Sole trader accountants who put your next three months in order
Sole trader accountants for artists, designers, makers and consultants who need FreeAgent, self assessment and VAT kept under control.
One Abacus was recommended to me by several friends and I truly owe them a huge favour as this company has been exemplary! As a new limited…Molly Eve Stevens · Read the reviews
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A few quick questions, then a plain recommendation and a fixed monthly fee in writing. About two minutes. No monthly tie in.
- Your sales are still growing
- Sunday holds the money admin
The question is what your next successful commission changes. We watch the VAT line, explain the tax bill before it lands and tell you plainly when a limited company makes sense.
One Abacus is a two-person accountancy practice in Brixton for creative sole traders. It handles FreeAgent, self assessment and VAT on one fixed monthly fee agreed in writing. The person doing the work answers the phone.
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- One fixed monthly fee, agreed in writing
- FreeAgent or Xero included
- Brixton, by appointment
What is off your desk after three months
Know the tax bill before it lands
Your self assessment is prepared from books kept current through the year.
See VAT coming before prices change
Turnover is watched so registration does not arrive as a surprise.
Get a plain answer on going limited
You know whether incorporation suits the work and when to consider it.
Where growing work creates the next tax decision
A good month can change what HMRC expects next.
- VAT
“I accepted the commission, then realised I had no idea whether the sale pushed me over the VAT threshold.”
Registration can affect prices and invoices. It is easier to plan before the next project is agreed.
- Tax bill
“I filed my return, but the payment was far more than I had put aside.”
The bill can take money meant for materials, rent or the next quiet month.
- Incorporate
“The studio is growing, and I still cannot tell whether staying self employed is sensible.”
Waiting can leave the decision until a client, tax date or VAT question forces it.
- Sorted
What changes when advice arrives before the decision
The VAT line is checked before prices are agreed. The likely tax payment is explained before it is due. Incorporation is discussed when it becomes relevant.
Quick check · no email
If you cannot say whether you are close to the VAT line, what your tax bill will be, and who to ring when a question comes up, it is worth a conversation.
Answer these three questions about the business as it stands today.
Question 1 of 3
Do you know whether you are close to the £90,000 VAT line?
Do you know what your next tax bill is likely to be?
Do you know who to ring when a commission changes your tax position?
Those gaps can turn a good month into an unexpected deadline or bill. A conversation with Ryan can put each one in order.
You have a sound base, with one decision still exposed. The artist in our example needed that check when sales outgrew her paperwork.
Those three answers suggest the essentials are covered. The sole trader or limited company guide can help with the next structural decision.
What changes when advice runs through the year
Annual filing may be enough until sales create decisions between returns.
Accounts prepared at year end
The return covers the year just finished.
The owner keeps the books during the year.
VAT is raised when turnover needs checking.
Company structure is discussed when requested.
Support as the work grows
FreeAgent stays current as sales arrive.
The tax payment is discussed before its deadline.
VAT turnover is watched while prices can change.
Going limited is reviewed at the useful moment.
What needs to be in place before growth
A few working habits prevent the year end becoming a reconstruction job.
- 01
Are sales entered as they happen?
FreeAgent stays current.
- 02
Is the bank feed connected?
Each payment has somewhere to go.
- 03
Are costs added during each project?
Receipts do not collect in a box.
- 04
Is money set aside for tax?
The payment does not take studio cash.
- 05
Is turnover checked against the VAT threshold?
Registration can be planned.
- 06
Are prices reviewed before VAT registration?
New quotes reflect the change.
- 07
Has going limited been reviewed?
The decision has a reason and timing.
- 08
Can you reach the person doing the work?
Questions get a plain answer.
How the accountancy changes as sales grow
The work starts with today’s books and follows the decisions ahead.
FreeAgent kept useful
The software is set up, linked to the bank and shown to you.
Self assessment handled
The return is prepared and the payment explained before it is due.
VAT and incorporation watched
You get an answer before either decision changes your next invoice.
Entry 01
What happened when an artist’s sales took off
Her work grew faster than the paperwork, and VAT had become a worry.
Clients described by type. Names withheld.
What clients say
One Abacus was recommended to me by several friends and I truly owe them a huge favour as this company has been exemplary! As a new limited company myself and a novice to the contracting world I have had tons of questions and they have been dealt with promptly, effectively and in an approachable and really helpful manner. I couldn't recommend One Abacus enough!
I am currently using one Abacus for sorting out all my freelance accounts and i have to say everything has been perfect with my accountant. they are normally always available even on the weekends when you need something sorted out really quickly. they have sorting out everything from helping with mortgage and notifying when you to pay your tax. really nice and responsive people to talk to if you have questions.
One Abacus has provided me a comprehensive service, very professional accountant, but friendly at the same time, maximum availability, I couldn't be happier.
How the first three months get sorted
Each step answers a question before the next deadline creates another.
Know where you stand
Ryan checks what HMRC expects, which dates apply and what is worrying you.
FreeAgent starts doing its job
The software is configured, the bank feed linked and the daily routine explained.
Your next bill stops being a guess
Your self assessment position and VAT turnover are reviewed before either surprises you.
The business structure has an answer
You get a plain answer on staying self employed or setting up a company.
Where another kind of service may suit better
We do not offer bookkeeping alone at a low monthly price.
We do not sign off returns prepared and filed by someone else.
Stock-heavy shops and online retailers need a different service.
Construction, charities and CICs sit outside our focus.
The quiz checks the fit before anyone asks you to make a decision.
Questions sole traders ask before choosing an accountant
What do sole trader accountants include in a monthly fee?
At One Abacus, the agreed scope can include FreeAgent set-up, help keeping the books current, self assessment, VAT registration and returns, and advice on incorporation. The price is fixed in writing before work starts. Ask whether software, conversations and filings are included when comparing quotes, because each quoted scope can differ.
Can I talk to sole trader accountants if I already have an accountant?
Yes. Answer a few quick questions first, then One Abacus will give you a personalised recommendation. If there is a fit, Ryan can review what is due and explain the next steps. No change happens unless you decide to proceed, and there is no need to wait for the end of the tax year.
Do I have to move to different accounting software?
No automatic move is required. Ryan first checks what you use and what needs to change. One Abacus normally works with FreeAgent or Xero, sets it up and shows you the routine. Existing invoices, costs and bank transactions can be brought across in an orderly handover when a move makes sense.
What happens with my current accountant if I switch?
If you decide to move, One Abacus asks your current accountant for the handover information and confirms which deadlines come next. The transfer can happen during the year. Your current accountant remains responsible for work already agreed until the handover point, while the new scope is confirmed in writing before One Abacus starts.
When does a sole trader have to register for VAT?
You must register when taxable turnover across the relevant rolling period passes the current HMRC threshold, although some businesses register voluntarily. One Abacus can monitor turnover, discuss the effect on prices and handle registration and returns. Check the current threshold on GOV.UK because tax rules and limits can change.
When should a sole trader set up a limited company?
Going limited can make sense when profit, risk, clients or future plans change. Incorporation also adds company filings and different ways of taking money out. Ryan reviews the whole position before recommending a date. The answer is based on the work you do, the money coming in and what you plan to build.
Three ways to take the next step
Get your recommendation
Answer a few quick questions, get a personalised recommendation, and speak with Ryan if there is a fit.
Get a free quote 02 · A question firstAsk Ryan first
Send your question about VAT, self assessment, FreeAgent or going limited.
Ask Ryan a question 03 · Still decidingStill deciding about software?
Read the guide to see what useful accounting software should handle as the work grows.
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