Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What bookkeeping and accountancy services do members use for VAT returns and corporate tax?
Members typically work with external accountants or bookkeeping agencies rather than in-house staff. Here are the specific options mentioned: - **Addition Finance** (https://www.additionfinance.co/) — Fees scale with business growth; introductions available from members who use them. - **Independent accountant referrals** — Several members have personal accountants handling VAT returns, corporate tax, and payroll; typically £400–£600 per month depending on services required. - **Part-time bookkeepers** — Members are open to sharing introductions for simpler bookkeeping support, though specific names weren't provided in discussion. Members note that costs are usually at the lower end of the £400–£600 range depending on which services you actually need. Several members offered to make introductions to their current providers. One member mentioned navigating Small Producers Relief in VAT returns, suggesting this is a relevant consideration for producer members.
What should a small drinks producer with 3 employees expect to pay for accountancy and bookkeeping services?
For a small producer with 3 employees, members suggest a reasonable range of **£700–£1,400 per annum** depending on the full scope of services required. Members also noted that specialist accountants with tiered pricing structures exist within the community network. One member reported working with accountants who offer **different levels of pricing** and have proven effective even for more complex setups (multiple entities, inter-company loans), describing them as "game changers" with "reasonable and great work/outputs." If you're facing a significant price increase from your current bookkeeper, this range provides a useful benchmark to assess whether the new quote is justified by expanded scope or an unreasonable jump.