Accountancy, tax, payroll and Companies House services for UK small businesses
UniFi Advisory provides accountancy services for small businesses across the UK: accounts, bookkeeping, VAT, corporation tax, Self Assessment, business advisory, payroll and Companies House identity verification. You deal directly with George Nicholson, an ICAEW Chartered Accountant based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, who works with clients online and by phone. Every engagement starts with a clear quote, agreed before any work begins.
What does an accountant do for a small business?
An accountant keeps your records, accounts and tax returns accurate and on time, and plans ahead so you pay the tax you owe and no more. Choose only the support you need, or let us handle the lot: our eight services link up, so your books, payroll, VAT, accounts and tax all tell the same story.
Looking for something specific? See everything we can help with, A to Z.
Accountancy
Year-end accounts, Companies House filings and confirmation statements for limited companies, plus accounts for sole traders. Compliance is handled end to end, with tax planning built in rather than bolted on afterwards.
Accountancy servicesBookkeeping
Cloud bookkeeping that keeps your bank reconciled and your sales and purchase records up to date. You get digital records ready for Making Tax Digital and numbers you can use to make decisions.
Bookkeeping servicesVAT assistance
From deciding when to register through to filing returns under Making Tax Digital for VAT. We help you pick the right VAT scheme and file accurately and on time.
VAT assistanceCorporation tax
Company Tax Returns (CT600) prepared and filed, with your bill worked out well before the payment deadline. Year-round planning on reliefs, timing and how you take money out of the company.
Corporation tax servicesPersonal tax
Self Assessment tax returns for directors, sole traders and landlords, and help getting ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Planning looks at your whole position, not just one form.
Personal tax servicesBusiness advisory
Forecasting, cash-flow planning and growth strategy, built on up-to-date numbers from your books. A dedicated adviser to talk decisions through before you make them.
Business advisoryPayroll
Payroll for employers and director-only companies: HMRC employer registration, payslips, Full Payment Submissions on or before each payday, P60s, P11Ds and pension auto-enrolment.
Payroll servicesACSP identity verification
Companies House identity verification for directors and PSCs. We are registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider and appear on its published List of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs).
ACSP identity verificationWhich accounting services does my small business need?
It depends on how your business is set up and what is coming up next. Most limited companies need accountancy, corporation tax and bookkeeping together, plus payroll if anyone, including a director, is paid a salary. Most sole traders and landlords need personal tax and bookkeeping. The table shows the usual starting points, with the 2026/27 rules that trigger them.
| Your situation | Services that usually fit | The rule that applies (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| You have just set up a limited company | Accountancy, Corporation tax, Bookkeeping | Register for Corporation Tax within 3 months of starting to do business (GOV.UK: trading and non-trading). Doing business includes advertising, renting a property and employing someone, even before your first sale (GOV.UK: add Corporation Tax services) |
| You are a director or person with significant control (PSC) who has not yet verified your identity | ACSP identity verification, Accountancy | Since 18 November 2025, an unverified person cannot be appointed as a new director, and Companies House will not accept a confirmation statement until every director has verified (GOV.UK) |
| You are a sole trader or landlord with qualifying income (turnover and rents before expenses) over £30,000 | Personal tax, Bookkeeping | Making Tax Digital for Income Tax has applied since 6 April 2026 where qualifying income was over £50,000 in 2024/25. From 6 April 2027 it applies where qualifying income was over £30,000 in 2025/26 (GOV.UK) |
| Your sales are getting close to £90,000 a year | VAT assistance, Bookkeeping | You must register for VAT if taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 (GOV.UK) |
| You are a company director deciding how to pay yourself | Corporation tax, Personal tax | Dividends above the £500 allowance are taxed at 10.75% in the basic rate band and 35.75% in the higher rate band (GOV.UK) |
| You are about to pay your first employee, or pay yourself a salary as a director | Payroll | Register as an employer with HMRC before your first payday, and no more than 2 months before you start paying people. A limited company must register even if the only person it employs is its director (GOV.UK) |
| You are growing and planning to hire, borrow or invest | Business advisory, Bookkeeping | Forecasts and cash-flow plans are only as good as the books behind them |
Not sure where you fit? Book a free call and George will tell you what you need, and what you don't.
Who do we work with?
We are accountants for startups, sole traders, landlords, limited companies and their directors, and growing and established small businesses across the UK.
Startups
The decisions you make in the first few weeks, such as structure, share classes and registrations, are the ones that cost most to fix later. We help you get them right first time.
Sole traders
Bookkeeping, Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, looked after by someone who knows your numbers. We'll also tell you if and when a limited company starts to make sense.
Landlords
Rental income, allowable costs and Making Tax Digital, which counts your property income before expenses towards the qualifying income threshold. Joint owners count their own share.
Limited companies and their directors
Accounts, Corporation Tax, payroll and confirmation statements for the company, with Self Assessment and salary, dividend and pension planning for the people who run it.
Growing businesses
Forecasts, cash-flow planning and VAT, so growth doesn't catch you out. Established businesses get the same proactive approach, with a fresh look at how things are set up.
