Top Accountants For Small Businesses In London For 2027
Lily Roberts
Senior Marketing Strategist - ReVerb
11.01.2026
London has more accountancy practices than any other UK city, from century-old partnerships in the City and the West End to cloud-first firms built around Xero and fixed monthly fees. For a small business owner, choosing between accountants for small businesses in London is harder than it looks. The firm that suits a five-person creative studio is rarely the firm that suits a property SPV or a fast-growing tech start-up preparing for an EIS round.
To build this list, we checked each firm against its own website for a London office address, services aimed at small, owner-managed or start-up businesses, and verifiable facts about the practice. Where a firm states its regulation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) or the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on its own site, we note it. Always confirm current status on the ICAEW or ACCA public registers before you sign an engagement letter. No firm paid to appear, and the order reflects our view of strength and fit.
Audit, tax, business services, creative tax reliefs
Goodman Jones
Fitzrovia, W1T
Growing owner-managed businesses
Business tax, audit, bookkeeping, advisory
Sedulo
Old Street, EC1V
SMEs and entrepreneurs wanting cloud accounting
Accounting, payroll, tax, R&D relief, funding
Accounts and Legal
South Bank, SE1
Small firms wanting accounts and legal in one place
Accounting, tax, payroll, business legal services
Accotax
Chelsea, SW10
Freelancers, contractors and new limited companies
Fixed-fee accounts, tax returns, VAT, formation
Howlader & Co
Whitechapel, E1
Micro businesses wanting a dedicated accountant
Bookkeeping, payroll, accounts, tax, formation
Best Small Business Accountants In London
1. Gerald Edelman — B Corp Chartered Accountants Serving Start-Ups Since 1946
Gerald Edelman has been advising business owners since 1946 and marks 80 years in practice in 2026. The firm works from 73 Cornhill, EC3V, close to Bank and Monument stations, and is a certified B Corp.
Unlike many City firms, Gerald Edelman explicitly names small clients among the groups it serves: start-ups, sole traders, freelancers and contractors, partnerships and family businesses, alongside corporates, private equity and FCA-regulated firms. Services include accounting and bookkeeping, payroll, company secretarial work, corporation tax, VAT, self-assessment and help setting up a UK business.
Regulation: the firm states it is a member of the ICAEW, is registered to carry on audit work in the UK, and its probate arm is ICAEW-accredited for non-contentious probate. It suits small businesses that want a well-established firm able to grow with them from first set of accounts to audit and beyond.
2. HaysMac — Entrepreneur Practice With Roots Going Back To 1866
HaysMac LLP, formerly haysmacintyre, traces its roots to 1866 and took its current shape through a 2001 merger. Its London office is at 10 Queen Street Place, EC4R, beside Southwark Bridge, and the firm is led by Natasha Frangos, its first female managing partner.
Its Entrepreneurs and Private Businesses team covers the full lifecycle. On compliance it offers outsourced payroll, bookkeeping, management accounts, statutory accounts and corporation tax returns. On the advisory side it handles tax-efficient structuring, employee share schemes, EIS and SEIS investment, R&D tax relief, VAT registration and international expansion. For owners heading towards a sale, it offers pre-sale planning, including shareholding reviews and Business Asset Disposal Relief.
HaysMac is a strong fit for venture-backed start-ups and ambitious owner-managed businesses that expect to raise money, issue share options or sell within a few years and want one firm to handle both compliance and the deal work.
3. Moore Kingston Smith — Owner-Managed Business Specialist With Two London Offices
Moore Kingston Smith has two London offices, in the City and the West End. The City office is at 6th Floor, 9 Appold Street, EC2A, near Liverpool Street, and the firm also has offices in Godalming, Heathrow, Redhill, Romford and St Albans. It is part of the Moore Global Network.
The firm describes its sector work as combining owner-managed business experience with market insight, and its services cover audit, business and private tax, outsourced accounting, payroll and employer services, HR consultancy, corporate finance, R&D, digital transformation and family business advice. Its MooreMentum offering is aimed at business growth, and legal services are available through a separate firm, Moore Sgd Law.
