Company setup and first-year compliance
Company structure, Companies House obligations, Corporation Tax registration, payroll, VAT timing and an organised deadline calendar.
Startup accountants · London
Accounting, tax and finance support built around the realities of startup growth.
From incorporation and Xero setup to R&D relief, SEIS/EIS, runway reporting and investor due diligence, Price & Accountants helps London founders build a finance function that is compliant, fundable and ready to scale.
Founder finance
Startups need more than year-end compliance.
A startup can grow quickly while its financial processes fall behind. Early decisions about share structure, VAT, payroll, R&D evidence, investor reporting and founder remuneration can affect cash, fundraising and future due diligence. We connect those decisions instead of treating every filing as an isolated task.
Cloud bookkeeping on Xero
Bank feeds, transaction processing, expense capture, reconciliations and monthly close procedures that keep the numbers current.
R&D tax relief
Eligibility review, qualifying-cost analysis, technical evidence and claim preparation designed around HMRC’s current requirements.
SEIS and EIS support
Advance assurance, compliance statements and coordination of the financial information investors and advisers need.
Runway and management reporting
Cash forecasting, budget-versus-actual analysis, management accounts and KPI reporting for founder and board decisions.
Virtual Finance Director
Senior finance input for hiring, pricing, funding, controls, board reporting and the transition towards an internal finance team.
Stage by stage
Finance support that changes as the company develops.
Pre-seed
Set up the company, founder payroll, bookkeeping and registrations correctly. Understand SEIS timing, VAT choices and the evidence needed for future R&D claims.
Seed
Introduce monthly reporting, runway forecasts, spending controls and investor-ready records. Complete SEIS/EIS and R&D processes without distracting the founding team.
Series A and beyond
Strengthen the close process, board packs, departmental reporting, forecasts, data-room readiness and financial controls as transaction volume and headcount increase.
Investment readiness
Make the numbers a reason investors can proceed confidently.
Investors expect records that reconcile, a forecast they can interrogate and clear explanations of revenue, burn, runway and tax positions. Preparing this months before a raise is faster and less expensive than rebuilding it during diligence.
- Reconciled monthly management accounts
- Cash runway and scenario modelling
- Budget ownership and variance analysis
- Clean Companies House and cap-table records
- SEIS/EIS and R&D supporting documents
- Finance data-room preparation
Connected specialist support
Explore the services behind the startup finance function.
Xero accounting
Setup, migration, bookkeeping and reporting for a decision-ready cloud finance system.
R&D Tax Relief
Identify qualifying innovation and prepare robust financial and technical evidence.
SEIS/EIS
Support advance assurance, compliance and investor documentation.
Virtual Finance Director
Forecasts, board reporting and commercial finance leadership without a full-time hire.
Bookkeeping
Reliable monthly records that support VAT, tax, reporting and investment readiness.
Year-End Accounts
Statutory reporting and Corporation Tax completed with clear director explanations.
Startup accounting FAQs
Practical answers for founders.
When should a startup appoint an accountant?
Ideally before or immediately after incorporation, particularly if the company expects to raise investment, employ staff, register for VAT or claim R&D relief. Early advice helps avoid structural and record-keeping problems that are expensive to correct later.
Can you support a pre-revenue startup?
Yes. Pre-revenue businesses still need company compliance, cash controls, SEIS/EIS planning and records for expenditure. The scope should remain proportionate until activity grows.
What financial information will investors expect?
The exact request depends on stage, but normally includes current management accounts, cash and runway forecasts, budgets, cap-table information, tax filings and evidence supporting reliefs or material accounting judgements.
Do you only work with London startups?
No. We are based in London and work through cloud systems with startups across the UK and with international founders establishing UK operations.
Can you take over from another accountant?
Yes. We agree a handover, obtain professional clearance, review opening balances and deadlines, and prioritise any gaps that could affect compliance or reporting.
Build the finance foundation before the next growth milestone.
Tell us where the company is today, what you plan to achieve next and where the financial pressure points are.
Book a startup finance review