Accountants for Startups
Accountants for UK startups and scale-ups, covering SEIS and EIS rounds, EMI option schemes, R&D relief and investor-ready reporting.
How we help
Early-stage companies need a different kind of accountant. Compliance still has to happen, but the decisions that matter are about structure, incentives and funding, and most of them are far cheaper to get right at the start than to unwind later.
Get the share structure right before you raise
The single most expensive mistake founders make is issuing shares carelessly in year one. Share classes, founder splits and early promises to advisers all constrain what a funding round can look like, and restructuring under time pressure mid-round is where value gets lost. We design the structure at incorporation so it stays compatible with what comes next.
SEIS and EIS
SEIS and EIS relief is what makes early investment attractive to UK angels, offering income tax relief plus capital gains treatment. Both require the company to qualify, and advance assurance is what investors will ask for before committing. Certain share rights, arrangements and prior investments can disqualify a round entirely, which is why the check belongs before the term sheet, not after. See SEIS vs EIS: the complete guide.
EMI options for the team
You cannot pay early staff market salaries, so equity does the work. EMI is the most tax-advantaged option scheme available to UK companies, but it requires qualifying status, an agreed HMRC valuation and correct reporting, and options granted informally on a spreadsheet are worth considerably less than founders assume. See EMI share option schemes explained.
R&D relief, claimed properly
If you are resolving genuine technical uncertainty, R&D relief under the merged scheme can be significant. HMRC has tightened substantially on weak claims, and now expects a technical narrative that stands up. We prepare claims that are defensible rather than optimistic, see R&D tax credits and, for software businesses, R&D relief for SaaS companies.
Numbers investors will accept
A raise runs on a three-statement model, a defensible set of assumptions, clean unit economics and a cap table that reconciles. We build those, and keep monthly reporting going afterwards so board packs are a by-product rather than a scramble. See startup funding from pre-seed to Series B and SaaS metrics for UK founders.
What we do for startups
Formation and structure, bookkeeping and payroll, SEIS/EIS and EMI, R&D claims, and forecasting and board reporting as you scale.
Frequently asked questions
When should a startup get an accountant?
Before you issue shares or raise. The structural decisions made in the first few months are the expensive ones to reverse, and they are usually made before anyone thinks to ask.
What is SEIS/EIS advance assurance and do I need it?
It is HMRC confirming in principle that your company qualifies, and most angel investors will ask for it before committing. We prepare and submit the application.
How do EMI share options work?
They let you grant tax-advantaged options to employees, with an HMRC-agreed valuation and reporting requirements. Done properly they are the most efficient way to reward an early team.
Can a pre-revenue company claim R&D relief?
Often yes, if you are resolving genuine technical uncertainty. Claims must be defensible, because HMRC scrutiny has increased substantially and weak claims now attract enquiries.
Do you build financial models for fundraising?
Yes, three-statement projections with unit economics and scenarios, plus a cap table that reconciles, which is what investors actually check.
We are pre-revenue. Is an accountant worth the cost?
The compliance work is small at that stage, so most of the value is structural: share classes, SEIS eligibility and option planning. That is exactly when advice is cheapest to act on.
Looking for startups specialists?
Book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly whether we can improve on what you have.