- Fixed monthly fees are now standard, but scope varies a lot between firms
- Payroll and bookkeeping are frequently priced outside the core package
- Ad hoc advisory work is almost always billed separately
- Always ask what triggers an extra invoice before signing
What's usually in the core package
Year-end accounts, corporation tax computations and Companies House confirmation statements are almost always bundled into a base monthly fee, since they're required filings regardless of how the business trades.
What's often priced separately
Payroll is typically charged per payslip, usually £4–£8 per employee per month. Bookkeeping is either included, charged hourly, or left to you in software with the accountant reviewing rather than entering transactions.
Where ad hoc costs appear
One-off work — funding applications, R&D tax credit claims, HMRC enquiry support, tax planning — is almost always quoted separately from the core package, so ask what triggers an additional invoice before you sign.
Questions worth asking before you commit
What's included versus billed as an extra, whether the fee reviews annually with turnover, and what support is included if HMRC opens a query are the three questions that most reliably surface hidden costs.
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