accounting for builders

Rated 5/5 on Google★★★★★
AAT QUALIFIED BUILDER ACCOUNTANT

Accounting for Builders Who Are Done Guessing at the Numbers

I handle CIS deductions, VAT on materials, job costing and your annual accounts so you always know exactly where your money is going.

You deal with me directly, get a fixed monthly fee and can ring or message whenever something needs a straight answer.

★★★★★Google Review

“Would 100% recommend, is always polite, professional and helpful! His knowledge has been a saving grace many times.”

Sally Radford · verified client
Accountant for builders managing CIS returns, VAT and job costing for construction businesses across the UK
7+ years in accountancy practice
AAT Level 4 qualified (FMAAT)
5/5 Google rating from verified clients
Same-day responses as standard
QuickBooks ProAdvisor and FreeAgent Partner

Is your builder accounting costing you money?

Answer five quick questions and find out exactly what needs sorting in your accounts.

WHAT I DO

What I handle on your behalf

From CIS filings to year-end accounts, I cover the full accounting picture for builders working as sole traders, limited companies or subcontractors.

01

CIS Bookkeeping and Returns

I keep your CIS records straight, verify your subcontractors correctly and make sure deductions are handled so HMRC has no reason to come knocking. Whether you are a contractor deducting from subbies or a subcontractor reclaiming tax, I deal with it. You should not have to think about this every month.

Construction Industry Scheme
02

VAT Returns for Builders

VAT in construction has its own rules around the domestic reverse charge, materials versus labour and cash flow timing. I prepare and submit your VAT returns under Making Tax Digital, flag anything that could catch you out and make sure you are reclaiming everything you are entitled to. All submissions are filed on time, every time.

MTD compliant
03

Accounts and Tax Returns for Building Businesses

Whether you are a sole trader filing a self assessment or a limited company needing full statutory accounts and corporation tax, I prepare and file everything personally. I also look at your numbers actively throughout the year so there are no tax surprises in January or April. You always know what is coming before it arrives.

Sole trader and limited company
WHY IT WORKS

Why clients come back every year

Builders stay because the numbers finally make sense and there is always someone at the end of the phone who knows their file.

I know how construction money actually moves

Retention payments, staged valuations, materials bought upfront before invoices land, subcontractors on different CIS rates. These are normal parts of a builder’s year and I account for all of them without needing them explained to me. You should not have to teach your accountant how your industry works.

Fixed fees with no year-end shock

You know what you are paying before I start. There are no hidden extras for a quick call, a VAT question or a payroll query mid-month. Everything is agreed upfront and stays that way. Builders already deal with enough cost surprises on site.

Direct access to the person doing your accounts

When you ring or message, you reach me. Not a receptionist, not a junior who will pass it on, not someone who has to pull up your file and call you back in three days. I handle everything personally for every client I take on and that does not change as time goes on.

FROM CLIENTS I WORK WITH

What clients say

★★★★★

“I had been with a generic firm for four years and genuinely did not understand my own numbers. Luke had everything clear within weeks. CIS, VAT, the lot. I actually look forward to my monthly update now.”

R.T.
Sole Trader Builder, West Midlands
★★★★★

“Setting up a limited company felt overwhelming but Luke walked me through every step without making me feel stupid. Fixed fee, fast replies and I always know where my tax position stands. Exactly what I needed.”

D.M.
Limited Company Director, Construction
★★★★★

“I was losing money on jobs without realising it. Luke helped me understand my actual margins per project and what I needed to charge to make the numbers work. Worth far more than his fee.”

S.B.
Groundworks Subcontractor, Staffordshire
GETTING STARTED

How it works

Getting started takes one conversation and I handle the rest from there.

01

Book a free call

We talk through your current setup, what you are doing now and what is not working. No obligation, no sales pitch. I just need to understand your situation before I can tell you what would help.

02

Agree a fixed monthly fee

I send a clear proposal covering exactly what I will handle for you. The fee is fixed, the scope is clear and there are no add-on charges for questions or short calls during the year. You know what you are paying from day one.

03

Get your accounts properly set up

I migrate your records onto cloud accounting software that works for a builder. QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Xero or Sage depending on what suits you. I do the setup and show you what you need to do month to month, which is usually not very much.

04

Ongoing support through the year

I handle your filings, monitor your tax position and answer questions as they come up. You are not waiting for year-end to find out what you owe. I keep you informed throughout so nothing catches you off guard.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Common questions

If you are a builder paying subcontractors, you almost certainly need to be registered as a CIS contractor with HMRC. You deduct tax at 20% or 30% from their payments and pass it to HMRC each month. If you are a subcontractor yourself, your contractor deducts from your invoices and you reclaim the difference through your tax return. I handle the filings, the verifications and the reconciliations so none of this falls through the gap.
The domestic reverse charge changed VAT for construction services in 2021. Rather than you charging VAT to another VAT-registered builder, they account for it themselves. It affects your cash flow and your VAT return significantly. I make sure your invoices are set up correctly, your returns reflect the right treatment and you are reclaiming VAT on materials and plant hire properly.
It depends on your profit level, how much risk you carry on site and what you want to pay yourself. There is no single right answer and anyone who says otherwise without looking at your specific numbers is guessing. I can run the comparison properly for your situation and show you what the actual difference in take-home pay would be before you make any decision.
Yes. Most builders come to me mid-year with a mix of bank statements, receipts in a bag and a spreadsheet they stopped updating in March. That is not unusual and I do not judge it. I work through what you have, get the records straight and put a proper system in place so it does not happen again. Starting from a mess is fine. Staying in one is what costs you money.