Free UK Accounting & Bookkeeping Help and Advice
Managing your finances just got a lot easier.
Free plain-English guides, bookkeeping templates, and honest software advice — written by a qualified accountant with 30 years’ experience.
Running your own business is hard enough without getting lost in spreadsheets and tax forms. Business Accounting Basics gives you free, plain-English guides, templates, and tools — written by a qualified accountant with 30 years’ experience — so you can manage your finances with confidence.
What you’ll find here:
- Step-by-step bookkeeping guides for beginners
- 25+ free Excel templates — no email required
- Plain-English VAT, Self Assessment, and payroll guides
- Honest accounting software reviews and exclusive discounts
- Practical advice for sole traders, landlords, and limited companies
Is This Site for You?
This site is designed for anyone managing their own business finances in the UK — no accounting degree needed. It’s especially useful if you are:
- A sole trader or freelancer keeping their own records
- Self-employed and facing your first Self Assessment tax return
- A new small business owner who’s never done bookkeeping before
- A landlord tracking rental income and expenses
- A start-up trying to set up proper financial records from day one
- A limited company director who wants to understand the basics
Getting Started with Bookkeeping
New to bookkeeping and not sure where to start? You’re not alone. Many small business owners feel overwhelmed by the receipts, invoices, and accounting terms they’ve never encountered before.
That’s why we created a beginner-friendly guide to help you understand the basics without the jargon. Whether you are a sole trader or just starting your business, our step-by-step tips will walk you through everything you need to get your accounts in order.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) — Are You Ready?
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme is changing how businesses submit their tax records. If you’re VAT-registered or self-employed with income over the threshold, MTD rules already apply — or will soon.
- MTD for VAT — already in force for all VAT-registered businesses
- MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) — being phased in from April 2026
- You’ll need compatible software to keep digital records and submit returns
Accounting Basics
Getting to grips with basic accounting gives you better control over your business finances. You don’t need to be an expert; just understanding a few core principles can help you make smarter decisions, stay organised, and avoid costly mistakes. This section covers the key topics every small business owner should know, explained in plain English and broken into simple, practical steps.
You will learn:
- The difference between income, expenses, assets, and liabilities
- How to track transactions and keep accurate records
- The importance of bank reconciliation and cash flow
- When and how to register for VAT
- How to read financial reports
25 Free Excel Bookkeeping Templates
No email required
Instant downloads
Over 375,000 downloads
Business Accounting Basics has created over 25 free Excel bookkeeping templates for business or personal use. They include cashbook, budgeting, cash flow statement, petty cash, sales receipts, depreciation, stock record card, bank reconciliation and more.
Over 375,000 people have downloaded our templates. They all have full instructions and examples to help you use them with confidence.
What Business Owners Say:
Accounting Software For Small Businesses
Accounting software helps small business owners save time and money by automating everyday tasks. It’s beneficial if you’re not familiar with accounting. The right software lets you track expenses, send invoices, run payroll, and create financial reports – all in a few clicks.
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| From £18 per month |
| FREE Sole Trader & Trial |
| Sage Copilot Ai |
| 90% Discount – 6 Months |
Best Free Software
From £12 per month |
| 1,000 invoices PA Free |
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Latest From the Blog
What Is Bookkeeping? A Plain-English Guide for UK Small Businesses
If you’ve just started a business — or you’ve been trading for a while but never quite got your head around the finances — you’ve…
Self Assessment Tax Return Explained (UK Guide for the Self-Employed & Landlords)
A Plain-English Guide for the Self-Employed, Landlords and Anyone with Untaxed Income If you’re self-employed, a landlord, or earn income that isn’t taxed at source,…
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) Explained
A Plain-English Guide for the Self-Employed and Landlords If you’re self-employed or a landlord, you may be wondering: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD…
Written by a Qualified Accountant — Not a Content Farm
Every page on Business Accounting Basics is written by Angela Boxwell, MAAT — an AAT-qualified accountant and registered member in practice with over 30 years of hands-on experience working with UK small businesses.
Angela is a certified Xero advisor and QuickBooks ProAdvisor. She founded this site in 2008 to give small business owners the same clear, practical advice she gives her own clients — without the accountant’s bill.
There are no AI-generated articles here, no clickbait, and no advice written by someone who’s never run a business. Just straightforward, trustworthy guidance from someone who knows what she’s talking about.
