Web Design & Development Agencies
Accountants UK
Chartered accountants specialising in web design & development agencies. We understand your business model, cash flow patterns, and growth trajectory.
Web Design & Development Agencies have unique accounting challenges. Unlike generalist accountants, we understand your business model, your cash flow patterns, and your growth trajectory.
TL;DR
- WIP tracking shows unbilled work value and prevents revenue leakage
- Project profitability compares estimated versus actual hours per project
- R&D credits for custom CMS, APIs, frameworks (£10k-£30k claimable)
- Cash flow forecasting aligned with project milestones and payment terms
💡Quick reference summary. Continue reading for comprehensive analysis and context.
Accounting Challenges for Web Design & Development Agencies
Unique challenges that most generalist accountants simply don't understand:
Project Revenue Recognition
Milestone-based projects span months. When do you recognize revenue—at contract signing, at milestone completion, or at final delivery? IFRS 15 compliance trips up most web agencies.
Distinguishing Expenses from Assets
Is Adobe Creative Suite a software expense or an asset? Is a custom theme asset or service delivery cost? Misclassification costs you thousands in tax deductions.
High Capex, Low Visibility
You invest in design software, hosting, domain registrations, stock imagery subscriptions. These pile up across projects. Cash flow is tight because money is tied up in barely-tracked assets.
Tailored for Web Design & Development Agencies
Services designed specifically for your business model:
Project Revenue Recognition
We correctly apply IFRS 15 to your project contracts. Milestone-based revenue is recognized properly, accruals are handled, and you never face audit issues.
Capex vs Expense Classification
We classify design software, themes, domains, and hosting correctly. You claim maximum tax deductions on legitimate expenses while properly capitalizing true assets.
R&D Tax Credit Assessment
Custom development work often qualifies for R&D credits. We identify eligible projects and claim back 20-25% of qualifying development costs.
Time Tracking & Project Costing
Monthly time import from your tools (Harvest, Toggl, etc.) shows true project margins. See which projects are profitable and which underdeliver.
Monthly Cash Flow Forecasting
Project-based revenue is lumpy. We forecast cash based on your project pipeline, showing when you will have cash crunches and helping you plan hiring.
Payroll & Contractor Management
Mix of employees and freelancers. We handle payroll, contractor invoicing, PAYE compliance, and IR35 status checks on your team.
Why Web Design & Development Agencies Choose Alto
Know your true project margin
Not just headline fee
Never worry about revenue recognition or audit risk
IFRS 15 compliance handled correctly
Monthly cash flow forecast
Based on project pipeline
Maximize R&D tax credits
On custom development work
Accountant who understands milestone-based contracts
Specialist knowledge of project accounting
Serving Web Design & Development Agencies Nationwide
We're remote-first, but have deep expertise in these key locations:
Common Questions
When do I recognize revenue on a multi-month project?
Can I claim design software (Adobe CC, Figma) as an expense?
What counts as R&D for web development work?
How do I handle cash flow when projects are unpredictable?
You Might Also Be Interested In
We also work with businesses in complementary industries:
Guides for Web Design & Development Agencies
Expert insights and tools tailored for your business:
Ready to work with specialists?
Get a free consultation with an accountant who truly understands web design & development agencies. No jargon, no surprises.
We onboard a limited number of new clients each quarter to ensure quality.