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Cain & Co provides bookkeeping for small businesses across the UK, keeping your records accurate, compliant and up to date so you always know where your business stands. Risk-free bookkeeping starting from just £299 per month.
Running small businesses means dealing with dozens of financial transactions every week, from card sales and bank transfers to supplier bills and direct debits. Each one needs recording and matching to the bank, and when that falls behind, decisions end up being made from the bank balance rather than real figures. The bank balance will not tell you who owes you money, what you owe or how much VAT is coming.
At Cain & Co, we take that pressure away by handling your small business bookkeeping properly, week after week. We record every sale and expense, reconcile your bank statements and give you clear financial reporting that shows your business’s financial health in plain English. Whether you are a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company, you get accurate records, VAT returns filed on time and business finances you can plan around.
You focus on running your business while we take care of the books. Call 020 8087 1341 or email takecontrol@cainandco.co.uk to get started.
For many business owners, bookkeeping is the job that waits until the evening, then the weekend, then the deadline. Missing receipts and half-finished records build up, and sorting them out at year-end costs far more than keeping on top of them as you go. Recording transactions consistently prevents lost receipts and takes away the end-of-month panic. We update your books every week, so year-end becomes a simple check rather than a stressful rebuild.
Many small business owners buy stock on a personal card and pay for the weekly shop from the business account. Mixing personal and business expenses makes every bank line a guessing game, risks missing tax deductions and is hard to explain if HMRC asks questions. Separating business and personal finances simplifies tax filing and protects your legal liability. We help you set up a dedicated business bank account and keep business expenses separate.
The work is done and the invoice goes out, but nobody has time to follow it up. Meanwhile, supplier bills, wages and HMRC payments keep falling due. Without a clear list of paid and unpaid invoices, you cannot see who owes you money or plan around when customers pay. We track outstanding invoices every week and flag them before they turn into a cash flow problem, so you can chase what you are owed with the figures in front of you.
We are so confident in our small business bookkeeping that we offer a full three month, risk-free trial.
If you are not completely happy with the service, you will not be charged anything. It is our way of showing that accurate, stress-free bookkeeping is possible for every small business, and it gives you a full VAT quarter to see the difference for yourself.
Every small business is different; that’s why we offer three flexible, fixed-fee packages: Entry at £299 + VAT per month, Full at £499 + VAT per month and Premium at £699 + VAT per month. Each one comes with our 7-Point Guarantee and a 3-month risk-free trial, so you can see the value before committing.
Perfect if you just need the essentials covered.
Most Popular – Best value for growing businesses.
For busy owners who want financial clarity.
Provide the information we request on time and you will not face late filing penalties. If a penalty is issued, we will cover the cost.
We keep your records organised, up to date and accurate, removing the stress that builds up around month-end and year-end.
Around 90% of bookkeeping questions are answered within one hour, with all queries responded to within 12 hours.
We explain your figures, reports and records in plain English during regular one-to-one reviews, without jargon or confusion.
Our team identifies issues early, helping prevent errors, compliance problems and last-minute surprises.
Our bookkeeping fees are simple and transparent with no hidden costs. If you find the same level of service for less, we will match it.
Our support team is available year-round, including during busy periods, so you’re never left waiting.
See what our clients have to say about working with Cain & Co. Hear how we have helped them save time, stay compliant and feel in control of their finances.
See how we’ve helped business owners get their books in order, cut admin time and make better decisions with accurate numbers.
Bookkeeping records your daily financial transactions. Accounting interprets that financial data and prepares reports. Small businesses need both, and most problems start with the first part. Here is how we look after each area of your bookkeeping, so the numbers you rely on are always right.
A normal month can mean hundreds of business transactions across card payments, transfers, direct debits and cash.
We record every sale and expense with the date, amount, customer or supplier and category, and accurate tracking helps identify tax deductions and avoid surprises. Receipts are digitised and saved against each entry, which safeguards your records against loss and gives your accountant a full audit trail.
Bank feeds bring transactions into your books, but they cannot tell you what each one was for.
We reconcile your business bank accounts against your bank statements weekly or monthly, so errors and fraudulent charges are picked up early rather than at year-end. Bank reconciliation done at least monthly avoids errors and detects discrepancies while you still remember the payment, and keeps your books in line with the bank.
