Bookkeeping For Trades Around Swindon
I keep the books moving so you can keep the van moving
I am Helen Carter. Revenue Minutes keeps monthly books, CIS, VAT, payroll and catch-up ledgers in order for tradespeople, subcontractors, owner-drivers and single van businesses who need clean records without a lecture.
- Started
- 2007
- Base
- Swindon, Wiltshire
- Best Fit
- One to six people on the tools
Monthly Bookkeeping
Books That Match How A Trade Actually Works
Most clients arrive with the same pattern: the work is good, the bank account is busy, and the receipts are in the door pocket until the VAT quarter starts shouting. I put a monthly rhythm round that. Bank feeds are checked, receipt habits are made workable, supplier statements are matched, and the owner gets short questions while the job is still fresh enough to remember.
The first month normally takes longer because old names in the bank feed need translating. Is that merchant a materials supplier, a fuel stop, a tool repair, a private spend, or a subcontractor payment? Once those patterns are named, each month becomes lighter. For most sole traders and small limited companies, the useful work is not a lecture about perfect admin. It is a reliable note, on time, saying what is missing and what has been dealt with.
CIS, VAT And Payroll
The Recurring Dates Stop Being A Surprise
CIS, VAT and payroll work best when nothing heroic happens at the end. Contractor statements are checked while deductions are visible. VAT quarters are prepared from records already in Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent, with construction reverse charge kept in view. Payroll runs are kept small and clean, with payslips, RTI submissions, starters, leavers and pension notes handled before Friday afternoon becomes a panic.
You are told what to send and when. I do not guess missing contractor deductions, employee hours, unexplained deposits or whether a receipt belongs to the business. I ask plainly, I remind calmly, and I keep the accountant pack tidy enough for the person signing the accounts to work from it.
Rescue Work
Messy Records Rebuilt Without Shame
Catch-up work starts with a review, not a scolding. I look at the bank statements, the software, the paper pile, the VAT position, the CIS trail and any deadline sitting on top of it all. If the job is recoverable, you get a fixed quote after the first 90-minute review, with a clear list of what I need from you.
Rebuilds are usually done in stages: bank first, suppliers second, receipts third, owner questions last. Rescue work over £400 needs a 50% deposit before the first ledger rebuild starts. Most three-month catch-ups land between £420 and £780, depending on the paper, the number of accounts and how quickly questions are answered.
Next Step