formalising an existing business, or scaling a growing company, we provide calm, reliable support and advice you can actually act on.
Many founders want the reassurance of working with experienced UK‑wide business accountants, while still having the option to meet their accountant in person when needed. We support start‑ups and entrepreneurs:
UK‑wide, using secure cloud accounting systems and remote meetings
Locally, with in‑person meetings available in:
Surrey
Cornwall
Devon
South West London
This hybrid approach allows us to deliver consistent, high‑quality advice wherever you are based, while remaining accessible, personal, and responsive.
If you are thinking “I want to get this set up properly and not worry about it again”, you are not alone. Many founders come to us because they want reassurance that their business is structured correctly, their tax is handled properly, and their finances are under control from the start.
Our role is to remove uncertainty, reduce risk, and give you confidence in your financial foundations, so you can focus on building and growing your business.
Click here to read more about our values as ICAEW‑regulated business accountants:
How We Support Start‑Ups and Entrepreneurs
Our approach is designed to support founders at every stage of their journey:
1. Set‑Up – Advising on structure, incorporating your company, and registering with HMRC, VAT, and PAYE
2. Build – Implementing accounting systems, bookkeeping, payroll, and management reporting
3. Grow – Providing forecasting, planning, and strategic advisory support as your business scales
This structured approach ensures your accounting and tax support evolves as your start‑up grows, without unnecessary disruption.
Our role is to reduce risk, avoid costly mistakes, and ensure your business is set up correctly from the outset. We focus on getting things right early, so you don’t have to undo problems later.
Is This Right for You?
Our services are particularly suited to founders who are:
Incorporating a limited company for the first time
Unsure how to structure salary, dividends, and tax
Growing quickly and need better financial visibility
Preparing for investment, hiring, or scale
If you recognise yourself in any of the above, we can help.
For founders thinking longer term, we also publish plain‑English guidance on personal and business tax matters, including our explanation of Inheritance Tax in the UK.
Business Structure & Start‑Up Advisory
We work with founders at the earliest stage to help them choose the most appropriate legal structure for their business before incorporation. This includes advising whether a limited company, LLP, partnership, or sole trader structure best suits your commercial objectives, tax position, risk profile, and growth plans. Our advice considers factors such as liability protection, access to funding, long‑term scalability, and exit planning, ensuring your business is built on a structure that remains efficient as it grows.
As part of this process, we also advise on ownership and shareholding structures at incorporation. We support founders in allocating shares between co‑founders and early stakeholders, including advice on ordinary shares, alphabet shares, growth shares, and future investor considerations. This ensures shareholder arrangements are both tax‑efficient and commercially robust, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate future investment, employee incentives, or changes in ownership.
Company Incorporation & Start‑Up Formation
We provide a complete company incorporation service, managing the full legal registration of your business with Companies House. Acting as your agent, we prepare and submit all incorporation documents, including company details, directors, shareholders, and share capital. By handling the process end‑to‑end, we ensure accuracy, compliance with company law, and a smooth setup, allowing you to focus on launching your business rather than dealing with administration.
As company formation accountants, we go beyond basic registration. We advise on structure, ownership, and tax from the outset, ensuring your company is set up correctly with Companies House and HMRC, and aligned with your long‑term plans for growth, funding, and profit extraction.
As part of incorporation, we also prepare standard or bespoke Memorandum and Articles of Association. These governing documents define how your company operates, including shareholder rights, voting powers, and decision‑making processes. We ensure these documents align with your agreed ownership structure and anticipated growth, rather than relying on generic templates that may become restrictive as the business develops.
Read more about our services here:
Start‑Up Tax, VAT & Payroll Set‑Up
Once your company is incorporated, we register it with HMRC for Corporation Tax, and set up the required online tax accounts. This ensures your business is recognised correctly for tax purposes from the outset and avoids late‑registration penalties. This service is typically delivered automatically following incorporation as part of a seamless onboarding process.
