Bookkeeping FAQs: your questions answered

A bookkeeper keeps your day-to-day records accurate: recording income and expenses, reconciling the bank, running payroll and filing returns such as VAT and CIS. An accountant usually prepares year-end accounts and gives tax planning advice. Many of my clients have both – I keep the books right all year and hand your accountant tidy figures, which often reduces their fee. If you don’t have an accountant and need one, I’m happy to recommend local firms.

I’m based in Verwood in East Dorset and work Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. I regularly visit clients in Verwood, Ferndown, Wimborne, West Moors, St Leonards and St Ives, Ringwood and Cranborne, and I work with businesses in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch too. Most of the work is done securely online, so we can meet in person, on a video call or simply by phone or WhatsApp – whichever suits you.

My prices are simple and published: bookkeeping is £25 per hour, payroll is £25 a month for up to 4 employees (then £2 per extra employee), a self assessment tax return is £150, and my Making Tax Digital plan is £31 a month for your bookkeeping plus all 5 MTD returns. VAT returns, CIS and some other services are priced by free quote. I’m not VAT registered, so there’s no VAT to add: the price you see is the price you pay.

If you’re a sole trader or landlord and your combined gross income from self-employment and property was over £50,000 in the 2024–25 tax year, you’ve had to use MTD for Income Tax since 6 April 2026. The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028. My Making Tax Digital guide explains it in plain English.

I’m a Xero Certified Advisor, so Xero is my speciality, but I also work with QuickBooks and Sage. For receipts I use Hubdoc and Dext, so you can simply snap receipts on your phone, and for reporting I use Syft. If you’re not using software yet, I’ll recommend the best fit and set it up for you. If you’re already happy with your software, we’ll keep it.

Yes – it’s one of my specialisms. I handle CIS returns and subcontractor verification, weekly and monthly payroll, the VAT domestic reverse charge and day-to-day bookkeeping for builders, contractors and subcontractors across Verwood, Ferndown and the rest of Dorset. See my construction bookkeeping page for more.

Of course. Many clients find WhatsApp the easiest way to ask a quick question or send a photo of a letter from HMRC. Just tap the WhatsApp button on any page, or message 07841 920411. Please don’t send bank passwords or full card numbers by message.

Absolutely – catch-up bookkeeping is one of the most common things I’m asked for, and there’s no judgement. Whether it’s a few months or a few years, I’ll sort through bank statements, receipts and invoices, get everything reconciled and help you meet any overdue deadlines.

Yes. I’m a Xero Certified Advisor and a full member of the Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers (IAB), and I’ve been trading since 2016. I’m supervised for anti-money laundering by the IAB, as every UK bookkeeper must be, registered with the ICO for data protection (ZA764393) and hold professional indemnity insurance.

Most clients simply snap receipts on their phone with an app, and I connect your bank feed so transactions come through automatically. If you prefer paper, you can drop a folder off in Verwood or I can collect it when I visit.

Yes. Once you’ve authorised me as your agent, I can deal with HMRC on your behalf for things like VAT, PAYE, CIS and self assessment queries, so you don’t have to spend an afternoon on hold.

No long tie-ins. Monthly services such as payroll and the MTD plan run on a rolling basis with one month’s notice. I’d rather keep clients because they’re happy, not because they’re locked in.