Swift Accountants
Listening, Understanding, Advising
Running a busy venue leaves little time for paperwork. Get practical bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and tax support, with clear fees and a dedicated accountant who gets to know your business.
Free initial conversation. No obligation to join.
Fixed-fee accounting for UK hospitality businesses
Understand your costs, prepare for tax and plan ahead with greater confidence.
Supplier bills, staff wages, stock and card fees can quickly absorb a busy week’s takings. With quieter periods and tax payments to plan for too, it helps to know what is coming in, what is going out and what needs setting aside.
Our hospitality accountants help you make sense of the figures behind your venue. From bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll and year-end accounts, we agree the support you need and explain your numbers in plain English.
You’ll have a dedicated accountant and a fixed fee agreed before work begins. Whether you run a restaurant, pub, bar, café, takeaway or hotel, we start by listening to how your business works and where you need help.
Practical accounting support for the business behind the service.
Everyday hospitality challenges
Till reports, supplier invoices, staff hours and card payments all need attention. When records arrive from different places, keeping everything organised can take longer than expected.
Our hospitality accountants help you put a clear routine in place, so you know what to send, when it is needed and who to ask.
We help match till reports with cash bankings, card settlements and delivery-platform payouts, accounting for fees, refunds and timing differences.
Eat-in sales, takeaways and different food and drink products can need different VAT treatment. We help review your sales records and explain what applies to your business.
Changing shifts, new starters and tips can make each pay run more complicated. We help organise payroll records and explain how tips and service charges should be handled.
Who we help
Your opening hours, sales channels and staffing all shape the support you need. We tailor the service around how your venue operates, whether you run one location or several.
Support with dine-in and delivery sales, supplier invoices, payroll and VAT, including the records behind delivery-platform payouts, commissions and refunds.
Accounting for food and drink sales, stock purchases, staff pay and events, with clear figures to help you understand costs and prepare for quieter trading.
A manageable bookkeeping routine for daily takings, supplier costs and staff wages, with practical VAT support for your mix of eat-in and takeaway sales.
Clear records for room income, booking fees and guest deposits, plus support with payroll, VAT and any food, drink or event sales.
Tell us how your venue works. We’ll recommend suitable support and explain the fees before you decide. Your initial chat is free, with no obligation to join.
Our services
Get help with the financial work behind your restaurant, pub, café or hotel. Our hospitality accountants can support your bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and reporting, with a clear scope and fixed-fee quote agreed before work begins.
Bring your till reports, cash sales, card settlements and supplier invoices into a clear set of records. We help reconcile takings with bank receipts, account for processing fees and identify differences that need attention.
We prepare and submit VAT returns through Making Tax Digital and review how your sales and purchases are recorded. Where relevant, we help you understand the VAT treatment of eat-in, takeaway and accommodation sales.
Keep payroll organised as shifts, hours and team members change. We support payslips, HMRC submissions and workplace pension administration. Where tips or a tronc are involved, we help organise the records needed for accounting and payroll.
See how sales translate into profit and cash. Management reports help you track food and drink costs, staffing costs and overheads. Cash-flow planning helps you prepare for quieter trading periods, supplier bills and tax payments.
Keep year-end work on track with accounts and tax returns matched to your business structure. We prepare company accounts and Corporation Tax returns, with Self Assessment support where relevant. Your accountant explains the figures and the deadlines ahead.
Plan ahead for tax when buying equipment, refurbishing your venue or deciding how to take income from the business. We review relevant expenses and reliefs, explain your options and help you understand upcoming tax bills.
Know what is included before you join
Tell us about your venue and the support you need. Your fixed-fee quote will set out the services included, how often we carry out the work, what information we need from you and any work charged separately.
Free initial chat · Clear fixed-fee quote · No obligation to join
Explore our VAT return services and payroll services.
Clear, fixed fees
You should know what your accountant will handle and what it will cost before you decide.
We provide a fixed-fee quote based on your business structure, number of venues, sales and supplier records, staffing and the support you need. We also consider whether your records are up to date or need some attention first.
A café needing year-end accounts will have different requirements from a restaurant group needing weekly payroll, VAT returns and monthly management reports. We explain the recommended support and agree the scope and fee with you before work begins.
What your quote will make clear
Tell us about your venue and what you would like help with. We will explain your options in plain English, so you can decide whether Swift is right for you.
Dedicated accountant | Fixed fees agreed upfront | Secure document sharing
Business expenses
From ingredients and staff wages to till software and kitchen repairs, the costs of running a venue soon add up. We help you keep clear records, identify allowable costs and understand how each item should be treated for tax.