How does working with UniFi Advisory work?
Four steps, and you know the cost before anything starts.
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1
Book a free call
Tell George about your business, what you need help with and any deadlines coming up. There's no obligation. Book a time.
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2
Agree a clear quote
Before any work starts you get a clear quote setting out exactly what's included. No hidden surprises: you'll know exactly what you're paying for.
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3
Onboarding
We set up access to your records and software and agree the deadlines ahead. Switching from another accountant? We guide you through it: see changing accountants.
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4
Year-round proactive support
Deadlines tracked, quick answers when you need them, and tax planning through the year rather than a scramble at year end.
Why choose UniFi Advisory?
UniFi Advisory is a firm of ICAEW Chartered Accountants run by George Nicholson BFP ACA, who trained with one of the UK's largest accounting and tax firms. You get that grounding with the personal attention of working with George directly.
- Experience
- 10+ yrs
- Businesses helped
- 200+
- Google rating
- 5.0
- A single, dedicated point of contact who cares about your business
- Proactive tax planning and saving advice, not just compliance once a year
- Fast responses and ongoing support throughout the year
- No hidden surprises. You'll know exactly what you're paying for.
- Cloud accounting expertise, with software such as Xero
- A focus on saving you time and helping you make informed financial decisions
Everything we can help with, A to Z
Find the topic you need and follow the link to the service, guide or free calculator that covers it. Can't see it? Book a free call and ask George.
A
B
C
- Capital allowances
- Capital Gains Tax on property
- Cash flow forecasting
- Changing accountants
- Cloud bookkeeping with Xero
- Companies House filing deadlines
- Companies House identity verification
- Companies House personal codes
- Confirmation statements
- Corporation tax payment deadline
- Corporation tax planning
- Corporation tax returns (CT600)
D
E
M
P
S
V
Want to check your numbers first?
Our calculators, checkers and guides are free, written for the 2026/27 tax year and checked against GOV.UK.
Calculators and checkers
Corporation tax, VAT, mileage, director pay and employer cost calculators, plus a Making Tax Digital checker.
All free tools GuidesPlain-English guides
Setting up a company, paying yourself and your family, reliefs people miss and Making Tax Digital.
Read the guides Key datesTax deadlines 2026/27
Every key UK tax date for individuals, landlords, companies and VAT-registered businesses in one place.
See the deadlinesPrefer something to read offline? Download our six free 2026/27 white papers.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with clients outside Hertfordshire?
Yes. George is based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and works with businesses across the UK online and by phone. Calls, document sharing and cloud bookkeeping all work the same wherever you are, so you get the same service in Manchester as in St Albans.
Can you take over from my current accountant?
Yes. Switching accountants is usually more straightforward than people expect, and we guide you through the handover from start to finish. You don't have to wait for your year end, but the earlier you talk to us before a filing deadline, the smoother the move.
Do you use cloud accounting software such as Xero?
Yes. Cloud accounting is one of our specialisms, and we work with software such as Xero. It links to your bank, lets you capture receipts on your phone and keeps the digital records that Making Tax Digital requires.
How much does an accountant cost for a small business?
It depends on which services you need, how many transactions go through your books and how up to date your records are. Fees are agreed in a clear quote before any work starts. The quote sets out exactly what is included, so there are no hidden surprises and you know exactly what you're paying for. You can request a quote through our contact form or book a free call first.
Do accountants do payroll?
Yes. We run payroll for small businesses, including director-only companies. We register you as an employer with HMRC before your first payday, send a Full Payment Submission on or before each payday, produce payslips and P60s, and set up workplace pension auto-enrolment where it applies. A limited company must register as an employer even if the only person it employs is its director.
Can you verify my identity for Companies House?
Yes. UniFi Advisory is registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), so we can verify your identity as a director or person with significant control (PSC). We appear on Companies House's published List of Authorised Corporate Service Providers. Once we have checked your identity, Companies House emails you a personal code to link to your director or PSC roles. You can also verify directly through GOV.UK One Login, which is free.
What do I need to get started?
Just a free call to begin with. Once you decide to go ahead, we usually ask for your latest accounts or tax return, your HMRC and Companies House references (such as your Unique Taxpayer Reference and company authentication code), access to your bookkeeping software or bank statements, and identification for the anti-money laundering checks every accountant has to carry out.
Do you help sole traders as well as limited companies?
Yes. We work with sole traders, landlords, limited companies and their directors. For sole traders that usually means bookkeeping, Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, which has applied since 6 April 2026 to sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 in 2024/25, and from 6 April 2027 applies to those with qualifying income over £30,000 in 2025/26.
Sources: GOV.UK, find out if and when you need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; GOV.UK, register as an employer; GOV.UK, reporting payroll to HMRC; GOV.UK, verifying your identity for Companies House; Companies House, List of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs). Companies House does not endorse or recommend the agents on its list.
Written and reviewed by George Nicholson BFP ACA, ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Last reviewed 20 October 2026. This page is general information, not personal advice.
Not sure which service you need?
Book a free call and George will tell you what fits your business, with a clear quote before any work starts.