Moore Kingston Smith suits established small and mid-sized companies that have outgrown a sole practitioner and now need payroll, HR and tax advice under one roof, with access to international support through the Moore network.
4. Price Bailey — Mayfair Office Built Around Owner-Managed Businesses
Price Bailey runs 13 locations, including two in London: the City of London and Mayfair. The Mayfair office is at 3rd Floor, 24 Old Bond Street, W1S, and states that it serves owner-managed businesses, larger corporates and businesses trading overseas.
For smaller clients, the Mayfair team offers bookkeeping and annual accounts, cloud accounting and business systems, payroll, tax and VAT compliance and advice, business strategy and corporate finance. It also covers audit, forensic accounting and insolvency, plus employee benefits, pensions and investment management through its financial services arm. The firm is a member of the Association of Practising Accountants and IAPA International.
Price Bailey won Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year at the Central & East Dealmakers Awards 2025. It suits West End owner-managed businesses that want day-to-day accounting plus access to corporate finance and wealth advice as they grow.
Nyman Libson Paul was founded in 1933 as an accountancy firm for people who create, and it built its reputation with entertainment clients before expanding into property and other sectors. The firm is based at 124 Finchley Road, NW3, in Swiss Cottage.
Its core client base is creative and entertainment businesses: film and TV, theatre, music, video games and animation. It also works with tech start-ups, hospitality, retail and fashion, property and professional services. Services span audit and assurance, business services, business advisory and tax, including R&D tax credits and Creative Industry Tax Relief, which matter a great deal to small production companies and studios.
Regulation: the firm states it is registered to carry on audit work in the UK and regulated for a range of investment business activities by the ICAEW. It is the natural pick on this list for small creative businesses that need an accountant who understands production budgets and sector reliefs.
6. Goodman Jones — Independent Fitzrovia Firm Serving Businesses Since 1934
Goodman Jones has provided personalised business services since 1934 and works from Arthur Stanley House, 40-50 Tottenham Street, W1T, in Fitzrovia. It describes itself as an independent firm of chartered accountants and is part of the GMN International network.
The firm serves business owners, finance directors and entrepreneurs, from small growing organisations to large owner-managed businesses and international groups expanding into the UK. Services include business tax, audit, business advice and bookkeeping, with sister companies offering HR, IT and financial services. Its client sectors include creative businesses, charities, property, leisure and professional practices.
Goodman Jones displays a Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance UK 2026 badge and shows the ICAEW logo on its site. It suits small West End businesses that want a long-standing independent firm and partner-level relationships rather than a call-centre style service.
7. Sedulo — Xero Platinum Partner With An Old Street Office
Sedulo opened in Manchester in 2009 with three people and opened its London office in 2018. The London team works from Office 605, Albert House, 256-260 Old Street, EC1V, two minutes from Old Street station. The group now has more than 200 team members and was ranked 70th in the Accountancy Top 100 in May 2024.
Sedulo names SMEs and entrepreneurs among its core client groups. Services include accounting and management information, payroll, tax, R&D tax relief, funding, deal advisory, audit and wealth management. It became a certified Xero Platinum Partner in 2019, which suits small businesses that want real-time cloud bookkeeping rather than an annual shoebox of receipts.
Regulation: Sedulo states that its work is regulated by both the ACCA and the ICAEW, and it holds Platinum ACCA Employer status. It is a good fit for tech-literate founders who want a modern, cloud-based firm with funding and R&D expertise in-house.
8. Accounts and Legal — Accountants And Lawyers Under One Roof Since 2015
Accounts and Legal was set up in 2015 by Neil Nichols, and its legal side launched in 2019. Its London office is at The Hop Exchange, 24 Southwark Street, SE1, by London Bridge. The firm reports more than 1,000 clients and works with start-ups, micro businesses and growing SMEs.
The model is distinctive: qualified accountants, lawyers and corporate finance staff work together. Accounting services include bookkeeping, annual accounts, management accounts, forecasting and outsourced finance. Tax work covers corporation tax, VAT, EIS, R&D and exit planning. On the legal side it handles company formation, share structures, employment contracts, commercial leases, terms and conditions and trademarks.
