Tallow Accounting for Makers

Sole-trader & craft studio accounting · Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne & remote UK

Quiet, honest accounting for people who make real things.

Julian Tallow provides clear year-end accounts, Self Assessment filing, and practical tax planning for ceramicists, printmakers, bespoke furniture makers, and design studios. Fixed annual fees agreed upfront, with no clock-ticking surprises.

Key service facts

Structure
Sole traders, partnerships & micro limited companies
Software
FreeAgent & Xero supported
Pricing
Fixed annual fee spread over 12 monthly payments
Queries
Routine email and phone questions included at no extra charge
Direct Dispatch

Get an accurate quote

What we need from you:

  • Business legal structure
  • Turnover band
  • Current bookkeeping
  • Immediate priority or deadline
  • Your name & studio
  • Email address
  • Phone (optional)

Client-fit & scoping triage

Answer four practical questions so Julian can confirm practice capacity and provide an honest fixed-fee estimate.

Optional, if you prefer a phone call for the discovery chat.

Accounting & tax packages

Straightforward annual compliance and filing packages tailored to workshop makers and creative studios.

Job Typical time From
Sole trader annual compliance

Self Assessment tax return, business accounts, allowable workshop expense review, and HMRC filing

Annual £480 / yr (£40/mo)
Micro limited company annual accounts

Companies House statutory accounts, Corporation Tax CT600, director Self Assessment, and payroll for up to 2 directors

Annual £1,260 / yr (£105/mo)
VAT registration & quarterly MTD filing

Quarterly Making Tax Digital VAT returns, digital receipt reconciliation, and scheme reviews

Quarterly £180 / quarter
Studio incorporation & setup

Company formation, HMRC registrations for Corporation Tax and PAYE, opening balance sheet, and FreeAgent chart of accounts

One-off £350
Mid-year tax projection & workshop review

6-month profit review, capital allowance planning on workshop machinery, and dividend extraction strategy

1.5 hours £220

Note: All compliance work is quoted as an agreed fixed annual fee paid monthly. No unexpected invoices for a quick question.

From enquiry to filed accounts

  1. 1

    Four-point scoping triage

    You complete the short triage form below with your legal structure, turnover band, software, and current deadlines.

  2. 2

    Discovery call & fixed quotation

    Julian reviews your setup and schedules a 20-minute call to confirm fit and agree an exact written fee.

  3. 3

    Onboarding & HMRC authorisation

    We connect your bank feeds into FreeAgent or Xero and request agent authorisation directly with HMRC.

  4. 4

    Drafting, explanation & filing

    We prepare your accounts, explain your tax position in plain English, and file upon your digital approval.

Recent work (example)

Hands reviewing neatly organized paper invoices and calculation notes with a brass ruler

Handmade ceramic bowls and sculpting tools drying on pine shelves in a pottery workshop

Operating Terms & Policies

Who we are a fit for

Solo craftspeople, ceramicists, printmakers, architectural modelmakers, and bespoke joiners. People who want their accounts handled thoroughly so they can stay in their workshops.

Work we do not take on

We do not take on cryptocurrency traders, high-volume dropshipping, or complex offshore arrangements. We concentrate exclusively on tangible UK craft enterprise.

No hourly billing surprises

All compliance work is quoted as a single fixed annual fee paid monthly by direct debit. If you have a quick question during the year, an email or 15-minute phone call is never billed extra.

Software and paper records

We work with FreeAgent and Xero. If you currently keep receipts in a shoebox or a spreadsheet, we spend the first month getting your bank feeds cleanly connected and organized.

Engineers & Team

Julian Tallow Principal accountant · creative studios

Worked with craft workshops, print studios, and bespoke furniture makers across the North East and UK for twelve years.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I get in touch about Self Assessment?

Ideally between April and September following the end of the tax year. We close onboarding for the January 31 deadline in late November to ensure every return receives proper care.

Can you help me switch from my current accountant?

Yes. We handle the professional clearance handover directly with your previous accountant and transfer your HMRC agent authorisation without disruption.

What workshop equipment qualifies for capital allowances?

Workshop machinery such as kilns, lathes, printing presses, specialist workbenches, and computers qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), offsetting their cost against profits.

Do you charge extra if HMRC asks a question?

Routine correspondence and simple clarification queries from HMRC regarding submitted returns are included in your annual compliance agreement.

Depot & Contact Details

Base
Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ
Phone 0191 498 0241
Email julian@tallow.example.com

Operational Hours

Monday – Thursday09:00 – 17:30
Friday09:00 – 16:00
Saturday & SundayClosed