Industries We Serve Across the UK
We understand that no two businesses are the same. We offer adaptable solutions based on your unique needs and budget. Find accounting services for sole traders, small businesses, limited companies and individuals with high net worth.
We work with the businesses and people behind them, not a single faceless market. Total Books is a regulated, founder-led practice, and most of our clients fall into a handful of clear groups: limited companies and their directors, sole traders, high-net-worth individuals, and a set of sectors with their own tax and compliance quirks. Whoever you are, the work is the same regulated standard and the conversation starts the same way, with a free 15-minute call.
Who we help
Pick the group that fits you. The ones with their own page open straight to it; the rest are sectors we actively serve and understand, just route the same way, through a quick call where we scope the work and quote a fixed fee.
Limited Companies
SME directors and owner-managed companies. The core of what we do, from formation through Corporation Tax, payroll, VAT and senior advisory.
View limited company accountantsSole Traders
Self-employed people and freelancers who need self-assessment done right and a clear view of whether to stay sole trader or incorporate.
View sole trader accountantsHigh Net Worth
Individuals and families with complex income, investments and assets, who need joined-up personal tax planning across the whole picture.
View high-net-worth accountantsPharmacies
Independent pharmacies, pharmacy directors, locums and pharmaceutical businesses, served by our specialist sister practice RX Virtual Finance.
Visit RX Virtual FinanceDentists
Dental practices, principals and associates, balancing NHS and private income, incorporation decisions and equipment investment.
View dental accountantsDigital Agencies
Marketing, creative and media agencies managing project cash flow, contractor mixes, R&D and fast revenue growth.
View agency accountantsContractors & Freelancers
Project-based and personal-service businesses where IR35 status, salary-versus-dividend splits and clean records decide the take-home.
Speak to us about your contractingEcommerce & Retail
Online sellers and shops handling multi-channel sales, marketplace fees, stock valuation and the VAT rules that come with selling at scale.
Speak to us about your storeConstruction & Trades
Builders, subcontractors and trades under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), with deductions, verification and reverse-charge VAT to manage.
Speak to us about CISProfessional Services
Consultants, surveyors, solicitors and other practices where personal expertise is the product and the structure decides the tax.
Speak to us about your practiceHospitality
Cafes, restaurants and venues juggling tight margins, tronc and tips, mixed VAT rates and seasonal cash flow.
Speak to us about your venueIT & Software
Tech firms and SaaS businesses with R&D tax relief to claim, share schemes to structure and rapid scaling to fund.
Speak to us about your tech firmProperty & SPVs
Landlords and property investors running portfolios through SPV companies, weighing mortgage relief, CGT and the right ownership structure.
Speak to us about your portfolioCreators & Media
Content creators, production companies and media businesses with irregular income, royalties and a company structure to keep clean.
Speak to us about your creator businessCharities & Non-profits
Trustees and community organisations needing independent examination, restricted-fund accounting and clean governance reporting.
Speak to us about your charityDon't see your exact sector?
We work across far more than the headline names above. Tell us what you do on a free 15-minute call and we'll tell you straight whether we're the right fit.
Why sector matters to your numbers
A limited company in construction and one in software file the same core returns, but the things that move their tax bill are completely different. CIS deductions and reverse-charge VAT define one; R&D relief and share schemes define the other.
We start every engagement by learning your sector's specific pressures, then build the bookkeeping, tax planning and reporting around them. That is the difference between an accountant who files your accounts and one who actually improves your position.
What changes by sector
The same four service areas apply to everyone, but the emphasis shifts. Here is where sector knowledge earns its keep across the groups we serve most.
One regulated team, tuned to your trade
We're AAT licensed, an HMRC tax agent, a Companies House authorised agent and Xero certified. That regulated base stays constant. What changes is how we apply it: the reliefs we look for, the records we prioritise, and the deadlines we watch, all set by your sector.
Limited companies, directors, contractors and high earners
For directors and contractors, the decisions that matter most sit at the join between the company and the person: how much to take as salary versus dividends, how to clear a director's loan without an unexpected charge, and whether a contract falls inside or outside IR35.
- Tax-efficient profit extraction, planned annually around the company year.
- IR35 and personal-service company structuring for contractors and freelancers.
- High-net-worth personal tax across salary, dividends, investments and gains.
The aim is one coordinated plan, not a company return and a personal return that never speak to each other. That is where most money is quietly lost.
- Joined-up company and personal tax under one team.
- Corporation Tax planning with legitimate reliefs claimed in full.
- A clear, plain-English picture of your true take-home.
Dentists, pharmacies and professional practices
Clinical and professional practices mix income streams that behave very differently. A dental practice blends NHS and private fees; a pharmacy runs on NHS payments and contractor settlements with their own timing and reconciliation rules.
- NHS-and-private income split, modelled and reconciled correctly.
- Incorporation and associate structures for clinicians.
- Equipment and fit-out investment planned for the best relief.
Pharmacy is specialist enough that we run it through a dedicated sister practice, RX Virtual Finance, built around NHS payments, contractor settlements and cash flow for pharmacy directors, locums and pharmaceutical businesses.