Cash flow problems usually start with money owed in one direction or the other.
We raise and post your sales invoices, track accounts receivable against what customers pay and log supplier bills as they arrive. Managing accounts payable on a schedule means paying bills on time without paying them early, and tracking accounts receivable and payable together is what keeps your cash flow healthy.
Cash flow problems usually start with money owed in one direction or the other.
We raise and post your sales invoices, track accounts receivable against what customers pay and log supplier bills as they arrive. Managing accounts payable on a schedule means paying bills on time without paying them early, and tracking accounts receivable and payable together is what keeps your cash flow healthy.
Figures only help if you see them while there is still time to act on them.
Our monthly financial reviews include a profit and loss statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements, all explained in plain English. Monthly reports help you monitor profitability and spending trends, and show your business’s financial position before you hire, buy or borrow. Good bookkeeping also helps secure loans and credit, because lenders want to see accurate records.
Deadlines are where poor bookkeeping costs real money.
We prepare and submit your VAT returns through Making Tax Digital compatible software, run your payroll on your pay cycle and look after auto enrolment. Your records are kept ready for tax preparation by your accountant. Accurate bookkeeping reduces the risk of tax penalties and audits, and proper records make every VAT return simpler to file.
Our Curry & Co nights are relaxed monthly networking events held across Kent, London and the South East, bringing local business owners together over great food and genuine conversation. No awkward pitches, just real connections, quality curry and a friendly atmosphere.
If you know a business that would benefit from better bookkeeping, simply introduce them to Cain & Co. When they join us, we’ll send you a bottle of champagne as a thank you for the referral.
Using accounting software automates much of the routine work and reduces manual errors. Bank feeds import transactions automatically, rules code the regular ones, and cloud accounting tools give you real-time access to your financial data from your phone. We work in Xero, QuickBooks and Sage, with receipts and supplier bills captured through Hubdoc. Good software generates financial reports automatically and helps with compliance, but it only reports what it is given. Your bookkeeping system stays yours, set up properly and checked by our team every week, so the reports it produces are ones you can trust.
Strong bookkeeping starts with getting the fundamentals right. At Cain & Co, we maintain accurate financial records, ensure VAT is handled correctly, and keep your accounts aligned with HMRC requirements. Every invoice, receipt, and transaction is processed using secure systems and trusted software, reducing errors and ensuring your accounts remain reliable, review-ready, and easy to understand.
As transaction volumes increase, managing books internally becomes harder to control. Our outsourced bookkeeping service handles sales and purchase records, payments, reconciliations, VAT submissions, and ongoing adjustments without disrupting your operations. Whether you are early-stage or well-established, your bookkeeping remains consistent and under control.
As transaction volumes increase, managing books internally becomes harder to control. Our outsourced bookkeeping service handles sales and purchase records, payments, reconciliations, VAT submissions, and ongoing adjustments without disrupting your operations. Whether you are early-stage or well-established, your bookkeeping remains consistent and under control.
Reliable bookkeeping provides more than compliance; it gives you visibility into performance, cash position, and trends. With clear reporting and practical guidance from Cain & Co, you gain dependable support that helps you see the bigger picture, plan with confidence, and underpin long-term stability and informed growth.
At Cain & Co, we know that keeping your books in order can quickly become demanding, detailed and time intensive. That’s why we provide fixed-fee, fully managed bookkeeping services for business owners, limited companies and growing organisations that want clarity, accuracy and control over their finances.
We take care of the full bookkeeping function, from recording day-to-day transactions and reconciling bank accounts to managing VAT returns, producing management reports and keeping your records compliant and up to date. Everything is handled consistently and professionally, giving you confidence that nothing is being missed.
With ISO 9001 certification, ICB membership and a strong reputation for reliability, you can trust Cain & Co to maintain accurate records, support better decision making and remove the stress from your bookkeeping.
Paul regularly takes on personal walking challenges to raise money for children’s hospital wards, diabetes charities and other causes that matter deeply to him and the local community.
These challenges are a simple but meaningful way Paul supports his own wellbeing, pushes himself personally and gives back to the people and causes that have helped him and others in similar positions.
A bookkeeper records every financial transaction in your business and makes sure it is coded to the right place. That covers sales invoices, supplier bills, bank reconciliation, expenses, payroll and VAT returns. Bookkeepers handle invoicing, payroll, VAT filings and inventory transactions, so you are not doing them at night.
The result is a set of bookkeeping records your accountant can use to create financial statements without rework, plus monthly figures you can run the business on in between. Accountants then assist with tax preparation and business strategy, working from books that are already right.
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day record of what came in, what went out and who owes what. Accounting interprets that financial data, prepares reports and year-end accounts, and advises on tax.
The two go hand in hand. An accountant can only produce accounts as accurate as the books underneath them, so clean bookkeeping keeps accounting services quicker and cheaper. Our bookkeeping for accountants page explains how we work alongside practices.
Not always. A sole trader with a handful of clients, no staff and turnover below the £90,000 VAT registration threshold can often manage with free accounting software and a regular weekly slot.
That changes when you register for VAT, take on staff, hold stock or come under Making Tax Digital. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to self-employed individuals and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 from April 2026, which means keeping digital records and sending quarterly updates to HMRC. That only works if the books are kept up to date all year, and it is often the point where sole traders hand their bookkeeping over.
If you are unsure which side you sit on, call us on 020 8087 1341 and we will give you a straight answer.
Our bookkeeping for small businesses starts from just £299 + VAT per month with the Entry package. Our Full package is £499 + VAT per month and adds monthly management reports and a review call, while Premium is £699 + VAT per month and adds KPI tracking, cash flow forecasting and a dedicated senior bookkeeper. Where you land depends on your transaction volume, staff numbers and whether VAT or CIS is part of the job.
You may find cheaper bookkeeping elsewhere. The difference is what comes with our fee: UK bookkeepers who answer the phone, HMRC late filing penalties covered if you send us what we ask for on time, and three months to try us before you commit. If you find the same level of service for less, we will match it.
The average hourly pay for a bookkeeper in the UK was £12.41 in 2024, with experienced and qualified bookkeepers earning more. Employing a bookkeeper also brings employer National Insurance, pension, holiday cover, software and training costs.
For most small businesses, the work does not fill a full-time role. Outsourcing bookkeeping is common for small businesses with complex finances, because you pay a fixed monthly fee for the work your books need, with cover built in.
They come from double entry bookkeeping and apply to three types of account. For personal accounts, debit the receiver and credit the giver. For real accounts, such as equipment and property, debit what comes in and credit what goes out. For nominal accounts, such as income and expenses, debit all expenses and losses and credit all income and gains.
You do not need to apply them by hand when your accounting software is set up properly, because it posts both sides of each entry for you. Knowing them helps when a balance looks wrong.
Choosing between cash and accrual accounting depends on business size and complexity. Cash accounting suits simple businesses that are paid at the point of sale and pay their bills promptly. Accrual accounting suits businesses that invoice on credit terms, hold stock or need to see profit accurately month by month.
Since April 2024, the cash basis has been the default for sole traders and partnerships, so you need to opt out if accruals suits you better. If you are unsure which accounting method fits, we will look at how you trade and recommend one when you join.
Not for its accounts. Limited companies cannot use cash accounting for their financial records, so they prepare accounts on an accruals basis, recording income when it is earned and costs when they are incurred.
This is separate from the VAT Cash Accounting Scheme, which a company with taxable turnover up to £1.35 million can use to pay VAT when its customers pay rather than when it invoices. The two are often confused, and the difference matters when you are planning cash flow around a VAT bill.
A limited company needs its own bank account, because the company’s money is legally separate from yours. Sole traders are not legally required to have one, but it is one of the simplest ways to keep your books clean.
Keeping business and personal finances apart makes every transaction easier to explain and keeps your bookkeeping costs down, because nobody has to spend time picking personal and business expenses apart. If you run more than one business bank account, we reconcile each one separately.
Yes. HMRC requires every business to keep records of its income and expenses, and businesses must track income and expenses for accurate tax reporting. Limited companies keep records for six years from the end of the financial year, and sole traders for at least five years after the 31 January submission deadline for that tax year.