We also advise on VAT registration, including whether and when your business should register and which VAT scheme is most appropriate. We handle the VAT registration process and provide guidance on VAT accounting methods to ensure compliance and cash‑flow efficiency. For start‑ups, early VAT advice can prevent costly errors and support effective pricing decisions.
In addition, we register your company as an employer with HMRC and set up PAYE and payroll systems. This includes establishing director payroll, ensuring Real Time Information submissions are compliant, and advising on efficient remuneration structures. This provides a compliant foundation for paying directors and future employees from day one.
If you’re unfamiliar with Making Tax Digital and how it affects record‑keeping and submissions, our simple guide to Making Tax Digital explains the requirements and key dates clearly.
Start‑Up Finance Systems & Bookkeeping
We help start‑ups put the right financial systems in place from the beginning by selecting, configuring, and implementing cloud accounting software suited to their needs. This includes setting up the chart of accounts, opening balances, and reporting structure to ensure accurate financial data from day one. A well‑designed finance setup enables efficient bookkeeping, real‑time reporting, and scalability as the business grows.
Our ongoing bookkeeping services ensure all financial transactions are accurately recorded and reconciled. Typically provided on a monthly basis, this includes bank reconciliations, expense processing, and maintenance of accounting records. Reliable bookkeeping underpins all tax filings and financial reporting, giving founders confidence in their numbers.
We also prepare management accounts to provide regular insight into your business’s financial performance. These reports usually include profit and loss, balance sheets, and cash‑flow analysis, delivered monthly or quarterly with clear commentary. Management accounts support informed decision‑making and are particularly valuable when planning growth or preparing for funding discussions.
Effective management accounts also support better cost control. We explain this in more detail in our guide to cost control, reducing overheads, and expense management.
Start‑Up Accounts & Tax Compliance
We prepare annual statutory accounts in accordance with UK accounting standards and ensure they are filed accurately and on time with Companies House. For start‑ups, this removes the regulatory burden and provides credibility with stakeholders, lenders, and investors.
Alongside statutory accounts, we prepare and submit Corporation Tax returns, calculate tax liabilities, and advise on allowable deductions and reliefs. This ensures compliance with HMRC requirements while optimising your company’s tax position within the rules.
Where required, we also prepare Self Assessment tax returns for directors and founders. This ensures alignment between personal and company tax planning and provides a joined‑up view of your overall tax position. Many clients choose to bundle personal and corporate services for simplicity and consistency.
Tax rules change regularly. We publish clear updates on developments that affect business owners, including our summary of the Autumn Budget 2025 and what UK small businesses need to know.
Forecasting, Planning, & Fractional CFO for Start‑Ups
We support start‑ups with cash‑flow forecasting and budgeting to help manage risk and plan with confidence. These forecasts help founders anticipate funding needs, control spending, and make informed strategic decisions. This service is often delivered as part of a wider advisory relationship rather than basic compliance.
For growing businesses, we offer fractional CFO support, providing senior‑level financial insight without the cost of a full‑time hire. This includes support with strategic decision‑making, investor reporting, KPI tracking, and long‑term financial planning. Fractional CFO services are designed for start‑ups that need financial leadership beyond routine accounting and compliance.
For a deeper explanation of how forecasting and scenario planning support better decision‑making, see our practical guide to forecasting, budgeting, and scenario planning.
Why Start-ups and Entrepreneurs choose Halliday Styan
All of our Partners are ACA Chartered Accountants who trained and worked at Big 4 accounting firms. We bring institutional‑grade technical expertise and deep HMRC knowledge, delivered in a practical, founder‑focused way.
Our role is not just compliance, but helping start‑ups build strong financial foundations, avoid costly mistakes, and make confident decisions as they grow. Start-ups and Entrepreneurs choose Halliday Styan because we offer:
Partner-led service with specialist business expertise
Over 25 years’ combined experience
Big 4 training applied to owner-managed and growing businesses
Clear, board-ready financial reporting to help make decisions (not just compliance outputs)
Support for smaller organisations without finance teams
ICAEW‑regulated firm with partner‑led oversight on all client work
UK-wide service with partners based in London, Surrey, Devon, and Cornwall
Most importantly, we care deeply about supporting companies in their growth journey. All work is carried out by ICAEW‑regulated Chartered Accountants, not junior staff or outsourced teams.
