For New Business Owners
Turn your first year into a launchpad.
The Prelude gives you the financial foundations and expert support to grow your business without the stress. Everything a new limited company needs, bundled into one clear monthly fee.
What's included
The Prelude is a comprehensive package built specifically for directors in their first year of trading. We've thought carefully about what new business owners actually need — and packaged it with no gaps and no add-on surprises.
- Annual accounts — prepared and filed with Companies House
- Corporation tax — CT600 filed on time with proactive tax planning
- Companies House paperwork — confirmation statements and filings handled
- Bookkeeping — up to 30 transactions per month
- Payroll — up to 5 employees, RTI submissions included
- Monthly check-in — review your numbers and stay on track
- 2 directors personal tax returns — self-assessment handled end-to-end
- Bookkeeping software — Xero or QuickBooks setup and managed for you
- Boardroom hire — use our meeting rooms for client and team meetings
- Network access — introductions to our trusted partner network
The first year is the hardest
Starting a limited company means navigating Companies House filings, PAYE registration, corporation tax registration, VAT decisions, payroll setup, and a mountain of HMRC obligations — before you've even thought about your first invoice. Most new directors don't know what they don't know, and that's where costly mistakes happen.
The Prelude is designed to remove all of that friction. From day one, you have a chartered accountant handling your compliance and checking in monthly — so nothing slips through the cracks and you're never hit with a bill you weren't expecting.
We also set up your bookkeeping software, so your records are clean from the start. That matters more than most new owners realise — bad record-keeping in year one creates problems that take years to untangle.
HMRC registration
We handle your corporation tax, PAYE, and VAT registrations so you start life compliant, not catching up.
Payroll from day one
Getting your salary and dividend structure right in year one has a significant impact on your tax position — we set it up correctly from the start.
Bookkeeping foundations
We configure your cloud accounting software and train you on the basics so your records are clean and your accountant bills stay predictable.
Unexpected tax bills
We estimate your corporation tax and personal tax liability throughout the year — so the payment deadline never catches you off guard.
Who it's for
The Prelude is for directors in their first 12 months of trading who want to get their finances right from the start. It suits consultants, contractors, tradespeople, agency owners, and any professional setting up a limited company for the first time.
It's also for people who've been sole traders and are incorporating for the first time — the compliance landscape changes significantly when you become a director, and The Prelude gives you the expert support to handle that transition cleanly.
After your first year, you'll naturally move into one of our core tiers, with a full picture of your business and solid financial foundations already in place.
"They provide proactive communication and advice on how best to minimise tax burden, both for company and personal tax."
Dilip Mathew, Director — D Mathew Consulting