Your books sorted, your evenings back.
We keep the books for Hastings businesses that have outgrown doing them in-house: the VAT returns, the payroll, the CIS, the job costing that shows where the money's made. You run the business. We'll keep the paperwork straight.
The first chat is free and commits you to nothing. Most people just want a rough idea of cost, and we can usually give you one on the phone.
You didn't start a business to do the books
- We won more work than ever last year. I still couldn't tell you which jobs made money.
- The books were fine when there were three of us. There are eleven of us now.
- It's Sunday evening and I'm doing payroll again.
- Apparently I should be doing Making Tax Digital. Whatever that is.
That's most of our clients, before they rang. Some start with just the VAT. Most end up handing over the lot, payroll and all. Either way, the deadlines stop being your problem.
- Trades & constructionCIS returns, job costing, subbies paid right
- Shops & caféstakings, VAT and staff wages, squared away
- Growing limited companiesmanagement reports, project costing, books that keep up
- Small service firmsinvoicing, credit control and monthly reports
What you can hand over
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Bookkeeping
Sales, purchases, receipts and bank reconciliation, kept up to date through the year. When your accountant asks for the figures, they're ready.
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Making Tax Digital
HMRC now wants digital records and digital filing. We'll get you onto the right software and deal with it, and after that you won't think about it much.
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Payroll
Payslips, RTI submissions to HMRC on or before payday, pension auto-enrolment. Your staff get paid the right amount on the right day.
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VAT returns
Prepared, reconciled and filed every quarter. If a figure looks off, we chase it before HMRC has any reason to.
Also on hand when you need it
- Project costingbudget against actual, job by job, in plain figures
- Management reportsa monthly or quarterly picture of the business, in plain figures
- Invoicing & credit controlsending them, chasing them, getting the money in
- Software setupQuickBooks, Xero, Sage or Kashflow, picked to fit and set up properly
In the building trade? CIS is our bread and butter.
If you pay subcontractors, the CIS return has to be with HMRC by the 19th of every month, and the penalties for missing it add up quickly. It's the job our construction clients were happiest to hand over.
We look after CIS for builders and subbies around Hastings: verification, deductions, the monthly return, and the statements your subcontractors need for their own tax.
The returns are only half of it. For firms taking on bigger jobs, we do the project costing too: labour, materials and overheads set against each contract, so you can see which jobs made money, which only kept everyone busy, and what the next one should cost.
Handled every month
- New subcontractors verified with HMRC
- Deductions worked out correctly
- CIS return filed by the 19th
- Deduction statements for your subbies
Who you're trusting with the books
When you ring, you get a bookkeeper who knows your business. No call centre, no being passed around. Absolute Bookkeeping has kept the books for Hastings businesses for over fifteen years, at their premises or remotely.
Bookkeeping software has got very good at the adding up. What it can't tell you is when a figure looks wrong for your business. That part is experience, and it's the part you're paying for.
- QuickBooks Advanced Certified ProAdvisor (Online & Desktop)
- Xero Certified Advisor, plus Sage and Kashflow
- Making Tax Digital ProAdvisor
- Fully insured
- References available on request
Licensed by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
Practice Licence No. 3503. It means we're regulated, insured and answerable to a professional body, not just handy with a spreadsheet.
Four steps, no ceremony
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A phone call
Tell us what the business does and where the books are up to. Ten minutes, usually.
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A look at the books
Software, spreadsheets or a folder of paper. We'll see what state things are in and what needs doing first.
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A quote in writing
A fixed monthly figure for an agreed list of jobs. You see the cost before you decide anything.
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Then it's off your desk
We get on with it, month in, month out, and only bother you when something matters.
Not sure what you'd need? Ring up and ask.
It costs nothing to find out. And if what you really need is an accountant rather than a bookkeeper, we'll tell you that too.
Fixed fees, agreed up front
One agreed monthly amount for an agreed list of jobs. You know what's going out each month, and the invoice never surprises you.
Essentials
The records kept right and the returns in on time.
- Bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
- VAT returns, filed digitally
- Making Tax Digital, handled
- Year-end handover to your accountant
Growing
For businesses with staff and more moving parts.
- Everything in Essentials
- Payroll, pensions and RTI
- Monthly management reports
- Invoicing and credit control
Construction
For builders and firms that pay subcontractors.
- Everything in Growing
- CIS verification, deductions and returns
- Deduction statements for your subbies
- Project costing, job by job
One-off and catch-up jobs are quoted the same way: a fixed figure, agreed before we start.
There are no prices on these because a café with two staff and a builder with eight subbies are very different jobs. Tell us what you've got and we'll quote your package, in writing, before anything starts.
Hastings bookkeeping that comes to you
We work with the shops, cafés, trades and small firms that keep this town going, across Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill and the villages around them.
Some clients we visit at their premises every month. Others post or email everything over, and we talk when something needs deciding. Both work fine.
- Hastings
- St Leonards
- Bexhill
- Surrounding villages
Things people ask before they ring
Do I need a bookkeeper or an accountant?
They do different jobs. We keep the records right through the year, at a lower rate than an accountant charges, and come year-end your accountant gets a tidy set of books instead of a box of paper. Plenty of our clients have both; some only need us.
My books are months behind and in a mess. Can you sort them out?
Yes. Catch-up jobs are normal work here, and we've seen far worse than whatever you've got. Bring it as it is and we'll tell you how long it will take to put right.
What actually is Making Tax Digital?
It's HMRC's rule that records have to be kept digitally and filed through approved software, rather than on paper or typed into their website. If it applies to you, we'll set you up on the right software and do the filing. Most clients notice no difference day to day.
Which software do you work with?
QuickBooks and Xero are the two we're certified in, and we also work with Sage and Kashflow. If you're on spreadsheets or paper at the moment, that's fine. We'll help you pick something and set it up.
Do you come to us, or work remotely?
Whichever suits. We're out at client premises across Hastings and the surrounding area most weeks; other clients send everything over by post or email. It works either way.
How much will it cost?
It depends how much there is and what state it's in, so we quote for each business rather than publishing a price list. Most clients pay a fixed monthly fee for an agreed list of jobs, and one-off or catch-up work is quoted as a fixed job too. The quote comes in writing before any work starts.
Start with a free chat
A couple of sentences about the business is plenty. We reply within one working day.
What you'll get from the free chat:
- A straight look at where your books stand
- A rough idea of cost, usually there and then
- Clear next steps, even if they don't involve us
Or get in touch directly
- Phone
- 07825 954980
- accounts@absolutebookkeeping.co.uk
- absolutebookkeepinghastings
- Based in
- Hastings, East Sussex. We come to you, or handle everything by phone, post and email.
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 9:00–18:00