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Starting a business
Sole trader, partnership or limited company? We’ll help you choose the right structure, handle the registrations and set up books that work from day one.
Start-up supportAccountants for small businesses · St Albans
Accounts done properly. Tax filed on time. Advice in plain English.
JL Dennis is a family-run practice for sole traders, limited companies and start-ups. You get a fixed fee agreed before we start, cloud books that are always up to date, and an accountant who actually picks up the phone.
- Free, no-obligation quote
- No hourly billing
- No judgement if you’re behind
- Fixed fees, agreed before we start
- Live cloud books in QuickBooks or Xero
- VAT registration in around 30 minutes
- Every call, email and message answered
Who we help
Wherever you are in business, we’ll take the numbers off your plate.
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Self-employed & partnerships
Self Assessment filed accurately and early, every allowable expense claimed, and a clear plan for Making Tax Digital before it catches you out.
Self Assessment03
Limited companies & directors
Year-end accounts, corporation tax, VAT and a tax-efficient way to pay yourself. One practice, one fixed fee, and nothing slipping through the cracks.
Company accountsWhat we do
Everything you need from an accountant. Nothing you don’t.
Your books, VAT, accounts and tax all live with one practice. Nothing gets missed, nobody passes the buck, and you only ever need one number.
Bookkeeping
Monthly, weekly or daily. Kept in the cloud, reconciled to your bank and ready whenever you need it.
VAT
Fast registration, the right scheme for your business and every return filed on time through Making Tax Digital.
Accounts & corporation tax
Year-end accounts and your CT600 prepared together, so you know your tax bill before anything is filed.
Self Assessment
Personal tax returns for sole traders, partners and directors, finished long before the January rush.
Start-ups
The right structure, registrations and systems from day one, so you start as you mean to go on.
Tax & wealth planning
Salary, dividends, pensions and reliefs arranged so you keep more of what your company earns.
Management accounts
Clear, regular numbers and the KPIs that matter, so you can make decisions with confidence.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us about your business and we’ll recommend the right mix, with a fixed price attached.
How it works
Getting started takes one conversation.
No drawn-out onboarding and no awkward phone call to your old accountant. Here’s what happens.
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Tell us about your business
Call, email or fill in our two-minute quote form. No jargon and no hard sell.
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Get a fixed fee in writing
We set out exactly what we’ll do and exactly what it costs, before you commit to anything.
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We handle the handover
We collect what we need from your previous accountant and set up your cloud bookkeeping.
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You get back to business
We track every deadline and only get in touch when there’s something you need to know or do.
Fixed fees
No clock ticking. No surprise invoices.
Plenty of accountants bill by the hour, so every question costs you money and you never quite know what the final bill will be. We don’t work like that.
- Your fee agreed in writing before we start
- Ask your questions without watching the meter
- No hidden extras and no by-the-hour add-ons
- Discounts on VAT returns, accounts and tax returns when we keep your books
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is here. Are you ready?
Since 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 have had to keep digital records and send HMRC quarterly updates. Over the next two years the threshold drops, bringing far more self-employed people into the rules.
We’ll get you onto compliant software, keep your records ticking over and file every update for you. One less thing to think about.
How we help with Self Assessment and MTD- April 2026 Over £50,000Qualifying income In force now
- April 2027 Over £30,000Qualifying income
- April 2028 Over £20,000Qualifying income
Qualifying income is your combined turnover from self-employment and property, before expenses.
What you can expect
The kind of accountant we’d want for our own business.
We care
We’re a small business and a family too, so we know what’s riding on your numbers. Behind with your books, or worried about mistakes in the past? We’ll help you put it right, without judgement.
We talk straight
We’ll tell you plainly what’s right, what’s wrong and what to do about it. We only get in touch when something matters, and we always reply to your calls, emails and messages.
We do it properly
Honest advice, transparent fees and work done thoroughly, by the book and on time. For us, integrity is the foundation every client relationship is built on.
Questions
The things people usually ask us first.
How much will it cost?
It depends on what you need, which is why every client gets a fixed-fee quote after a quick conversation. Once it’s agreed, that’s what you pay: no hourly billing and no surprise extras. If we keep your books, you’ll also get a discount on your VAT returns, accounts and tax returns. Get your quote.
I’m behind with my accounts or tax. Can you still help?
Yes. It happens far more often than you’d think, and we won’t judge. We’ll work out exactly where things stand, deal with HMRC and Companies House for you, and get you back on track as quickly as we can.
Do I need to be based in St Albans?
Not at all. We’re based in St Albans and love working with local businesses, but because everything runs in the cloud we can look after you wherever you are in the UK.
Should I be a sole trader or a limited company?
It depends on your profits, your plans and how you want to take money out of the business. A limited company can be more tax-efficient once profits grow, but it comes with more admin and responsibility. We’ll run the numbers with you and recommend what genuinely suits you, not what’s easiest for us.
Which accounting software do you use?
We work with QuickBooks and Xero, connected directly to your bank, and use Dext to capture receipts: snap a photo and it’s in your books. Already using something else? Talk to us and we’ll find the best way forward.
How do I switch from my current accountant?
It’s easier than most people expect. Once you’ve accepted your quote, we contact your previous accountant for the information we need and take it from there. There’s no awkward conversation for you to have.
How quickly can you register me for VAT?
The registration itself usually takes us around 30 minutes. HMRC then issue your VAT number, and we make sure you’re on the VAT scheme that suits your business best from the start.
Let’s talk
Ready to hand over the numbers?
Tell us a little about your business and we’ll come back with a clear, fixed-fee quote. No obligation, no jargon, just a straight answer.