‘They saved me £10k’: real stories of superhero accountants

There’s only one thing more daunting than starting your own business - and that’s entrusting its care to someone else. But, as trade ramps up and your tax responsibilities increase, finding someone to help with your accounts can make all the difference.

In our latest Small Business Monitor survey, 76% of small business owners said working with an accountant or bookkeeper helped them run their business more effectively. Behind every statistic is a story, so we got in contact with our fantastic FreeAgent community to find the real stories of superhero accountants who save them time, money and stress.

Holly found her perfect accountant match with Gareth - who goes above and beyond to know her business.

‘The reverse charge system was a steep learning curve’

Holly Hinton, founder of Web Goddess, says “being a new limited company and registering for VAT has been a steep learning curve”. Gareth Cooper, their accountant, has been “a breath of fresh air”, helping her team understand their responsibilities, including the notoriously tricky reverse charge system used when invoicing companies outside the UK.  

But what Holly values most about her accountant is his commitment to doing the best for her business. “Gareth pops into our office once a month, just to work with our team and immerse himself in what we do. It helps him provide solutions for us that really help.”

Steve’s accountant/FreeAgent combination saves him time and money - so he gets to spend less time at work. 

‘They give me a better work/life balance’

Working with an accountant has saved valuable time for Steve Loughney, director of cybersecurity consultancy Forfend. As a founder of a limited company, at the end of each year he has to complete and file Final Accounts and Corporation Tax returns for his business, as well as a Self Assessment tax return for his personal income. 

But all that takes just a couple of hours - thanks to his accountant. They have full access to his invoices and expenses in FreeAgent, so they can complete and check his returns for him. “Unlike some people I know who spend evenings doing all of their paperwork, I can get most of it done during my work hours,” says Steve. “This means I get more life in my work/life balance.”

He’s also found that using FreeAgent alongside an accountant can save his business money. His accountant charges depending on the size and complexity of a business’s records. As Steve’s are fully digitalised, he’s on their most cost-effective plan.

“FreeAgent speeds up the accounts process significantly - meaning the cost savings are passed to me. I think I save about £200 a year,” says Steve. “All this means peace of mind.”

Mette and her accountant talk every month to go through her questions about her accounts.

‘I am much more in control of my finances now’

While some business owners are happy to let their accountant handle much of their accounts, Mette Baillie, owner of Freja Fashion, likes to be more involved. Once a month, she takes a break from the main focus of her business - creating clothes that make women feel exceptional - to catch up with her accountant. “During the month, I add to a list of questions that we can go over on our call, and I look over my FreeAgent numbers just before,” says Mette. 

She loves the clarity of the reports available in FreeAgent - which she uses to monitor her business profit. Most importantly, the call acts as a deadline to make sure she gets her accounts up to date. “I really feel the regular accountability - pardon the pun! I’m much more in control of my finances.”

Jason and his accountant Alex meet for coffee - that’s one way to make tax chats bearable!

‘He spotted a mistake, saving me £10k of tax’

Jason Butler is the founder of Well & Spire, a company that monitors high voltage circuits and fixes air conditioning units. His accountant, Alex Makinson from Mitchell Charlesworth, is an “integral part” of his business. When the business became VAT-registered, he moved their accounting from spreadsheets to FreeAgent - but got a shock when his Corporation Tax bill was over £10,000. 

“Due to my inexperience, I put in my starting balance as turnover,” Jason explains. “Luckily Alex and his team spotted that mistake and corrected it, saving me a huge tax bill.”

Alex and Jason now meet for a coffee and a catch up every couple of months. Jason has recommended him to his friends, alongside the winning combo of a NatWest business account and FreeAgent. “He’s definitely a trusted advisor,” Jason says. 

Find your perfect accountant fit with FreeAgent

How do you find one of these incredible accountants who can save you time, money and maybe even a little sanity? We can help! 

FreeAgent CoPilots are our handpicked partner accountants - they know FreeAgent inside and out and will work with you to tailor their services to your exact business needs. Find out how easy it is to get started with a CoPilot accountant*. 

*No relation to certain AI coding tools by massive corporations - just a match made in heaven between you, FreeAgent and our friendly partner accountants.