Self-employed & trades
Tidy books, your Self Assessment done properly, and a clear route into Making Tax Digital.
Accounting & bookkeeping · Southport & Merseyside
Removing the friction from your finances
Bookkeeping, VAT, Making Tax Digital, Self Assessment and proper management accounts for small businesses and sole traders. Fixed monthly fees, plain-English advice, and an accountant who answers the phone.
Who we help
Built for people running real businesses
Most of our clients are busy doing the actual work. We take the numbers off their plate and turn them into something useful.
Small Ltd companies
Bookkeeping, VAT, year-end support and a sensible approach to paying yourself.
Landlords
Rental income and allowable costs recorded right, so your tax return holds up.
Businesses that want more
Management accounts, cash flow forecasts and budgets, with someone to talk them through.
Packages
Fixed monthly fees. No surprise invoices.
Every package runs on Xero and is ready for Making Tax Digital. Each tier includes everything in the one before it.
.
Essential
Sole traders and small businesses who want clean, compliant books.
£129 / month
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Xero setup
- Bank reconciliation
- MTD ready
Most popular
Growth
VAT-registered businesses that need returns handled.
£249 / month
- Everything in Essential
- VAT return preparation
- Supplier and customer reviews
- Quarterly finance review
- MTD compliance
.
Business Partner
Owners who want to see how the business is really doing each month.
£549 / month
- Everything in Growth
- Monthly management accounts
- Cash flow monitoring
- KPI reporting
- Performance insights
.
Finance Director Lite
Growing businesses that need FD thinking without an FD salary.
£900 / month
- Everything in Business Partner
- Strategic finance support
- Cash flow forecasting
- Budgeting and scenario planning
- Monthly business review
Self Assessment returns
Personal tax returns for sole traders, landlords and company directors, quoted up front.
One-off and project work
Catch-up bookkeeping, clean-ups and anything outside your package at £35 per hour.
Not sure which fits?
Book a free call and we'll recommend a package based on what your business actually needs.
Prices are per month. Bespoke packages are available for groups and multi-company businesses.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Quarterly updates are here. We'll get you ready.
If you're self-employed or a landlord, HMRC is moving you from one annual tax return to digital records and quarterly updates. Whether it applies to you depends on your qualifying income from self-employment and property.
We set you up on Xero, keep your records digital, and submit every quarterly update for you, so the change barely touches your week.
When MTD starts, by qualifying income
April 2026
Over £50,000Already live for the highest earners
April 2027
Over £30,000Next in line, so now is the time to prepare
April 2028
Over £20,000Planned next stage
Getting started
From first call to sorted, in four steps
1
Free call
We talk through your business, your current setup and what's worrying you.
2
Pick a package
A clear fixed fee and a written engagement letter. No small print.
3
We set you up
Xero connected to your bank, old records tidied, and HMRC authorisations in place.
4
Monthly rhythm
Books kept up to date, deadlines met, and regular check-ins on how things are going.
Removing the friction from your finances
About JTS Swanson
Not your typical accountant
JTS Swanson is a Southport-based practice set up by a commercial accountant who has spent years inside businesses: forecasting, budgeting and partnering with leadership teams on the numbers that matter.
That experience is the difference. You get compliance done properly, plus someone who understands how a business makes money and can help you make more of it.
Plain EnglishNo jargon, no guesswork
ProactiveWe flag things before they're a problem
LocalVisits across Southport and Merseyside
Questions
Things people usually ask
Do I have to use Xero?
Xero is our recommended software and is included in our setup. If you already use other MTD-compatible software, talk to us and we'll see what works best.
I'm behind on my books. Can you still help?
Yes. We regularly do catch-up work to bring records up to date before moving onto a monthly package.
Can I change package later?
Yes. As your business grows or quietens down, we'll move you to the package that fits.
Do you meet in person?
Yes. We visit clients across Southport and the wider Merseyside area, and work remotely when that suits you better.
Get in touch
Book your free call
Tell us a little about your business and what you need help with. We'll come back to you within one working day.
Already a client? Sign in to your client portal to upload documents and message us securely.
Follow @jtsaccounting for practical tax tips for sole traders, landlords and small businesses.