What Are the Best Online Accountants for Freelancers?

Online accountants for freelancers are specialist tax professionals who manage all aspects of your self-employed finances. We handle your annual self-assessment tax return, track and categorise business expenses throughout the year, ensure Making Tax Digital compliance, and provide strategic tax planning advice to minimise your tax liability.

Unlike general accountants, we specialise exclusively in freelancer taxation and understand the unique challenges self-employed professionals face. We manage HMRC communications on your behalf, help you claim every legitimate tax deduction, advise on the most tax-efficient business structure, and provide unlimited year-round support—all for a fixed monthly fee with no surprise charges.

Most importantly, we typically save our freelancer clients 5-10 times our fees through proactive tax planning and maximising allowable deductions that DIY approaches often miss. We handle the financial complexity so you can focus on billable work rather than admin.

Our online accounting services for freelancers start from £75 per month with transparent fixed pricing. This includes your annual self-assessment tax return, Making Tax Digital compliance, unlimited email and phone support, and a dedicated accountant who knows your business.

Our three packages are designed for different freelance needs:

• Starter (£75/month): Perfect for new freelancers with straightforward finances
• Professional (£125/month): Our most popular package for established freelancers
• Premium (£175/month): Comprehensive support including VAT returns and monthly accounts

Unlike traditional accountants who charge unpredictable hourly rates (often £150+ per hour), you'll always know exactly what you're paying each month. No hidden fees, no surprise bills for answering your questions, and you can cancel anytime with 30 days' notice.

While not legally required, hiring an accountant typically saves UK freelancers significantly more money than the fees cost. Here's why most successful freelancers use specialist accountants:

• Tax savings: We typically save clients 5-10 times our fees by identifying legitimate deductions most freelancers miss
• Time savings: Managing tax and accounts takes 20-30 hours per year—time you could spend on billable work
• Compliance assurance: We ensure HMRC compliance and handle all correspondence, avoiding penalties
• Strategic advice: Proactive tax planning throughout the year, not just at deadline time
• Peace of mind: Confidence your finances are managed correctly by qualified professionals

If you're earning more than £20,000 per year as a freelancer, the tax savings alone usually justify accountancy fees multiple times over. The real question isn't whether you need an accountant, but whether you can afford not to have one.

Yes, we provide complete Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliance for freelancers as part of our service. Making Tax Digital requires you to keep digital records and submit tax information to HMRC using MTD-compatible software—which can be confusing to set up and maintain correctly.

We handle every aspect of MTD compliance for you:

• Set up and configure MTD-compatible accounting software for your specific needs
• Ensure all your business records meet HMRC's digital requirements
• Submit digital VAT returns if you're VAT registered
• Keep your digital records compliant with ongoing HMRC changes
• Provide cloud accounting access so you can view your finances anytime

MTD compliance is included in all our packages from £75 per month—no extra charges, no hidden fees. While Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment has been delayed, we'll ensure you're ready when HMRC makes it mandatory.

The main differences between online accountants for freelancers and traditional high-street practices come down to cost structure, accessibility, and specialisation:

We're specialist online accountants who focus exclusively on UK freelancers, which means we understand your specific challenges and opportunities better than generalist high-street practices. Our cloud-first approach delivers better service at lower cost.

Switching accountants is straightforward, and we handle the entire process for you. Most freelancers transfer to us within 2-3 days with zero hassle. Here's how it works:

1. 1 Initial consultation: We discuss your needs and confirm which package suits you best
2. 2 Letter of engagement: You sign our service agreement (we handle notice to your old accountant)
3. 3 Professional clearance: We contact your previous accountant to obtain clearance and transfer files
4. 4 Records transfer: Your old accountant sends us all relevant documents and history
5. 5 System setup: We configure your cloud accounting software and import existing data
6. 6 You're live: Full accounting service begins—usually within 2-3 working days

There's no penalty for switching accountants mid-year. We can take over at any point in the tax year and catch up on anything that needs completing. If you're unhappy with hourly rates, slow responses, or lack of freelancer expertise, switching to specialist online accountants makes financial sense.