SEO & Digital Growth Agencies have unique accounting challenges. Unlike generalist accountants, we understand your business model, your cash flow patterns, and your growth trajectory. We work with agencies across the entire United Kingdom, from London to Edinburgh. Our team is fully remote and works with clients nationwide.
Accounting Challenges for SEO & Digital Growth Agencies
Unique challenges that most generalist accountants simply don't understand:
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) Tracking
Your retainer-based model means predictable revenue, but churn surprises you mid-month. Forecasting is impossible without clear MRR visibility.
Consultant Utilization Rates Unknown
You bill clients but don't know if your consultants are at 60% or 90% utilization. Pricing is loose, margins are unknown, and you're leaving money on the table.
Scaling Payroll Without Losing Profitability
Adding your first or fifth consultant is a big jump in fixed costs. You need to know: can I afford this hire? Will they pay for themselves?
Tailored for SEO & Digital Growth Agencies
Services designed specifically for your business model:
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) Dashboard
Real-time MRR, churn tracking, customer lifetime value. You see revenue 3-6 months ahead, plan hiring and scaling with confidence.
Consultant Utilization & Billing Analysis
Time tracking integration shows utilization rates per consultant. Match billed hours to actual capacity. Reprice underutilized consultants or identify pricing gaps.
Payroll Forecasting & Scaling Analysis
Model new hires. Show ROI on hiring decisions: "If I add 1 consultant at £40k salary, I need £8k/month in new revenue to break even. Can I get it?"
Client Profitability Analysis
Monthly P&L per client shows which are profitable. Identify bottom 20% clients losing you money and either reprice or fire them.
Tax Planning for Service Businesses
Optimal salary/dividend split, pension planning, contractor vs employee classification. Service businesses have unique tax optimization opportunities.
Monthly Bookkeeping & Tax Compliance
Regular invoicing, client retainers, VAT, payroll. We handle it all, freeing you to focus on client delivery.
Why choose Alto?
- See MRR and churn in real time — Forecast revenue accurately
- Know consultant utilization rates — And true billing capacity
- Model hiring decisions — Before committing budget
- Identify unprofitable clients — And optimize pricing
- Tax-optimized salary & pension strategy — Maximize personal tax efficiency
Serving SEO & Digital Growth Agencies Nationwide
We're remote-first, but have deep expertise in these key locations:
Common Questions
How do I track monthly recurring revenue accurately?
We import your client contracts and subscription data, track churn monthly, and show you true MRR (active subscriptions × average retainer). This is different from invoiced revenue—MRR forecasts your predictable future cash.
What's a good consultant utilization rate?
70-80% is healthy. Below 60% means underutilization (need to reprice or find new clients). Above 90% means risk of burnout and delivery issues. We compare you against industry benchmarks monthly.
How do I know if I can afford to hire a new consultant?
We model it: "New consultant costs £X/month. Your average client retainer is £Y. They need to acquire Z clients to pay for themselves." You see breakeven timelines and ROI.
What's the best salary/dividend split for an SEO agency?
Depends on profit level and tax brackets. Most agencies are better off taking a modest salary (£12k-£20k) plus dividends. We model your specific situation and show you the tax bill for each scenario.
Learn More
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