Regulation: the company is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for its legal services, and its team includes ACCA-qualified accountants. It won Xero’s Large Firm of the Year in 2023 and is a Xero Platinum Partner. It suits small businesses that are tired of paying an accountant and a solicitor separately for the same transaction.
9. Accotax — Fixed-Fee Packages For Freelancers And New Limited Companies
Accotax is a firm of chartered accountants with a London office in Chelsea at Suite 112, 65-69 Lots Road, SW10, plus offices in Morden, Croydon and Mitcham. The Chelsea and Mitcham offices are by appointment only.
The firm focuses on the smaller end of the market: limited companies and start-ups, contractors (including IR35 reviews), self-employed people and freelancers, landlords and SPVs. It sells monthly packages at compliance-only, core and growth levels, plus one-off services such as VAT, PAYE and self-employed registration and company formation. It works with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage, and its growth plans include tax investigation insurance.
Regulation: Accotax states that it is regulated by the ICAEW, ACCA and AAT and is on the ICAEW approved employer list. It suits sole traders, contractors and first-year limited companies that want predictable monthly fees and an online quote before committing.
10. Howlader & Co — Whitechapel Chartered Accountants With A Dedicated-Accountant Model
Howlader & Co is based at Suite 1, 56 Leman Street, E1, in Whitechapel, and says it has worked with London small businesses for around 40 years. Every client is assigned a dedicated accountant, and services are offered for a fixed monthly fee.
The firm covers company and LLP formation, bookkeeping (on site or remote), payroll, annual accounts, tax and VAT returns, tax planning, custom financial reports, Enterprise Investment Scheme advice and company restoration. It is a Xero Silver Partner and offers investigation protection insurance.
Regulation: the firm states that its London accountants are chartered (ACA) and accountable to the ICAEW, and lists ICAEW, CIOT and ACCA accreditations. It is a good choice for East London micro businesses and shops that want one named accountant who knows their file.
How To Choose A Small Business Accountant In London
Is The Firm Properly Regulated?
Anyone can call themselves an accountant in the UK, so check credentials. Chartered accountants are regulated by bodies such as the ICAEW or ACCA, which set standards and require professional indemnity insurance. If you need an audit, the firm must be a registered auditor. Search the firm’s name on the ICAEW or ACCA public register before you sign.
Fixed Monthly Fee Or Hourly Billing?
Many small business firms, including Accotax and Howlader & Co, sell fixed monthly packages, which make budgeting simple. Larger firms often quote per engagement. Either way, ask exactly what is included: year-end accounts, corporation tax return, confirmation statement, payroll runs, VAT returns and how many advisory calls you get before extra fees apply.
Do They Know Your Sector?
Sector knowledge saves money. A film or games studio benefits from a firm like Nyman Libson Paul that handles creative tax reliefs every week. A venture-backed start-up needs EIS, SEIS and share scheme experience, which HaysMac and Accounts and Legal both offer. Ask for examples of clients similar to you in size and sector.
Which Software Will They Use?
Under Making Tax Digital, VAT-registered businesses already have to keep digital records and file through compatible software. Check that the firm supports your preferred package, whether Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent or Sage, and whether it will set up bank feeds and receipt capture for you. Xero partner status, held by Sedulo, Accounts and Legal and Howlader & Co, is a useful signal.
Can They Grow With You?
Switching accountants is a hassle. If you plan to hire staff, raise investment or sell, pick a firm that offers payroll, R&D relief, funding and exit planning, not just year-end compliance. Larger practices such as Gerald Edelman, Moore Kingston Smith and Price Bailey can carry you from a first set of accounts through to audit and a transaction.
The right accountant depends on where your business is now and where it is heading. Freelancers and first-year limited companies will get good value from fixed-fee firms such as Accotax and Howlader & Co. Creative businesses should look hard at Nyman Libson Paul, while founders planning to raise or sell will find deeper advisory benches at HaysMac, Gerald Edelman, Moore Kingston Smith and Price Bailey. Sedulo, Goodman Jones and Accounts and Legal sit in between, each with a distinct model.
Meet two or three firms, compare exactly what their fee covers, and check their regulation on the professional body’s register. For more vetted providers across the capital, visit our London services hub.
