Frequently Asked Questions

We specialise exclusively in UK creative and marketing agencies. That means we already understand retainers, project-based revenue, media passthrough, contractor management, and the cash flow challenges that come with agency life. You won't have to explain your business model.

No. We work with agencies across the entire UK — London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, and everywhere in between. Our services are delivered remotely using cloud-based tools like Xero, so location is never a barrier.

We work with agencies from £150k to £3m revenue. Whether you're a solo founder with a couple of contractors or a 30-person agency with multiple service lines, we have packages that fit.

Yes. Alto Accounting is an ACCA-regulated practice. Our principal accountant holds both ACA and ACCA qualifications.

Our pricing is transparent and based on fixed monthly fees with no hidden costs. Packages range from £200–350/month for essential bookkeeping to £1,250–2,000/month for full virtual finance director services. Book a free consultation to get a quote tailored to your agency.

Every package includes monthly bookkeeping, management accounts, and year-end accounts preparation. Higher tiers add tax planning, payroll, VAT returns, cash flow forecasting, and strategic financial advice. We'll recommend the right package for your needs.

Yes. We manage PAYE payroll for your employees and can advise on contractor payment structures, including IR35 assessments for off-payroll working rules.

Absolutely. Many digital and creative agencies qualify for R&D tax credits without realising it. If your team builds custom software, develops new processes, or solves technical challenges, you could claim back a significant portion of those costs.

It's a 15-minute video call where we review your current setup, identify any quick tax wins, and discuss whether we're a good fit. No obligation, no hard sell — just honest advice.

Switching is straightforward. We handle the transition for you — contacting your current accountant, obtaining your records, and setting up your Xero account. Most transitions take 2–4 weeks with zero disruption to your business.

We recommend Xero because it's the best cloud accounting platform for agencies, but we can work with QuickBooks and FreeAgent too. If you're not yet on Xero, we'll help you migrate as part of your onboarding.

Yes — tax planning is one of our core specialities. We optimise your salary/dividend split, ensure you're claiming all eligible expenses, advise on pension contributions, and identify opportunities like R&D tax credits and capital allowances.

Yes. We prepare and submit your VAT returns, advise on the right VAT scheme for your agency (flat rate vs standard), and ensure you're handling media passthrough correctly — a common pain point for agencies.

We ensure full MTD compliance for all our clients. Xero is MTD-compatible out of the box, so if you're using Xero with us, you're already compliant.