Why Founders Choose to Work With Us
Many founders come to us after feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or poorly advised elsewhere. Common reasons clients switch to us include:
Wanting clearer explanations and fewer surprises
Needing proactive advice rather than reactive compliance
Preparing for growth, funding, or structural change
Wanting an accountant who understands start‑ups, not just numbers
Our focus is on clarity, confidence, and long‑term decision‑making, not just filing deadlines. Our advice is shaped by real‑world experience working with founders, investors, and HMRC across a wide range of start‑ups and growth‑stage businesses.
We act for start‑ups across the UK and work closely with founders, investors, and HMRC to ensure compliance, clarity, and confidence at every stage.
For more information about our local presence or location-specific services, click the below links.
Book a Free Consultation
No obligation. Clear advice from a Chartered Accountant.
Many founders come to us looking for more than compliance. They want an accountant who understands start‑ups, explains things clearly, and supports better decision‑making as the business grows. We support start‑ups and entrepreneurs across the UK, combining cloud‑based accounting systems with responsive, personal advice. While many clients work with us remotely, we also offer in‑person meetings in London, Surrey, Devon, and Cornwall.
If you’re planning to incorporate, already trading, or preparing for your next stage of growth, we’d be happy to help. Book a free consultation today using our online enquiry form, and discover how Halliday Styan can support your mission with clarity, compliance, and confidence.
How Much Does a Start‑Up Accountant Cost?
The cost of a start‑up accountant depends on the level of support required. Some founders need one‑off help with company incorporation and setup, while others prefer ongoing monthly support covering bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and advisory.
We offer clear scopes of work and transparent fixed or monthly fees, agreed upfront, so you always know what you’re paying and can plan with confidence as your business grows.
Start-up & Entrepreneur Accounting FAQs
Do you work with start‑ups and entrepreneurs across the UK?
Yes. We work with start‑ups, founders, and entrepreneurs across the UK using secure cloud accounting systems and remote meetings. While many of our clients work with us fully remotely, we also offer in‑person meetings in selected locations including South West London, Surrey, Devon, and Cornwall.
What accounting services do you provide for start‑ups and new businesses?
We provide end‑to‑end accounting and tax support for start‑ups and entrepreneurs, covering business structure advice, company incorporation, HMRC and VAT registration, payroll setup, bookkeeping, management accounts, statutory accounts, Corporation Tax, and director tax returns. We also offer forecasting, planning, and fractional CFO support for growing businesses.
What does a start‑up accountant do?
A start‑up accountant helps founders set up their business correctly, manage tax and compliance, and understand their finances as the business grows. This typically includes company formation, tax registration, bookkeeping, payroll, accounts, and ongoing advisory support.
Is it better to use a start‑up specialist accountant?
Many founders choose a start‑up specialist accountant because they understand early‑stage businesses, growth challenges, and founder decision‑making. Specialist support can help avoid costly mistakes and provide better long‑term guidance than generic accounting services.
Do I need an accountant to start a business in the UK?
You are not legally required to use an accountant to start a business, but many founders choose to do so to avoid costly mistakes. An accountant can help you choose the right business structure, set up your company correctly, register with HMRC, and put the right systems in place from day one, saving time, reducing risk, and improving tax efficiency.
What makes a good accountant for start‑ups?
A good start‑up accountant understands early‑stage businesses, explains financial decisions clearly, and provides proactive advice as the business grows. Beyond compliance, they help founders avoid mistakes, manage cash‑flow, and make informed decisions with confidence.
Can you help me choose the right business structure before incorporation?
Yes. We advise founders on whether a limited company, LLP, partnership, or sole trader structure is most appropriate based on tax efficiency, liability, funding plans, and long‑term growth. Choosing the right structure at the outset can prevent expensive restructuring later.
Do you handle company incorporation and Companies House registration?
