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Where we work

Manchester. London. Wherever your agency is based.

Remote-firstUK-wide clientsIn-person when it matters
alto.

ACCA accountants for UK creative and marketing agencies. Specialists in agency cash flow, retainer math, and director tax planning.

Alto Accounting Ltd86–90 Paul Street
London EC2A 4NE
Company No. 15343741
Registered practice

Services

  • Bookkeeping
  • Tax Planning
  • Payroll
  • Outsourced FD
  • Xero Accounting
  • R&D Tax Credits
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  • Small Agencies

Free tools

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  • IR35 Checker
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  • Tax Deadlines Calendar

Agency types

  • PPC Agencies
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  • View All Services →

Popular guides

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Agency tax brief

Practical finance for UK agency founders

Monthly. Deadlines, quick wins, nothing fluffy.

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The monthly close

How we close your books

A signed-off report by working day 10 — P&L, cash position, and what matters this month.

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By agency type
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By situation
Small agencies
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Specialist vs generalist

Why a specialist?

Generalist accountants miss what matters for agencies: WIP, utilisation, retainer deferrals, and the rhythm of project work.

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Calculators
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Most read

The agency cash-flow guide

A practical playbook for surviving a slow month: forecast, runway, retainer math, and where founders usually break.

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Agency profitabilityPricing strategyUtilisation rateRetainer pricingValuation & exit
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Latest

Autumn Budget 2025

What Rachel Reeves' Budget changes mean for UK agency owners and small businesses — the items worth acting on.

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Home/Services/Small agency accounting
Small agency accounting

Accountant for Small Creative Agencies

You are past the startup stage but not big enough for a full finance team. You need an accountant who understands agency life and can grow with you, without breaking the budget.

Find Your Perfect Plan →See pricing
ACCA registered practice · Specialist agency accountants
Starting from £200/mo · Fixed monthly fee
Replies in 24 hours, usually same day
StudioAll-in · 7 seats
STUDIO LEDGER · 7 SEATSCLIENTMARGINBRIGHT CO62%OAKLEAF47%MARLOW58%PARKHAUS39%REVENUE · YR-ON-YR£
Named accountant · Same-day reply
01Sound familiar?

The challenges agencies tell us about every week.

If any of these read like your week, you're in the right place.

RETAINER?

Your accountant does not understand agencies

You spend half the meeting explaining what a retainer is or how project scoping works. Your accountant treats you the same as a plumber or a hairdresser. You deserve someone who already gets it.

01
!

You are wearing too many hats

As a small agency founder, you are already the creative director, new business lead, and HR department. Adding finance and compliance to the list means something always slips.

02
MARGIN · 7%!

You cannot afford to get it wrong

When you are running lean, a surprise tax bill or a late VAT return penalty hits harder. Small agencies have less margin for error, which makes good financial management even more important.

03

You feel too small for a "proper" accountant

Bigger firms make you feel like a small fish. Your calls go unreturned, your questions feel ignored, and you wonder if they even know your name. You need a firm that values smaller clients.

04
02Right fit

This service is built for you if…

Four signs you're ready for proper small agency accounting. If you tick most of them, let's talk.

Right fit checklist
  • You are looking for an accountant who truly understands agencies
  • You want proactive advice, not just number crunching
  • You need someone available when you have questions
  • You are tired of explaining retainers and project billing to your accountant
IncludesAgency-only · ACCA registered · Fixed monthly fee
03What’s included

Everything you need, handled by specialists.

Each line in your monthly fee. No surprise add-ons.

BKVATPRTAXP11FDALL-IN

Everything you need in one package

Bookkeeping, VAT returns, payroll, year-end accounts, Corporation Tax, and personal tax returns. All included so there are no surprises.

01
CHART · 4-DIGIT

Xero and Apron subscription included

Your cloud accounting software is included in the fee. No need to buy separate licences or worry about software costs.

02
£

Proactive tax planning

We do not just file your returns. We plan ahead to make sure you are taking the right salary, the right dividends, and making the most of available reliefs.

03
FCCA

A named accountant who knows your business

You deal with the same person every time. They know your agency, your clients, and your goals. No call centres, no ticket systems.

04

Quick response times

When you have a question, you get an answer within one working day. We know that for small agencies, waiting a week for a reply is not good enough.

05

Starting from £200/mo

Exact pricing depends on your transaction volume and complexity. We quote a fixed monthly fee after a 15-minute discovery call — no surprises.

See all plans
04Questions

Things agencies ask us about small agency accounting.

05By agency type

Accountant for Small Agencies (Under 10 People) for every agency type.

We tailor small agency accounting to each vertical — from PPC agencies billing media to PR firms running retainers.

01PPC Agencies02SEO Agencies03Web Design04Digital Marketing05Video Production06Branding07Social Media08Creative Studios09Advertising10Content Creators11Ecommerce12PR & Comms
ACCA Registered PracticeReplies in 24h

Find the right plan for your agency. Book a free chat

15 minutes. No obligation, no hard sell. Just a genuine conversation about your agency's small agency accounting.

Find Your Perfect Plan →