1. Qualifications and licence
Hold a recognised qualification and join a professional body. If your body requires one, get your practising certificate or licence before offering services.
Start your practice properly
How to Set Up a Real Accounting Practice in the UK
The foundations every legitimate UK accountancy or bookkeeping practice needs before its first client: qualifications and licence, legal structure, AML supervision, insurance, registrations and the systems to run it.
Our recommendation: Remindoo does not recommend starting an accountancy or bookkeeping business without the right qualifications or body membership, a practising licence where required, AML supervision and professional indemnity insurance. Check your position with an accountancy body or experienced peers before taking on clients.
2. Legal structure
Choose between sole trader, partnership, LLP or limited company. Consider liability, tax, your body's firm rules and how you plan to grow.
3. AML supervision
Register with your professional body or HMRC for AML supervision, write a firm-wide risk assessment and policies, and carry out client due diligence on every client.
4. Insurance
Arrange professional indemnity insurance that covers every service you offer, plus other cover you may need such as cyber, public liability and employer's liability once you hire staff.
5. Registrations
Register with HMRC or Companies House, pay the ICO data protection fee, set up an HMRC agent services account and, where relevant, HMRC tax adviser registration.
6. Engagement letters and systems
Use engagement letters for every client and a practice management system that tracks deadlines, AML checks, onboarding and work from day one.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up a practice?
Once your licence, AML supervision and insurance are in place, many practitioners are ready within weeks. Timelines vary, so plan with your professional body.
Should I speak to anyone before starting?
Yes. Talk to your accountancy body and to experienced practitioners. Many bodies offer practice support, and peer advice is invaluable.
Read the full guides
- How to start an accounting practice →
- Do you need qualifications to be an accountant? →
- Accountancy firm name rules and protected titles →
- Accountant practising certificates →
- ACCA vs ICAEW vs AAT practising certificates →
- Sole trader or limited company? →
- Starting a bookkeeping business →
- Accounting practice setup checklist →
- Starting a practice: FAQ →
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; check current GOV.UK guidance and your professional body before acting.
Built for UK practice growth
Every deadline. Every client. One system.
Start with the workflows that cause the most chasing, then bring leads, AML, proposals and clients into the same calm operating system.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