Yes. We manage the full company incorporation process, acting as your agent to prepare and submit all required documents to Companies House. This includes company details, directors, shareholders, share capital, and governing documents, ensuring your business is set up correctly and compliantly.
Can you help with share structures and ownership at incorporation?
Yes. We advise on founder share splits, ownership structures, and different share classes such as ordinary shares, alphabet shares, and growth shares. This ensures your company is structured in a way that is tax‑efficient, commercially sensible, and flexible for future investment or employee incentives.
Do you register my company with HMRC after incorporation?
Yes. Once your company is incorporated, we register it with HMRC for Corporation Tax and set up the required online tax accounts. This ensures your business is correctly recognised for tax purposes from the outset and avoids late‑registration penalties.
Do you advise on VAT registration for start‑ups?
Yes. We advise whether and when your business should register for VAT and which VAT scheme is most appropriate. We handle the VAT registration process and provide guidance on VAT accounting to support compliance and cash‑flow efficiency from an early stage.
Can you set up payroll for directors and employees?
Yes. We register your company as an employer with HMRC and set up PAYE and payroll systems. This includes director payroll, Real Time Information submissions, and advice on efficient remuneration structures, providing a compliant foundation as your team grows.
Can you help set up accounting software for my start‑up?
Yes. We help start‑ups choose, set up, and implement cloud accounting software, including configuring the chart of accounts, opening balances, and reporting structure. This ensures accurate records, real‑time visibility, and systems that scale as your business grows.
Do you provide bookkeeping for start‑ups?
Yes. We provide ongoing bookkeeping services, typically on a monthly basis, including transaction processing, bank reconciliations, and record maintenance. Accurate bookkeeping underpins tax compliance, financial reporting, and informed decision‑making.
Do you provide management accounts for start‑ups?
Yes. We prepare monthly or quarterly management accounts, including profit and loss, balance sheets, and cash‑flow analysis. These reports help founders understand performance, manage cash, and prepare for growth, funding, or investment discussions.
Do you prepare annual accounts and Corporation Tax returns?
Yes. We prepare and file annual statutory accounts with Companies House and submit Corporation Tax returns to HMRC. We ensure everything is accurate, compliant, and filed on time, while advising on allowable deductions and reliefs to optimise your tax position.
Do you prepare tax returns for directors and founders?
Yes. We prepare Self Assessment tax returns for directors and founders, ensuring personal tax planning aligns with company decisions. Many clients prefer to bundle personal and corporate tax services for simplicity and clarity.
Can you help with cash‑flow forecasting and budgeting?
Yes. We help start‑ups build cash‑flow forecasts and budgets to support planning, funding decisions, and risk management. This allows founders to anticipate cash needs, manage spending, and plan growth with confidence.
Do you offer fractional CFO services for start‑ups?
Yes. Our fractional CFO services provide senior‑level financial insight without the cost of a full‑time hire. We support strategic decision‑making, KPI tracking, investor reporting, and long‑term financial planning for scaling start‑ups.
How much does an accountant cost for a start‑up?
Costs depend on the level of support required. Some founders need one‑off incorporation and setup support, while others prefer ongoing monthly packages covering bookkeeping, tax, and advisory. We offer clear scopes of work and transparent fixed or monthly pricing so there are no surprises.
Can you take over from my existing accountant?
Yes. We manage the full handover process, including professional clearance and record transfers, ensuring a smooth transition with no disruption to deadlines or compliance.
Can you help if my start‑up’s records are disorganised or behind?
Yes. We regularly help start‑ups clean up historic records, reconcile accounts, and put simple, sustainable systems in place going forward.
Will you explain everything in plain English?
Absolutely. A core part of our service is clarity. We explain accounts, tax, and financial information in straightforward language so you understand your position and can make confident decisions.
Do you offer fixed‑fee or monthly pricing for start‑ups?
Yes. We agree clear scopes of work and transparent pricing upfront, often on a fixed monthly basis, giving start‑ups cost certainty and predictable support as they grow.