Who this is for

This page is for founders getting a new venture off the ground in Birmingham: first-time business owners, side projects turning into something serious, and small teams preparing to raise or take on their first hires. It suits people who want the boring-but-important groundwork handled well: the right structure, clean records from the outset, and someone to ask before making a decision with tax or compliance consequences. If you are building something and want the finances built properly alongside it, this is for you.

How we help startups

We help you make the founding choices deliberately and then set up the systems to match. That can begin with company formation and choosing between sole trader and limited company, followed by clean bookkeeping from your very first transactions so nothing is reconstructed later. As you find your feet we can put together management accounts that show how the business is really doing, and support the business planning and forecasting that funders and lenders expect to see. We also time your VAT registration and payroll setup to match the business rather than the calendar.

What’s included

  • Advising on business structure and, where chosen, forming the company
  • Setting up cloud accounting software and a clean chart of accounts
  • Guidance on capturing founder and pre-trading expenses correctly
  • Registering for the taxes you need, when you need them
  • Timing VAT registration and payroll setup around your actual growth
  • Preparing management accounts so you can see performance month to month
  • Supporting forecasts and plans for funding or lending conversations
  • Being on hand for the early questions before decisions are made

Common questions we hear

Early-stage founders most often ask us which structure to choose, how to handle the money they spent before trading started, and when VAT or payroll becomes their problem. Just as common is the worry that it is “too soon” for an accountant, when in fact the setup phase is exactly when good advice pays off. We are happy to walk through your plans and point out the decisions worth getting right now versus the ones that can wait.

Serving Birmingham and the Midlands

We work with startups across Birmingham and the wider Midlands entirely through cloud accounting software, so you can get set up and share information wherever you are building from. The region has a genuinely active early-stage scene, and remote-first working means we can support you from first idea through to first hire without you leaving your desk.

Common questions

Should I start as a sole trader or set up a limited company?

It depends on your risk, your funding plans and how you intend to pay yourself. A limited company can look more credible to investors and separates your liability, but it brings more filings and formality. We talk through where your business is heading before recommending a structure, rather than defaulting to one.

Can I claim back money I spent before the business officially started?

Often yes. Certain pre-trading and pre-incorporation costs can be brought into the accounts once the business is up and running, within the rules. The key is keeping the receipts and recording what you spent and why. We show you what to capture from day one so nothing legitimate is lost.

When do I need to worry about VAT and payroll?

VAT registration becomes compulsory once taxable turnover reaches the threshold, though some startups register earlier by choice; payroll and auto-enrolment duties begin when you take on staff or pay yourself through the company. We keep an eye on both so you register at the right moment, not too late and not needlessly early.

What financial information will investors or lenders expect?

Usually a clear picture of your numbers to date, sensible forecasts and an explanation of the assumptions behind them. Tidy records and regular reporting make that far easier to produce. We help you keep management information that stands up to questions rather than being assembled in a panic.

It's just me right now, so is it too early for an accountant?

Not at all. The cheapest time to get the structure, records and registrations right is at the start, before habits and mess build up. Early advice tends to save time and cost later. We can set up your systems now and scale the support as the business grows.