These are common costs we review. The treatment depends on your business structure, accounting method and how the expense relates to your business.
| Business cost | What we check |
|---|---|
| Food, drink and packaging | Supplier invoices, stock records and goods bought for resale, with private use, wastage and complimentary items identified separately. |
| Staff wages and employer costs | Payroll records supporting wages, employer National Insurance, pension contributions and agency staff costs. |
| Rent, rates, utilities and insurance | Costs relating to your business premises, with any private or residential use considered separately. |
| EPOS, software and payment fees | Business subscriptions, card processing charges and delivery or booking platform commissions, checked against provider statements. |
| Kitchen equipment, furniture and till hardware | Business use and whether the purchase qualifies as an expense or needs to be considered for capital allowances. |
| Repairs, cleaning and laundry | Day-to-day running costs and maintenance, with improvements and major refurbishments reviewed separately. |
| Marketing and professional fees | Advertising, website and business accountancy costs, with personal tax work and other exclusions checked separately. |
Serving paying customers is different from entertaining business contacts
The cost of food and drink sold in the normal course of your business is generally deductible. Entertaining clients or suppliers is generally not. We check the purpose of the spending and the supporting records before deciding how it should be treated.
Keep your receipts, supplier invoices and payment statements organised. We will help you understand which costs belong in your accounts and what evidence supports them. Read HMRC’s guidance on self-employed business expenses and limited company expenses.
Tax budgeting for hospitality businesses
Running a restaurant, pub, café or hotel means money is constantly moving between sales, suppliers, wages, rent and tax. A healthy bank balance today does not always show what will be due next.
Our hospitality accountants help you understand your tax position, plan ahead and keep future payments in view without relying on guesswork.
The tax dates that apply to you depend on your business structure and setup. A sole trader or partnership may have Self Assessment payments on account. A limited company may have Corporation Tax. A VAT-registered venue may have VAT payments, while employers also need to plan for PAYE, National Insurance and workplace pensions.
We map the obligations that apply to your business instead of giving you a generic percentage or a one-size-fits-all answer.
We review your latest records, expected profit, VAT position, payroll routine and upcoming changes. That could include a refurbishment, new kitchen equipment, extra seasonal staff or a quieter trading period.
We then explain what needs to be set aside, which dates matter and what information is needed before each return or payment.
Tax planning is not about guessing a percentage or delaying a payment. It is about keeping accurate records, making decisions early and understanding what each tax bill relates to.
We explain your position in plain English, so you can run your venue with a clearer view of the cash available for staff, suppliers and future growth.
You can also explore our Tax Planning Services, VAT Return Services and Corporate Accounting Services to see how we support hospitality businesses throughout the year.
Free initial conversation · Clear fixed-fee quote · No obligation to join
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being introduced in stages. If you run a restaurant, pub, café, hotel or takeaway as an eligible sole trader, your qualifying income may mean you need compatible software, digital records and quarterly updates.
We can help you understand which rules apply, when they start and how to organise the records behind your EPOS system, bank account, supplier invoices and business expenses.
| Relevant tax return | Qualifying income | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | More than £50,000 | |
| 2025/26 | More than £30,000 | |
| 2026/27 | More than £20,000 |
Qualifying income generally means gross income from self-employment and property before expenses. These thresholds apply to eligible sole traders and landlords. Exemptions and individual circumstances can affect the position, so the current HMRC guidance should be checked before relying on a start date.
Your digital records may need to bring together daily takings, card settlements, delivery-platform income, supplier invoices, wages, tips or service-charge records where relevant, rent, utilities and other business costs.
Quarterly updates are summaries of your business records, not four extra tax returns. We can help you review your software, keep the right information together and prepare for the annual tax return.
MTD for Income Tax is not the Corporation Tax reporting system for a limited company. A limited-company restaurant, pub, café or hotel may still have MTD for VAT, payroll, statutory accounts and Corporation Tax deadlines.
The right process depends on your business structure, EPOS system, bookkeeping software and how your venue receives and pays money.
Free initial conversation · Clear fixed-fee quote · No obligation to join
Tell us whether you trade as a sole trader, partnership or limited company and which software you use. We will explain the next step in plain English.
For connected support, explore our VAT Return Services, Corporate Accounting Services and Tax Planning Services.
Getting started
Start with a free conversation about how your business works and where you need help. We’ll ask about your sales records, staffing, accounting software and any approaching deadlines, so we can recommend support that fits.
We explain the recommended services, what is included and what they will cost. You can ask questions, discuss priorities and understand any separate charges before deciding whether to join.
Once you join, we guide you through the necessary checks and authorisations, arrange portal access and agree who handles what. You’ll know which records to provide and when. If you’re switching accountants, we request the information needed for the handover with your permission.
