Accountants and corporate service providers in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has 25 firms in this directory, all of them accounting practices, and the market is smaller and more traditional than London or Manchester. A founder who wants a UK company with a Scottish adviser will find mainly small practices that act for owner-managed businesses, sole traders and contractors, with a handful that name foreign-owned clients.

The following notes show how the Edinburgh market is arranged and what to ask before you send a request.

Firms in Edinburgh

Bond CA

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Edinburgh

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +3 more

Languages: English

View profile of Bond CA

1 more firms in Edinburgh

What the Edinburgh firms show

There are 19 small practices and 6 medium-sized firms, and no large network firm is based here. In practice a founder is likely to deal with a partner or an experienced manager rather than a junior team, which suits a straightforward trading company but may stretch when a group needs several entities handled at once. If your plan includes a holding company, a subsidiary or a branch, note that only a few Edinburgh firms name them, so put the question to each one before you compare fees. Limited companies are the entity type named by 20 firms, sole traders by 15, partnerships by 14 and limited liability partnerships by 7. Charities are named by 2, and one firm names the Scottish charitable incorporated organisation, a structure particular to Scotland. That detail matters if your plan includes a non-profit arm there.

Construction and start-ups are the industries named most often, by 4 firms each. Manufacturing and contractors follow with 3, and medical practices, retail, hospitality and healthcare with 2 each. Sole traders are named as a client group by 7 firms, limited companies by 4 and owner-managed businesses by 3.

Credentials are specific here. One firm is a registered auditor through ICAS and another through ICAEW, and one names CIMA qualification for its principal. Accounting bodies differ in what they regulate, so ask any firm which body supervises it and what it can sign. Also ask which of the firm’s people hold the qualification, because a body can accredit the principal without covering every member of staff who touches your file.

Services and languages

Company formation is offered by 20 of the 25 firms, accounting by 24, tax compliance by all 25, VAT and payroll by 23 each. Corporate secretarial work is offered by 14, virtual office support by 7, audit by 6 and bank account assistance by 3. A UK company needs a physical UK address as its registered office, so ask whether the firm will provide one.

Ten firms state English as a working language. Polish, German and Mandarin are each offered by 2, and Cantonese, Ukrainian, Slovak and Czech by one each. For overseas owners, 11 firms say foreign clients are a stated focus. One firm mentions a partner entity in Germany, which suggests cross-border work, but ask for the detail rather than assuming it.

Next steps

The legal steps for a UK company are in the UK country guide, and the company formation page explains how to choose a provider. For more choice, see London, Manchester and Birmingham. A single free quote request is passed to suitable Edinburgh firms.

Frequently asked questions

Which languages do accountants in Edinburgh work in?

Ten of the 25 Edinburgh firms name English as a working language. Polish, German and Mandarin are each offered by 2, and Cantonese, Ukrainian, Slovak and Czech by one each. Ask the firm whether tax letters are explained in your language.

Do Edinburgh firms handle company formation and the yearly accounts?

Yes. 20 of the 25 firms offer company formation and 24 offer accounting, with VAT and payroll at 23 each. Ask for the set-up and the annual work to be quoted together.

Does it matter that a firm is in Scotland for a UK company?

A UK company is registered online with Companies House whichever city your adviser is in. A Scottish firm is useful if you have Scottish activity or a Scottish charity structure, which one Edinburgh firm names. Otherwise compare the other city pages.

How many Edinburgh firms work with foreign clients?

Foreign clients are a stated focus for 11 of the 25 firms. Ask for an example of a company set up for an owner living abroad, and how the firm handles identity verification and the registered office.

Can Edinburgh firms audit a company?

Audit is offered by 6 of the 25 firms, and registered auditor status is named through ICAS by one firm and through ICAEW by another. Confirm which body supervises the firm before you appoint an auditor.

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Services in the UK

Setting up a company in the UK: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.