- Pharmacy-specific accounting via RX Virtual Finance.
- Locum and associate tax handled cleanly.
- Cash flow and profitability built for the sector.
Agencies, ecommerce, construction, tech, hospitality and property
These sectors share one trait: the accounting has to keep pace with the trading. Agencies and tech firms grow fast and often have R&D to claim. Ecommerce carries marketplace fees, stock and multi-rate VAT. Construction runs on CIS. Property investors weigh ownership structure and CGT.
- R&D tax relief for agencies, software and innovative trades.
- CIS deductions, verification and reverse-charge VAT for construction.
- Stock, marketplace and VAT-scheme handling for ecommerce and retail.
Hospitality adds tight margins, tips and tronc, and seasonal cash flow. Property and SPV companies need the right structure from the start. In each, the Virtual Finance Office and Virtual Finance Director give growing businesses senior numbers without a full-time hire.
- Property and SPV structuring, with CGT and relief planning.
- Tronc, tips and seasonal cash flow for hospitality.
- Outsourced finance function and part-time CFO direction for scale-ups.
The expertise behind the sectors
Buhir Rafiq MAAT founded Total Books in 2009 and has spent 30 years in accounting and finance, with over 7,000 accounts, tax and compliance engagements behind him. That range is why the firm reads sectors as well as it does.
His own specialisms map directly onto the groups on this page: growing limited companies and their directors, independent pharmacies (through sister brand RX Virtual Finance), and owner-managers across professional services, agencies and trades whom he also mentors through Business Wales. He writes regularly on tax, Making Tax Digital and SME leadership.
You can read his full background, credentials and experience on his author and founder page.
Talk to a regulated accountant who knows your sector
Fifteen minutes with Buhir, no obligation. Explain what you do, and we'll tell you which services fit and what the fixed fee looks like.
The services behind every sector
Whatever your industry, the work itself comes from the same four areas. Open any service to see how it applies to you, or see them all on the services page.
Corporation Tax & planning
Returns, reliefs and R&D claims, planned around your sector.
Bookkeeping & Xero
Accurate, sector-aware records on a Xero-first stack.
Tax planning
Salary, dividends and profit extraction tuned to your situation.
Virtual Finance Office
Your whole finance function, plus part-time CFO direction.
Which service should your sector start with?
Four short questions. By the end you'll have a service to look at and a clear next step. Either way, the next move is a free 15-minute call.
Whatever your sector, the next step is the same
A 15-minute call with Buhir, no obligation. We'll tell you which services fit your industry, what the engagement looks like, and the fixed fee, on the same call.
Disclaimer: this page is general information about the sectors and clients Total Books Accountants Ltd works with. It is not specific advice for any individual situation. Tax, accounting and Companies House obligations sit with the taxpayer and the company directors. Please speak with us, or with another regulated accountant, before acting on anything on this page.
Why choose Total Books for your business?
By analysing your whole business and working with you to understand your needs, we can provide the best accounting solutions.
Flexible Payment options
Remove your tax worries
Professionals at your doorstep
Numbers that make sense
Trusted business relationships
Save time and stress
Our most frequently asked questions
Want to find out how we can help? Take a look at our FAQs to discover how we can improve your financial situation.
What tax do I pay as a Ltd company owner?
As a limited company director, it's important to be aware of your tax obligations. The most common limited company tax is Corporation Tax, which all limited companies must pay on their profits. You may also have to pay Income Tax and National Insurance on any salary or dividends you receive from the company. In addition, if your company has employees, you'll need to contribute towards their income tax and national insurance through PAYE. It's also worth noting that you may be liable for VAT if your business has a turnover above a certain threshold, as well as potential capital gains tax when selling business assets. Staying on top of these taxes can be daunting, but seeking professional advice can help ensure that you meet all of your Ltd Company Tax requirements.
Do Limited companies need an accountant?
When you first start a limited company, there's a lot to think about in terms of admin and organisation. One key question is whether or not to use an accountant. While there is no legal requirement to do so, there are many benefits to be gained from enlisting the help of a professional. Accountants can take care of your annual accounts, company tax returns, and tax registration for new companies. They can also offer advice on payroll, VAT and self-assessment. As a result, using an accountant can save you considerable time and stress. So if you're unsure whether to use one or not, it's worth considering the pros and cons.
Can an accountant help set up a limited company?
Accountants are trained professionals who are expert in managing finances. They can provide valuable insights and advice on how to save money and grow your business. Most accountants can also set up a limited company on your behalf, either for free if you appoint them as your accountant or for a fixed fee. This can be a great way to protect your personal assets from liability and manage your tax affairs more efficiently. If you're considering setting up a limited company, talk to your accountant first to see if it's the right move.
Can’t see your answer? Give us a call
Whether you are a new startup, existing or growing business our useful business guides will give you a peace of mind that our world of numbers does make sense.
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How To Prepare For Your Self-Assessment Tax Return – A Detailed Guide
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Speak to our expert local bookkeepers, accountants, VAT and taxation specialists.
Ready to take the next step? Let’s find an accounting solution that works for you. We’re here to answer any questions you may have.