Your records do not need to be perfect before we speak. If anything needs bringing up to date, we’ll explain the work involved and any additional fee before you decide.
People, support and your client portal
When a payroll figure looks unfamiliar or a supplier payment does not match your records, it helps to know who to ask.
Your dedicated accountant gets to know how your venue trades, the systems you use and the support you need. We explain your figures in plain English and help you understand the next steps for the work included in your service.
Use the secure client portal to upload requested records, share supplier invoices and review documents awaiting your approval. We explain what to send and when, helping you keep the information needed for your accounts together.
When a conversation would help, speak with us by phone, email or an online meeting. Whether you’re hiring seasonal staff, introducing delivery orders or considering new equipment, raise your plans early so we can discuss the accounting and tax questions before you commit.
Get to know the people behind your support and meet the Swift Accountants team.
Client evidence
Choosing an accountant is a personal decision. Hearing how other clients found the communication, support and day-to-day service can help you decide whether we are right for you.
Switching accountants
A planned handover, clear responsibilities and fees you understand.
If you’re chasing replies, unsure what your fee covers or struggling to understand your venue’s figures, it may be time to review your accounting support.
We start by checking your upcoming payroll, VAT and accounts deadlines, along with any unfinished work. With your permission, we contact your existing accountant and request the information needed to assess and organise the handover.
We agree which services Swift will handle, when our work starts and who is responsible for anything already in progress. We also discuss your bookkeeping software and EPOS records, so you understand what can stay in place and what may need adjusting.
Our standard switching process is free when you join Swift. Your ongoing accounting services have an agreed fixed fee. If overdue returns, missing records or earlier work need attention, we explain any separate charge before you decide.
Ready to Experience Accountancy That Listens, Delivers, and Inspires?
Stop searching—start thriving.
A hospitality accountant supports bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, year-end accounts and tax planning, with attention to how your venue operates. At Swift, this can include matching till sales to bank receipts, reviewing payment fees and explaining your costs and cash flow. Your fixed-fee quote confirms which services are included.
The fee depends on your business structure, number of venues, volume of records, staffing and the support you need. We provide a clear fixed-fee quote after an initial conversation. You’ll know what is included, whether software costs extra and whether any overdue work needs a separate quote.
Tell us which systems you use. We work with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent, and review how your EPOS reports and payment records can support your bookkeeping. We confirm compatibility and any changes needed before agreeing the service, including whether software subscriptions are included in your fee.
Yes. We can help match your sales records with card settlements, cash bankings and delivery-platform statements. Fees, refunds and settlement timings can mean the amount reaching your bank differs from the original sales total. We account for those differences and identify anything that needs further investigation.
No. For VAT-registered businesses, eat-in catering and hot takeaway food are generally standard-rated. Some cold takeaway food is zero-rated, but exceptions apply, including certain drinks and other products. We help review your sales categories and records so different types of sale receive the appropriate VAT treatment.
Yes. We support payroll for changing hours, starters and leavers, alongside workplace pension administration. Tips and service charges need separate attention because tax and National Insurance treatment depends on how they are collected and distributed. If you use a tronc—an arrangement for distributing tips—we’ll confirm the support your setup requires.
VAT-registered venues generally need to follow Making Tax Digital for VAT unless exempt. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is separate and applies to eligible sole traders and landlords according to their qualifying income and start date. It does not apply to a limited company’s profits. We help check the rules, software and records relevant to your business.
Yes. Management reports and cash-flow forecasts can help you understand trading patterns, staffing costs, supplier payments and upcoming tax bills. We use your records and plans to identify periods when cash may be tight. The reporting frequency and planning support included are agreed as part of your service.
Yes. With your permission, we request information from your existing accountant and agree which work Swift will handle and from what date. We review upcoming payroll, VAT and filing deadlines when planning the handover. Our standard switching process is free; any work needed to bring records or returns up to date is quoted separately.
Contact us with a summary of what is outstanding and any relevant dates or HMRC letters. We assess the work, identify priorities and explain the fee before you decide. Your records do not need to be perfectly organised before the first conversation—we’ll explain what information is needed and agree realistic next steps.
For the People. For Your Dreams. For Your Future.
Let’s make your venue’s finances easier to manage
Tell us about your restaurant, pub, café or hotel, where you need support and any deadline on your mind. We’ll listen, explain how we can help and provide a clear fixed-fee quote, so you can decide whether Swift is right for your business.
Listening,
Understanding,
Advising
Tell us what you need help with. We’ll call you to understand your situation, explain how we can help and agree the next steps.