The law sets what you keep, not who keeps it. You can do your own bookkeeping, but poor records are a common cause of penalties. Bookkeeping ensures tax compliance and reduces audit risk, and proper records simplify tax return filing and compliance with HMRC.
Businesses should hire a bookkeeper when financial records become complex or start taking time away from earning. The usual signs are books more than a month behind, VAT returns done in a rush, staff on payroll, stock to track, or more than one bank account and income stream.
Hiring a bookkeeper can ensure accurate financial records, and consulting a professional bookkeeper helps ensure tax compliance and spot savings you would otherwise miss. The earlier you hand over, the smaller the clean-up.
You can, and plenty of small businesses start that way. Free accounting software and low-cost bookkeeping software handle basic invoicing, bank feeds and the tools to track business expenses. Bookkeeping software automates financial tasks and reduces manual errors, and automating transaction imports cuts human error further. Automated bookkeeping tools save time by doing the repetitive work for you.
What software cannot do is decide whether an entry is right. A bank rule that codes every online order to office costs will code stock and personal items the same way. If you keep your own books, check the coding each week and have someone review them before your VAT return or year-end.
The common bookkeeping mistakes we fix most often are mixing business and personal spending, leaving bank reconciliations for months, not recording cash sales, missing receipts, claiming VAT on items that do not carry it, and treating loan repayments or owner drawings as expenses.
Each one is small on its own. Together, they are costly mistakes that lead to a wrong tax bill, an overstated profit or a VAT assessment. Accurate records reduce the risk of fraud and errors, and a weekly routine catches most of them while they are still easy to fix.
At least monthly, and weekly if you have a high volume of transactions. Reconciling bank accounts monthly ensures early detection of errors or fraudulent charges, while there is still time to query them with the bank.
To reconcile transactions, each line on the bank statement is matched to an entry in your books, and anything unmatched is looked into. Reconciling accounts this way means the balance in your books equals the bank, so the figures you are looking at are real. Regularly reconcile bank statements to ensure financial accuracy, and your reports become something you can act on.
Three matter most. The income statement, or profit and loss, shows what you earned and spent over a period. The balance sheet shows the business’s financial position on a given date: what it owns, what it owes and what is left for the owners.
Cash flow statements show where your cash came from and where it went.
Monthly financial reviews include profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements, and together they give an honest view of your business’s financial standing. Good financial reporting tools turn them into figures you can use. Effective bookkeeping helps monitor cash flow and expenses, and improves financial decision-making for business growth.
Cash flow management starts with knowing three numbers each week: cash in the bank, money owed to you and bills due in the next few weeks. Most cash problems in a successful business come from timing rather than profit, with customers paying late while suppliers, wages and tax fall due.
To manage cash flow, chase outstanding invoices on a set day, agree supplier terms that line up with when customers pay, and put money aside for VAT and tax each month. Tracking expenses weekly shows where costs are creeping up. Best bookkeeping practices ensure legal compliance and help manage cash flow effectively, and a monthly forecast shows the quieter months before you reach them.
Basic bookkeeping records include a cashbook, a sales ledger and a purchase ledger. The cashbook records daily sales and expenses, the sales ledger tracks what customers owe you, and the purchase ledger tracks what you owe suppliers.
Document every transaction with details like the date and amount, who it was with and what it was for, and keep the evidence. Track every financial transaction to maintain accurate records, because bookkeeping is essential for tracking income and expenses. Maintaining accurate financial records in those three places is the bookkeeping basics everything else is built on.
To manage cash flow, chase outstanding invoices on a set day, agree supplier terms that line up with when customers pay, and put money aside for VAT and tax each month. Tracking expenses weekly shows where costs are creeping up. Best bookkeeping practices ensure legal compliance and help manage cash flow effectively, and a monthly forecast shows the quieter months before you reach them.
You can switch to us at any point in the year. We need access to your accounting software or bank statements, your last VAT return if you are registered, payroll details if you have staff, and any receipts or invoices not yet recorded.
If your books are behind, we bring them up to date first and then keep them current. La Gaffe came to us with 30 years of paper records and a VAT return due, so there is no standard you need to meet before starting.
After the first month, the routine is simple: send receipts and invoices as they come in, and we will get in touch if anything needs explaining.
