Accounting made simple.
Prices made clear.
Straightforward accounting, bookkeeping and tax for small limited companies. Know what you’re paying, understand what’s included and get an indicative quote in minutes.
Essentials, at a glance
- Annual accounts and corporation tax
- Bookkeeping, with document capture software
- VAT returns, payroll and personal tax when you need them
- One clear monthly fee, quoted upfront
- A real accounting team behind it
For small limited companies that want it done properly.
MBS Essentials is a lower-touch way to work with MBS Accountants. The same standards and the same team, with a simpler, more streamlined service and a price you can see before you speak to anyone.
A good fit if
- You run a small UK limited company
- Your turnover is up to £500,000
- Your accounting needs are fairly straightforward
- You want your books, accounts and tax handled for one clear monthly fee
- You’re happy working online
Probably not the right fit if
- You need monthly management accounts or regular review meetings
- You run a group or several connected companies
- Your turnover is over £500,000
For those, our tailored accounting service is built around you.
Let us keep your books, and everything else gets easier.
Books kept up to date
Your bookkeeping is done through the year, not rushed at the year-end, so your numbers are there when you need them.
Fewer year-end surprises
When we keep the books, the accounts are built on records we already know, so there’s less to chase and fewer questions for you.
VAT from accurate records
VAT returns are prepared from the same records we keep, and checked against them.
A lower accounts fee
Our quoted accounts fee already includes a reduction when MBS keeps your books.
Less forwarding, uploading and chasing paperwork.
When we keep your books, we add Document Capture Software. It looks for the invoices and receipts that arrive in your email and gathers them for your bookkeeping, so there’s far less for you to send us each month. Anything that doesn’t arrive by email, you can still pass to us as usual.
Document Capture Software is £20 a month, shown separately in your quote.
- 1
Connect your email
Securely connect the email account your invoices and receipts arrive in.
- 2
It finds your documents
It looks for invoices and receipts in your inbox and collects the ones it identifies.
- 3
Ready for your bookkeeping
Your documents are organised in one place, ready for us to process.
Everything a small limited company needs to stay on top of things.
Annual accounts and corporation tax
Prepared, filed with Companies House and HMRC, and explained in plain English.
Always includedBookkeeping and document capture
Your books kept up to date through the year, with Document Capture Software gathering invoices and receipts from your email.
RecommendedConfirmation statement
Your annual Companies House confirmation statement prepared and filed.
Always includedVAT returns
Prepared and submitted under Making Tax Digital, if you’re VAT registered.
If you need itPayroll
Director-only or employee payroll, with pension submissions if you need them.
If you need itCIS returns
Monthly Construction Industry Scheme returns if you pay subcontractors.
If you need itPersonal tax returns
Self Assessment returns for the directors who need one, including those with rental income.
If you need itFreeAgent or Xero
FreeAgent as standard, free with an eligible business bank account, or Xero at £39 a month.
Your choiceNot part of Essentials: monthly management accounts, regular review meetings, tax planning projects and catching up historic bookkeeping. These are available through our tailored service.
Get your indicative quote in about two minutes.
Answer ten quick questions about your company. Your price builds as you go, and there’s no need to give us your contact details unless you want to.
- 1 Your business
- 2 VAT & bookkeeping
- 3 Payroll & tax
- 4 Software & dates
- 5 Your quote
Happy with your quote? Send it to us.
We’ll check the details, answer any questions and confirm your price — usually within one working day. Sending this doesn’t commit you to anything.
Thank you — we’ve received your enquiry.
We’ve got your quote and details. We’ll be in touch, usually within one working day, to confirm everything and answer any questions.
Test mode: this enquiry was not sent.
This is the staging site, where enquiries are checked but never emailed. On the live site the quote and details would go to MBS.
How onboarding works.
- 01
Send us your quote
When you’re happy with your indicative quote, send it to us with your contact details.
- 02
We confirm the details
We check your company details and records, confirm your fee and answer your questions. We also carry out the identity checks every accountant is required to make.
- 03
Agree and switch
You agree our engagement letter. If you have an accountant, we handle the professional handover and get authorised with HMRC.
- 04
Get set up
We set up FreeAgent or Xero and your document capture, agree your start date and take it from there.
What is the first-year accounts adjustment?
We charge for your annual accounts and corporation tax monthly. If you join partway through your financial year, we still prepare the accounts for the whole year, so there’s a one-off adjustment to cover the months before we started: your monthly accounts fee multiplied by the number of months that had already passed. It covers your accounts only. Your quote shows the calculation, and you can spread it over your first six monthly payments or pay it upfront.
Is the quote a fixed price?
It’s an indicative quote based on what you tell us. We confirm the final fee once we’ve checked your business details, your records and the services you need. Nothing is binding until you’ve agreed our engagement letter.
Is FreeAgent really free?
FreeAgent is free with some business bank accounts, depending on the bank and its conditions. If your bank doesn’t qualify, we’ll tell you before you commit, and you can choose Xero instead.
Can I keep my own books?
Yes. Choose that option in the quote builder. Your records will need to meet our standards, and substantial historical corrections may be charged separately. The accounts fee is a little higher than when we keep your books, because we do more checking at the year-end.
What if my bookkeeping is behind?
Your quote assumes your records up to the start date have been kept to a reasonable standard. If they need significant work, we’ll talk to you and agree any extra fee before doing anything.
Can I switch from my current accountant?
Yes. We handle the professional handover with your current accountant, get authorised with HMRC and collect what we need. Our guide to how to change accountants explains the process. Read the guide.
What if my business needs more than Essentials?
Essentials is for small limited companies with straightforward needs. If you’d like management accounts, regular meetings or more involved advice, or your turnover is over £500,000, our tailored accounting service is the better fit.
Do your prices include VAT?
No. All Essentials prices are shown excluding VAT, which is added to our invoices.
Tailored accounting for growing and more complex businesses.
More personalised accounting, management information and financial guidance, built around your business.