Why Tech Businesses Need a Specialist (Not a Generalist)

Tech is unlike any other sector. Your assets are mostly intangible (code, IP, brand, data) and your revenue often:

• Arrives via platforms and gateways (Stripe, GoCardless, PayPal, app stores)
• Recurs monthly/annually (subscriptions)
• Comes from multiple countries with different tax rules

A general accountant may:

• Treat all receipts as income without deferring revenue
• Misclassify R&D, increasing your risk with HMRC
• Miss SEIS/EIS opportunities
• Ignore runway and burn rate
• Treat overseas customers incorrectly for VAT

That leads to:

• Overpaying or underpaying tax
• Incorrect accounts and valuations
• Weakened investor confidence
• Cashflow surprises
• Stress and distraction for founders

A specialist Tech Accountant designs your finance function around how your tech business really works.how AccounTax Zone helps construction businesses grow.

Who We Help

We work with tech and tech-enabled businesses across the UK, including:

• SaaS companies – B2B, B2C, vertical SaaS
• Software development and dev shops – project-based or retainer-based
• IT support & MSPs – recurring revenue, multi-site support
• AI / ML & data companies – heavy R&D, fast-scaling
• Cybersecurity firms – contracts, retainers, global clients
• Digital agencies & platforms – hybrid of project + recurring
• Fintech, proptech, medtech & other specialist niches

From pre-revenue startups to established tech companies turning over £500K – £15M+, we support founders at every stage.

Common Problems We See in Tech Finance

1. Messy MRR/ARR and Deferred Revenue

Revenue is often recognised incorrectly, giving a misleading picture of growth.
We clean this up and build proper recurring revenue reporting.

2. Weak R&D Documentation

R&D activity is real, but claims are poorly documented or prepared by non-technical advisers, leaving you exposed to HMRC enquiries.
We structure R&D claims to be both robust and maximised.

3. No Clear Runway or Cashflow Plan

Founders don’t know exactly how many months of runway they have at different burn rates.
We build rolling forecasts so you always know when to raise or cut back.

4. Missed SEIS/EIS Opportunities

Shares, timing and structure are often wrong, losing relief for investors or damaging fundraising.
We help get SEIS/EIS right from day one.

5. VAT and International Sales Confusion

Digital VAT, reverse charge, B2B/B2C, EU rules… easily mishandled.
We ensure correct treatment to avoid backdated assessments.

6. No Investor-Ready Pack

When an investor shows interest, the numbers aren’t ready and confidence suffers.
We prepare investor-level financials and support due diligence.

Our Tech Accounting Services

1. Cloud Accounting & Monthly Management Accounts

We build a finance system around your tech stack.

What we do:

• Set up and optimise Xero (or your chosen platform)
• Integrate Stripe, GoCardless, PayPal, Shopify, app stores, etc.
• Map revenue flows and set up deferred revenue rules
• Produce monthly management accounts within agreed deadlines
• Provide KPI dashboards:
  • MRR / ARR
  • Churn
  • CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)
  • LTV (Lifetime Value)
  • Gross margin
  • Burn rate & runway

Outcome: You always know your real financial position, not just your bank balance.

2. Year-End Accounts & Corporation Tax for Tech Companies

We prepare and file fully compliant statutory accounts and corporation tax returns, but always with a tech lens:

• Correct revenue recognition
• Capitalisation vs expensing of development costs
• R&D integration
• Group structures & intercompany balances
• Deductions and reliefs specific to your profile

Outcome: Clean, accurate accounts that make sense to HMRC, banks and investors.

3. R&D Tax Relief – Compliant & Defensible

We combine technical understanding with tax expertise.

Our R&D process:

1. Technical discovery calls with your dev/product teams
2. Identify qualifying projects and activities
3. Separate qualifying staff, subcontractor and software costs
4. Draft HMRC-compliant technical narratives
5. Complete the tax computations and supporting schedules
6. Support you through any HMRC follow-up

We focus on real innovation, not aggressive over-claiming, to protect you and your business.

