Specialist accountants for independent professionals.
IR35 status, contract reviews, limited company vs umbrella, dividends, pensions and long-term tax planning — Cranleys works with contractors, consultants and coaches who want a senior advisor, not a portal.
- IR35
- Contract & practice reviews
- Ltd / Umbrella
- Side-by-side modelling
- Fixed fee
- No surprise invoices
Built for independent professionals
Whether you contract through a PSC, run a consultancy, coach clients or hold a portfolio of interim roles — we understand how you actually earn.
Contractors
IT, engineering, project and interim contractors working through a limited company (PSC) or umbrella — inside or outside IR35.
Consultants
Independent management, HR, marketing, health & safety, environmental and financial consultants running their own practice.
Coaches & Trainers
Business coaches, executive coaches, speakers, course creators and trainers with mixed 1:1, group, retainer and digital income.
Interim & Fractional
Fractional CFOs, interim directors and portfolio professionals holding multiple appointments across companies.
Everything a contractor, consultant or coach needs
One senior team covering IR35, structure, compliance, tax planning and long-term wealth — with cloud accounting set up around how you work.
IR35 & Status
Clear, practical guidance on IR35 status, contract reviews and how to structure your engagements defensibly.
- IR35 status reviews on new contracts
- Working practices audit
- Inside vs outside IR35 tax modelling
- Support if HMRC opens an enquiry
Ltd Company vs Umbrella
Work out the right trading structure for your rate, sector and long-term plan — not just today's contract.
- Ltd vs umbrella comparison
- Personal service company (PSC) setup
- Sole trader vs limited comparison
- Group structure for portfolio consultants
Accounts, Tax & VAT
Full compliance done properly and on time — statutory accounts, corporation tax, self-assessment, VAT and Companies House.
- Year-end accounts & CT600
- Director self-assessment
- VAT registration & returns (FRS / Standard)
- Companies House confirmation statement
Salary, Dividends & Pension
Get paid tax-efficiently — the right salary/dividend mix, pension contributions and use of allowances.
- Optimal director salary & dividends
- Employer pension contributions
- Spouse/partner planning where appropriate
- Dividend & tax cashflow forecasting
Expenses & Cloud Accounting
Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent set up around how you actually work — with expense capture that stops you losing receipts.
- Xero / QuickBooks / FreeAgent setup
- Dext / Hubdoc receipt capture
- Bank feeds & rules
- Monthly bookkeeping option
Growth, Exit & Wealth
For consultants and coaches building a real business or exit — pricing, retained earnings, investment and long-term wealth planning.
- Pricing & profit review
- Retained profits & investment company
- Business Asset Disposal Relief planning
- Long-term wealth mapping
A senior advisor, not a portal
You get a specialist team that understands independent professionals — with a plan built around your rate, contracts and long-term goals.
IR35-aware
We understand the reality of the contractor market — off-payroll rules, contract reviews and defensible working practices.
Tax-efficient by default
Salary, dividends, pension and expenses reviewed as one plan — not compliance work with tax as an afterthought.
Cloud-first
Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Dext set up around your working style, not a template.
Senior advisor access
You speak to a real advisor who knows your contract, your rate and your goals — not a helpdesk.
From first call to fully managed
A clear, structured onboarding — no admin chaos, no lost receipts, no missed deadlines.
- 01
Discovery Call
A 30-minute call to understand your current structure, contracts, income mix and where you want to be in 3 years.
- 02
Structure & Tax Review
We review your setup — Ltd vs umbrella, IR35, VAT, pension, dividends — and write it up as a clear plan with numbers.
- 03
Onboarding
We move you onto Xero / QuickBooks / FreeAgent, set up receipt capture and take over the compliance calendar.
- 04
Ongoing Support
Fixed monthly fee covering accounts, tax, VAT, payroll and unlimited email / call support — with a quarterly review.
The questions independent professionals actually ask
Can you review my IR35 status?+
Yes. We review contracts and working practices against the current off-payroll rules, model the tax impact of inside vs outside IR35 and, where useful, coordinate an independent IR35 opinion for your records. If HMRC opens an enquiry, we support you through it.
Should I trade through a limited company or an umbrella?+
It depends on your day rate, sector, IR35 status, expected duration and long-term plan. We build a side-by-side comparison of take-home, admin, and long-term tax and pension impact so the decision is based on your numbers, not a rule of thumb.
I'm a coach with 1:1 clients, group programmes and a course — is that a fit?+
Yes. We work with coaches, speakers and course creators whose income is a mix of retainers, 1:1 packages, group programmes and digital products. We help you structure pricing, VAT, retained profits and pension so the business supports the life you actually want.
Can you handle my consultancy's VAT and payroll if I hire?+
Yes. Whether you're a single-director consultancy or growing to a small team, we handle VAT (Standard, FRS and Cash Accounting), payroll, auto-enrolment pensions and director remuneration as part of the same relationship.
How much does it cost?+
Most contractor, consultant and coach clients sit on a fixed monthly fee covering accounts, tax, VAT, payroll and unlimited support. Fees depend on turnover and complexity — we always quote in writing before you commit.
Do you help with pensions and long-term wealth?+
Yes. Employer pension contributions are one of the most powerful tools for a contractor or consultant. We coordinate contribution levels with your salary, dividend and corporation tax plan, and can work alongside your IFA on longer-term wealth planning.
Ready to get your setup right?
One 30-minute discovery call, one clear plan, one fixed monthly fee. Book a call and we'll show you exactly what a specialist accountant should look like.
Book a discovery call