Running a limited company brings a different level of responsibility than being a sole trader. There are statutory accounts to prepare, decisions to make about how you pay yourself, and a company structure that needs to be maintained properly, not just set up and forgotten.
If you’re a director, you’ll know the feeling of a deadline creeping up or wondering whether you’re structuring your salary and dividends in the most tax-efficient way. You might also be observing that your current accountant files what’s needed and little else, without ever really getting under the skin of your business. That’s something you won’t experience with us!
The landscape has changed
For years, one of the main reasons business owners gave for incorporating was the protection it offered. However, that protection isn’t quite what it used to be. Directors can now still be pursued personally in certain circumstances, and limited liability is no longer the blanket shield it was once seen as. It doesn’t mean incorporating was the wrong decision. It does mean having an accountant who is genuinely proactive, rather than one who only shows up at year-end, is even more valuable.
Where we add value for limited companies
We see our role as covering three areas.
- Compliance, done properly. We prepare and file your annual company accounts with Companies House, including your balance sheet, profit and loss report and director’s report, and make sure nothing slips past a deadline. This is the foundation, but it’s a foundation that has to be right.
- Tax, handled proactively. We manage corporation tax computation and submission, VAT, payroll and capital gains, and make sure you’re using the reliefs and allowances available to you rather than paying more than you need to. This is often where our clients see the biggest difference compared to a purely compliance-led service.
- Insight, not just information. Beyond the numbers you’re legally required to produce, we support clients with management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, cashflow and pricing, along with reporting that actually helps you make decisions rather than just ticking a box. Understanding what your figures mean, month to month, is what turns an accountant into an advisor.
Our team offers over 60 years of combined experience advising businesses of every size, from start-ups through to large corporations. Whatever stage your company is at, the chances are we’ve supported a business at that same stage before, and we bring that experience to how we work with you.
We’ll always keep checking, too
As part of working with you, we won’t simply assume that being a limited company is still the right structure for you year after year. Circumstances change, and if being limited ever stops making sense for your business, we’ll tell you.
Feeling like you’re only getting compliance, not advice?
If your current accountant is filing your accounts and little else, come and have a relaxed conversation with our team, and discover what more proactive support could look like. Call us on 01252 612484 or email gillian@accountingclarkes.co.uk to arrange a discovery call.