4. SEIS/EIS & Investment-Ready Support

We help you plan your fundraising with tax and structure in mind.

We can support you with:

• SEIS/EIS advance assurance
• Share structure and articles review
• Cap table planning
• SAFE and convertible instruments
• Investor pitch financials
• Data room & due diligence support

Outcome: A structure investors are comfortable with, and numbers they can rely on.

5. VAT & International Digital Tax

We help you navigate the VAT minefield for tech:

• UK VAT on SaaS, licences and digital services
• EU VAT rules (e.g. OSS) where relevant
• Reverse charge on B2B services
• Place of supply and digital services rules
• Reviewing historic treatment and fixing issues

Outcome: VAT done properly, without expensive surprises down the line.

6. Payroll, Remote Teams & Contractors

People are at the heart of every tech business. We manage:

• UK payroll and PAYE
• Director payroll, dividends and benefits
• IR35 reviews for UK contractors
• Overseas contractor payments (from a UK tax angle)
• Expense policies and staff benefits

Outcome: Your team is paid correctly and you stay on the right side of HMRC.

7. Virtual Finance Office (VFO) & Virtual CFO

If you’re not ready for a full in-house finance team, we can act as your:

• Virtual Finance Office – day-to-day bookkeeping, processing, reconciliations, and management accounts
• Virtual CFO – strategic finance partner for board-level decisions

Virtual CFO support includes:

• Financial strategy and planning
• Runway and fundraising planning
• Pricing and margin analysis
• Scenario modelling (“what if” plans)
• Board packs and investor updates

Outcome: You get serious finance firepower, without a full-time CFO salary.

8. IP Holding Companies, Group Structures & Exit Planning

We help design structures that protect value and reduce risk:

• IP holding companies
• Trading vs IP entities
• Group structures for expansion
• Intra-group licensing arrangements
• Preparing for an eventual exit or acquisition

Outcome: Your intellectual property is protected and your structure supports long-term growth and exit flexibility.

Our Process – How We Work with Tech Founders

We keep things simple and transparent:

Step 1 – Discovery Call

Understand your business model, stage, tech stack and goals.

Step 2 – Diagnostic Review

We review your current accounts, systems and tax position and identify quick wins and risks.

Step 3 – Proposal & Roadmap

We set out a clear, fixed-fee plan: what we’ll do, when, and what you’ll get.

Step 4 – Onboarding & Clean-Up

We bring your systems, bookkeeping and reporting up to standard.

Step 5 – Monthly Support & Advisory

You get ongoing support, proactive advice and clear reporting – not just once-a-year accounts.

Indicative Packages (Guide Only) – for Tech Businesses

Every tech business is different, but as a guide:

• Startup Package (Pre-revenue / early stage)
  • Basic bookkeeping
  • Annual accounts & CT600
  • Simple payroll
  • High-level tax advice
• Growth Package (£500k–£2m turnover)
  • Bookkeeping
  • Monthly management accounts
  • KPI dashboards
  • VAT returns
  • R&D claims
  • SEIS/EIS support
  • Quarterly strategy calls
• Scale-Up Package (£2m–£15m+ turnover)
  • Full Virtual Finance Office
  • Virtual CFO involvement
  • Cashflow forecasting & scenario modelling
  • Group structure and IP planning
  • Investor reporting & board packs

We’ll tailor everything to your business – no one-size-fits-all bundles.

Speak to a Specialist Tech Accountant

If you’re a tech founder or finance lead and want to:

• Get control of your numbers
• Reduce tax and risk
• Become investor-ready
• Protect your IP and structure
• Extend your runway and scale with confidence

…then let’s talk.

Book Your Free Tech Strategy Call

We’ll review:

• your structure
• your tax position
• your cashflow
• your profitability model

And show you how to save tax legally while growing your business.

Call: 020 3740 7074
Email: info@accountaxzone.com
Website: accountaxzone.com

Join Hundreds of Happy SMEs getting services from our expert Accountant in London

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