You Don’t Need an Accountant If You’re a Small Business

“I’m only making a few grand a month, what do I need an accountant for?”– Dave, over a lukewarm pint.

🍻 The Pub Chat Version

According to your mate down the pub, accountants are for “big businesses” with boardrooms and parking spaces. You're just a humble sole trader or running a kitchen table empire—surely a spreadsheet and a prayer will do, right?

Wrong.

🔍 The Truth (Spoiler: You Probably Do Need An Accountant)

Here’s why thinking you can dodge hiring an accountant just because you’re “small” might end up costing you big.

1. HMRC Won’t Accept “I’m New” as an Excuse

Even if you’re a one-person band selling crochet hats or fixing boilers, HMRC expects:

• Proper bookkeeping

• Timely returns

• Accurate tax filings

And when they don’t get that? Penalties. Interest. Stress. Your “savings” vanish faster than a lager at last orders.

2. Accountants Save You More Than They Cost

Yes, they charge. But you know what else they do?

✅ Spot claimable expenses you didn’t know about

✅ Keep you off HMRC’s naughty list

✅ Stop you from accidentally paying too much tax

✅ Give strategic advice as your business grows

A decent accountant often saves you more than they charge—and that’s before they even open their spreadsheet wizardry.

3. They Speak ‘Tax’ So You Don’t Have To

Ever tried reading HMRC guidance? It's like Shakespeare got drunk and started inventing numbers.

Accountants are translators. They decode the baffling jargon and tell you what actually matters in your business.

4. Growth Gets Messy Without One

Let’s say things go well. You hire someone. Maybe two. Now you’ve got:

• Payroll

• VAT

• Company structure questions

• Potential investors

• Auto-enrolment pensions

• And yes, more taxes

Suddenly that “I’ll do it myself” mindset collapses under the weight of government red tape and form-filling doom.

💬 But What If I'm Just Starting Out?

Totally fair. If you're genuinely earning peanuts, maybe you're not ready for a monthly retainer.

But consider:

• A one-off consultation for setup advice

• Using a basic accountant annually

• Cloud software (like Xero or FreeAgent) with an accountant’s oversight

DIY works for shelves, not tax returns.

🧠 The Bottom Line

You don’t need an accountant the same way you don’t need a mechanic—you can fix your own car, but if it explodes on the M25, that’s on you.

An accountant is your business’s financial sat-nav. You can ignore it and hope for the best, or follow the map and actually get where you want to go.

✅ Verdict: MYTH BUSTED

Unless you love paperwork, fear-free audits, and wasting money by accident, having an accountant isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Cheers to that 🍻

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💼 Sponsor this space This myth-busting article was brought to you by… no one. Yet.

If you're an accountancy firm that actually likes helping small businesses (and can handle a bit of banter), this could be your pint glass in the window.

Reach out to My Mate Down The Pub and let’s talk shop: