Accounting for Pet Professionals

Nurture Your Passion with Tailored Financial Expertise for Your Pet Care Business

Managing finances in the pet care industry, whether you’re a dog groomer, a dog walker, or another pet professional, requires careful attention to detail and an understanding of specific financial nuances. Here are some key steps and considerations for streamlining your accounting processes:

  • Business Structure: Consider the most suitable business structure for your pet care services. Whether you’re a sole trader or thinking of forming a limited company, each has its benefits and responsibilities.
  • Business Bank Account: Open a separate account for your pet care business. This separation simplifies accounting processes and enhances financial clarity.
  • Income and Expense Tracking: Maintain meticulous records of all income sources, including payments from clients and any additional services offered. Likewise, track all business-related expenses, such as pet supplies, equipment, insurance, and travel costs.
  • Receipts and Invoices: Keep all documentation related to business transactions. These are essential for accurate bookkeeping and necessary during tax season.
  • Accounting Software: Utilise software like QuickBooks or Xero, tailored for small businesses, to manage your finances effectively, ensuring precision in tracking income and expenses.
  • Tax Obligations: Stay informed about your tax responsibilities, including income tax and potentially VAT. It’s wise to seek professional advice to ensure compliance and optimise tax benefits.
  • Industry-Specific Considerations: For pet professionals, certain expenses and financial practices are unique. Understanding these can significantly impact your financial health.
  • Insurance and Liability: Given the nature of working with animals, appropriate insurance is critical. Ensure you’re covered for any potential incidents.
  • Professional Advice: Accounting in the pet care industry has its unique challenges. Consulting with an accountant familiar with the sector can provide invaluable insights.

Effective accounting is crucial for the financial health and compliance of your pet-based business. Staying informed about industry-specific regulations and tax requirements is essential, and professional guidance can help you navigate the complexities of managing your finances as a self-employed pet professional.

Why Choose Swan Books?

With over a 17 years of experience in providing accounting services to pet professionals, Swan Books understands the specific financial challenges and opportunities within this industry. Our clients, from dog groomers to pet sitters, have consistently praised our approachable, thorough, and tailored services. Our commitment to your success is reflected in our client testimonials and our consistent high ratings.

There’s a reason we have nothing but 5 star reviews on Google.

 
vanessa mar
vanessa mar
2025-07-01
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Second year in - Stacey truly is the best and amazing to work with. Her patience, warmth and clarity are unmatched. Extremely happy with the service!
Gary Butler
Gary Butler
2025-06-29
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After making the booking for a new customer enquiry the process and response from Stacey couldn’t have been better. Stacey was prompt with the return call, took the time to get to know my situation, was knowledgeable and very helpful with information and explaining the next steps. Looking forward to receiving the details for those steps and impressed with professionalism shown from the off.
Dani Avis
Dani Avis
2025-06-03
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I met Stacey as a networking event, and I am so bloody glad I did. She is so experienced, so knowledgeable and has helped me massively in such a short amount of time. Answered every question I have (which is a lot) because I generally had no idea what I had to do with tax’s with starting my own business. I feel so at ease now I have her as my accountant and recommend her highly to anyone and everyone!! Xx
Living With Leanne
Living With Leanne
2025-04-15
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Couldn't recommend Stacey enough for everything accounting! She is efficient, informative, supportive and trustworthy. She supports my small business and ensures that everything runs smoothly when it comes to submitting my tax returns which I am so grateful for! Thank you Stacey!!
Chloe Turner
Chloe Turner
2025-04-14
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
My first year working as self employed and Stacey has been so helpful and supportive, making my first tax year as a small buissness straightforward and stress free. Thankyou so much! ♡
Sam Davis
Sam Davis
2025-04-14
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Brilliant service from start to finish and would highly recommend, will certainly be using swan books for many years to come. Thanks
Emma Cook
Emma Cook
2025-04-09
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Stacey is the best accountant we have would definitely recommend her to anyone, she’s so friendly and very helpful and always there to help us . Thank you for your hard work xx
Emma Spencer
Emma Spencer
2025-04-09
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I have used Stacey’s services now for the past few years. She has been fantastic, always have a prompt reply with any queries. Highly recommend!
Ted Nellie
Ted Nellie
2025-03-28
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I own a preschool that Stacey has helped me to manage and completely turn around to become thriving when I wanted to give in. She is so personable and always very reliable and honest. I wish I had met her at the beginning of my business but thank goodness I have found her now. Thank you Stacey for being a breath of fresh air and making the accounts so understandable!!
Samantha Harvey
Samantha Harvey
2025-03-13
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Stacey is honestly the loveliest most informative person, I was completely clueless about everything and she has taken her time to explain things and reassure me on anything I’m unsure about. Thank you so much! Highly recommend x

Our Process

Initial Consultation

Understand your business, your challenges, and your aspirations.

Onboarding

Seamless integration with your existing systems, training provided if necessary.

Tailored Solutions

We propose a bookkeeping solution adapted to your unique needs.

Regular Check-ins

Periodic reviews to ensure your financials are on track and to address any concerns.

