Bookkeeping for Startup Businesses

Starting a new business is exciting, but it's also overwhelming. You're trying to get customers, build your product or service, figure out marketing, and somewhere in the middle of all that, you realize you have no idea how to handle the finances. Most startups put off proper bookkeeping setup because it feels like admin work that can wait, but that's a mistake. Setting up proper bookkeeping from day one saves you massive headaches later.

The problem is most startups try to wing it for the first few months (or year), keeping receipts in a shoebox, tracking income in a spreadsheet, and hoping they'll figure it out later. Then when it's time to file tax returns or the business starts growing, they realize their records are a mess and they need expensive catch-up work. Setting up proper bookkeeping from the start costs less than fixing it later.

We handle bookkeeping setup specifically for startups and new businesses: initial bookkeeping setup, Chart of Accounts design, accounting software setup, record-keeping system, and tax registration support. Whether you're a new sole trader in Medway just starting out, a limited company startup in Maidstone, or a new business in Canterbury, we'll get you set up properly from day one. No catch-up work, no compliance issues—just proper bookkeeping that scales as you grow.

What this helps you do (fast)

• Set up proper structure from day one — Chart of Accounts, accounting software, record-keeping system all configured correctly from the start. No messy catch-up work later.
• Avoid expensive catch-up work — Most startups that skip proper setup end up paying 2–3x more to fix it later. Getting it right from the start costs less.
• Stay compliant from day one — Proper record-keeping means you're ready for tax returns, VAT registration (if you hit the threshold), and Companies House filing (if you're a limited company). No last-minute panic.
• Make better business decisions — See your actual profit, track expenses properly, understand cash flow. Good financial visibility helps you make smarter decisions.
• Scale without problems — As your business grows, your bookkeeping system grows with you. No need to rebuild everything when you hit £50k or £100k turnover.
• Focus on your business — Spend time on customers and products, not trying to figure out accounting. We handle the bookkeeping so you can build your business.

How it works

Step-by-step process for startup bookkeeping setup:

1. Discovery call — We chat about your startup: what type of business you're starting, whether you're operating as sole trader or limited company, what your business model is, what your expected income and expenses are, whether you've already started trading, and what your current record-keeping setup looks like (if you have one).
2. Business structure assessment — We help you understand the bookkeeping implications of your business structure:
   • Sole trader — Simpler setup, Self Assessment returns, personal tax liability
   • Limited company — More complex setup, Corporation Tax, Companies House filing, director tax returns
   • Partnership — Partnership Tax Return plus individual Self Assessments
   We'll help you understand what each structure means for bookkeeping.
3. Chart of Accounts design — We design your Chart of Accounts based on your business type:
   • Income categories — How you make money (sales, services, etc.)
   • Expense categories — What you spend money on (rent, supplies, marketing, etc.)
   • Assets and liabilities — If you're a limited company, proper asset and liability structure
   The structure is designed to scale as you grow, so you don't need to rebuild it later.
4. Accounting software setup — We set up accounting software (usually cloud-based like Xero or QuickBooks):
   • Chart of Accounts configuration — All accounts set up and configured
   • Bank feed connections — Connect your business bank account for automatic transaction import
   • Tax settings — Configure tax codes, VAT settings (if applicable), financial year dates
   • User setup — Set up users and permissions if you have team members
   • Integration setup — Connect payment processors, invoicing tools, or other business software if you're using them
5. Record-keeping system setup — We set up a system for tracking:
   • Receipts and invoices — How to store receipts (digital scanning, cloud storage, etc.)
   • Expense tracking — Process for recording expenses as they happen
   • Income tracking — Process for recording sales/invoices
   • Bank reconciliation — Monthly process for matching bank transactions with records
6. Tax registration support — We help you with tax registrations:
   • Self Assessment registration (if sole trader or partnership)
   • Corporation Tax registration (if limited company)
   • VAT registration (if you're already hitting the threshold or expect to soon)
   • PAYE registration (if you're planning to employ staff)
7. Training and handover — We train you on how to use your bookkeeping system:
   • How to record transactions — Enter income and expenses correctly
   • How to categorize expenses — Which accounts to use for different expenses
   • How to reconcile bank accounts — Monthly bank reconciliation process
   • How to run reports — Generate profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet reports
   Or if you prefer, we can handle ongoing bookkeeping for you.

We work with whatever makes sense for your startup. Cloud accounting (Xero, QuickBooks) is usually best for automation and scalability, but we can set up simple spreadsheets if you prefer to start basic. The key is getting the structure right from the start—that's what prevents expensive catch-up work later.

Costs & timelines

Pricing factors:

• Business structure — Sole trader setup costs less than limited company setup (due to simpler requirements)
• Business complexity — Simple service business costs less than complex business with multiple income streams, inventory, fixed assets, etc.
• Accounting software choice — Cloud accounting setup costs more than spreadsheet setup, but saves time long-term
• Training vs ongoing support — If you want ongoing monthly bookkeeping, that's separate from setup

Commonly reported ranges by local providers:

• Startup bookkeeping setup (one-off): £250–£600 depending on business structure and complexity
• Accounting software subscription: £12–£35/month (paid directly to software provider, not us)
• Monthly bookkeeping (optional): £100–£300/month if you want us to handle ongoing bookkeeping

Why startup bookkeeping setup costs what it does:

• Foundation-level work—everything else depends on it
• Business-specific design (not just copying a template)
• Software configuration and testing
• Tax registration support
• Training ensures you actually use it correctly

Timeline: Setup usually takes about 3–5 working days depending on business complexity. Training is usually a 2-hour session. Once you're set up, monthly bookkeeping (if you want us to handle it) takes about 1–2 days per month.

No hidden fees. Setup price includes Chart of Accounts design, software configuration, record-keeping system setup, tax registration support, and training. Ongoing bookkeeping is separate if you want monthly support.

Kent (UK) focus

We work with startups and new businesses across Kent: new sole traders in Medway just starting out, limited company startups in Maidstone, new businesses in Canterbury, and entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Kent startups face the same deadlines as everyone else—31 January for Self Assessment (if sole trader), Corporation Tax deadlines if limited company, VAT registration when you hit the threshold. The difference is when your bookkeeping is set up properly from the start, these deadlines aren't stressful. Your records are organized, your accounts are structured correctly, and compliance is straightforward.

Common Kent startup scenarios:

• Tech startups — Software, apps, digital services needing proper accounting structure from day one
• Service startups — Consulting, professional services, agencies needing expense tracking and invoicing setup
• Retail startups — Shops, online stores needing inventory tracking, sales recording, VAT setup
• Creative startups — Designers, creatives needing project-based expense tracking and income recording
• E-commerce startups — Online sellers needing multi-platform reconciliation, VAT setup, inventory tracking

Kent startup market context:

• Kent has active startup scene (Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury all have new businesses starting regularly)
• Many startups start as side projects or part-time, then grow into full-time businesses
• Proper bookkeeping setup early prevents problems when business scales

Remote-first, Kent-focused. We don't need to meet in person (though we can if you prefer), and we understand what Kent startups are dealing with. Getting customers, building products, figuring out marketing—bookkeeping shouldn't be another thing to stress about. We'll set you up right from the start.

FAQs