Do you advise on whether I am inside or outside IR35?

IR35 status determinations are made by the end client (or agency) for most engagements, based on the actual working practices on each contract. I am not a registered HMRC tax agent, so I don't issue formal IR35 status opinions — but I keep your books and records structured so that whatever status applies to a contract, your accounts, expenses, and VAT position are accurate and ready for your accountant or IR35 specialist to review.

Can you handle bookkeeping if I have multiple clients and income streams?

Yes. Many contractors and freelancers have several concurrent contracts, mixed day-rate and fixed-price work, and sometimes a mix of limited company and sole trader income. I track each income stream separately so your management accounts show exactly where revenue and margin are coming from.

Do you work with limited company contractors as well as sole traders?

Yes, both. Limited company contractors typically need monthly bookkeeping, VAT returns, and management accounts feeding into year-end accounts prepared by your accountant. Sole trader freelancers typically need bookkeeping and MTD-ready records for Self Assessment. I support both structures.

What software do you use for contractor bookkeeping?

Xero and QuickBooks — both MTD-compliant. I am a Xero Certified Advisor and QuickBooks ProAdvisor, so setup, bank feeds, and ongoing reconciliation are handled properly from day one, whichever platform you prefer.

Bookkeeping for UK Contractors & Freelancers | IR35-Aware

Why Contractor Bookkeeping Is Different

A contractor's books rarely look like a standard small business's. You might be running a limited company for one engagement and invoicing as a sole trader for another. You might have day-rate income from an agency, fixed-price project income direct from a client, and the occasional expense that only applies to contract work — travel between sites, subsistence on longer assignments, or equipment tied to a specific contract. Generic bookkeeping treats all of this as undifferentiated income and expenses. Contractor bookkeeping needs to keep it separated and correctly categorised from the start.

IR35-Aware Record Keeping

Contract-by-contract income tracking, so each engagement's figures are visible on their own, not blended into a single revenue line
Clean separation of business and personal expenses — a common area scrutinised in HMRC IR35 enquiries
Records structured so your accountant or IR35 specialist has what they need to support a status determination, without reconstructing months of transactions first
I am not a registered HMRC tax agent and do not issue IR35 status opinions — this is about keeping the underlying bookkeeping accurate and ready, not determining your status

Multiple Income Streams, Properly Separated

Track day-rate, fixed-price, and retainer income separately, even across several concurrent clients
Reconcile agency payments (often net of umbrella or agency fees) against the correct gross contract value
Support for mixed limited company and sole trader income where a contractor operates both structures
Monthly management reports that show which contracts are actually the most profitable, not just total revenue

Contractor-Specific Expense Tracking

Travel and subsistence rules that differ depending on whether a workplace counts as temporary or permanent
Equipment and software purchases tied to specific contracts, tracked so they're claimed correctly
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance, professional subscriptions, and training costs
Accountancy and company formation costs where relevant to a limited company structure

VAT, MTD & Monthly Bookkeeping

Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation via Xero or QuickBooks, both MTD-compliant
Quarterly VAT return preparation and submission if you're VAT-registered
Clean, up-to-date books ready to hand to your accountant for year-end accounts or Corporation Tax filing
A reporting pack by the 10th of each month, so you always know your position before invoicing your next contract

Who This Is For

IT contractors, engineering and technical consultants, interim managers, and any freelancer or contractor working through a UK limited company or as a sole trader with more than one client or income stream. If your bookkeeping needs to reflect the reality of contract-based work — rather than being forced into a template built for a single-trade small business — this is built around that.