Year-End Finalisation

Ensure everything is aligned, compliant, and ready for HMRC submissions.

What Can Pet Professionals Expense?

For pet professionals, navigating through allowable expenses is key to maintaining a healthy financial status for your business. The HMRC guidelines allow for a variety of business-related expenses to be claimed. Here’s an inclusive list of such expenses:

Office and Administration

  • Mobile Phone: A percentage of your phone bill, based on its business use.
  • Use of Home: Claim for home office expenses if you manage administrative tasks from home.
  • Subscriptions: Fees for professional subscriptions relevant to pet care.
  • Printing, Postage, & Stationery: Costs for printing contracts, postage, and other office supplies.
  • Bank Charges: Monthly fees for business bank accounts.
  • Card Machine Charges: Fees associated with card payment processing.
  • Accountancy Fees: Costs for professional accounting services.
 

Travel and Transportation

  • Petrol (Actual Costs) or Mileage (Flat Rate): Fuel expenses or mileage claims for business travel.
  • Travel & Subsistence: Expenses for food and drink during business-related travel.
  • Large Purchases for Transportation: Claiming Annual Investment Allowance for assets like a van.
 

Marketing and Advertising

  • Advertising: Costs for website maintenance, business cards, and Facebook ads.
  • Branding and Uniform: Expenses for branded clothing and uniforms.
 

Workspace and Equipment

  • Rent and Business Rates: Costs associated with renting a space for your pet care business.
  • Equipment and Repairs: Purchase and maintenance of baths, scissors, shavers, etc.
  • Consumables: Expenses for shampoo, dog biscuits, towels, poo bags, and other pet care items.
  • Blade Sharpening: Specific costs for maintaining grooming equipment.
 

Clothing and Protection

  • Protective Clothing: Waterproof and other protective gear essential for pet care tasks.
  • Uniform: Cost of specific uniforms used for your pet care services.
 

Training and Development

  • Training Courses: Expenses for refresher courses (Note: courses to learn new skills are not typically allowable).
  • Publications: Costs for professional journals and publications relevant to pet care.
 

Insurance and Legal

  • Insurance: Expenses for professional indemnity, employers, and public liability insurance (Note: income protection insurance is not typically an allowable expense).
  • Legal & Professional Fees: Costs for legal advice and professional consultations.
 

Product Sales and Purchases

  • Purchases for Resale: Expenses related to items you sell as part of your business, like dog accessories.
 

Miscellaneous

  • Annual Investment Allowance: For large purchases over £100, such as equipment, that are classified as assets.
 
It’s important to maintain detailed records and receipts for all these expenses. When in doubt, consult with an accountant specialising in pet care services to ensure that you are maximising your allowable expenses and maintaining compliance with HMRC guidelines.
Stacey has been great from start to finish. She has explained everything helping me understand and put my mind at ease throughout the process. I highly recommend Swan Books for anyone looking for an efficient local accountant.
Stevie-May Cole
Island Paws Doggy Daycare Essex
Would highly recommend Stacey. She was super friendly in our initial chat and throughout my experience, put me at ease and answered any questions I had with quick response times. Will be using her services going forward without any worries!
Nicole Dryden
Pawfect Pooches Grooming

Our Pricing

At Swan Books, we tailor our pricing to fit your business’s specific needs. Our bookkeeping services ensure that your business finances stay up-to-date using leading cloud accounting software like Quickbooks or Xero. Whether you prefer monthly or quarterly updates, we keep you informed about your business profits consistently. We cover all areas of bookkeeping, ensuring thoroughness and precision.

The pricing for our bookkeeping services varies based on the volume of transactions each month. For a customised quote and a detailed breakdown, please contact us.

Registration

£ 45
00
  • Registration of you and your business self employment with HMRC.

Self Assessment Tax Returns

£ 250
00
Prices From
  • Preparation of tax calculation, preparation and submission to HMRC and financial statements
  • Prices may vary based on your business records. Please get in contact for a free consultation.

Bookkeeping

varies
  • Keeping your business finances up to date with cloud accounting software Quickbooks or Xero. Monthly or Quarterly updates providing you updates of business profits. All areas of bookkeeping undertaken.
  • Prices vary permitting to volume of transactions each month.

Books Clean Up

varies
  • If your accounts are in need of a tidy up and you want to upgrade your internal procedures for easier processes, you have come to the right place!
  • Prices vary client by client, please get in touch to discuss further.

VAT Returns

£ 175
00
Prices From
  • Quarterly VAT returns prepared and submitted with Making Tax Digital compliant software with all deadlines met.
  • Prices start from £175.00 per quarter

Power Hour

£ 65
00
Prices From
  • One to one power hour discussing your business accounting and how to make improvements to make your finances run more efficiently within the cloud software of your business alongside training on how to get the best of your software.

Payroll

£ 20
00
Per Payroll
  • All aspects of payroll processes ensuring all tasks are carried out by all deadlines and RTI compliant.
    - Weekly or monthly payrolls
    - Pension administration completed
    - RTI compliant with HMRC
    - Payroll year end service and reporting

Ready to take your business to the next level?

Book a Call