Switching is a one-email job. We do the rest.

You send one short email to your current accountant. We handle the rest of the handover, including professional clearance, your records, HMRC authorisation and software set-up.

Start the switch WhatsApp a question

How switching works

1
You say yes
Fill in the get-started form or book a call. We confirm your package and fixed price in writing.
2
You send one email
A short note telling your current accountant that you are moving. We give you the wording.
3
We handle the handover
We request professional clearance and your records, register as your agent with HMRC, and set up Xero (or take over your existing software).
4
You carry on
We keep track of your filing deadlines through the handover, and your named accountant is your contact from the first day.

Reasons startups switch accountant

You only hear from your accountant when an invoice is due
You are charged, or expect to be charged, for each question you ask
Replies slow down in the weeks before the January tax deadline
You do not know what your tax bill will be until it is due
Your accountant has never raised a relief or allowance you could claim

Questions about leaving your accountant

Do I have to tell them why? No. You send one line saying you are moving and that we will be in touch about the handover. You do not have to give a reason.

Can they refuse to release my records? Only in limited cases. If you owe your old accountant fees for work they did on documents that belong to you, they can keep those documents until the bill is paid. This is called a particular lien. It does not cover a company’s statutory registers or minute books, or the accounting records the Companies Act requires a company to keep, and you can get copies of anything already filed at Companies House or with HMRC. If there is an unpaid bill, tell us at the start so we can plan the handover around it.

Do I have to wait until my year end? No. If you move part-way through the year, we pick up the books as they stand and correct the current year as we go.

Will I pay two firms at once? Possibly, for a short time. If your old firm bills a year in advance, you may have paid for months you will not use, and you can ask them for a refund for those months. The handover is included in our fee.

What if my books are a mess? Tell us before we quote. We look at the books first, so the fee we agree covers the work needed to put them right.

What we need from you

Your old accountant’s name and email address, so we can write for clearance and your records.
Your company number, or your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) if you are a sole trader.
Read-only access or a login to the software your books are kept in now, if there is any.
Two forms of identity for each director or owner. The money laundering regulations require us to check them before we start work.
Anything you already know is wrong, such as late filings, an unpaid tax bill or a year’s accounts that were never finished.

Switching questions

Does switching accountants cause problems with HMRC?

No. HMRC deals with whichever agent you authorise, and your filings carry on as normal. We update your authorisations as part of onboarding.

Do I have to speak to my old accountant?

You send them one short email, which we draft for you. We deal with them directly for your records, professional clearance and the handover.

When's the best time to switch?

You can switch at any time of year. We take over part-way through the year and prepare that year's accounts from the books as they stand.

What does it cost to switch?

Switching is included. Onboarding and the handover are part of your fixed monthly fee. Your old accountant should not charge for standard professional clearance.

How long does it take?

It usually takes about a week from agreeing to work with us to being fully set up, and most of that time is spent waiting for your previous accountant to reply.