limited company accountant
Limited Company Accountants for Ecommerce Sellers
If your online store has grown past the point where sole trader feels right, moving to a limited company can save you tax, protect you personally, and make your business look more credible to suppliers and marketplaces. We handle the whole switch for Etsy, eBay, Amazon and Shopify sellers, from company formation through to your first set of accounts as a limited company.
Limited Company Support Built for Online Sellers
Incorporating isn’t just a Companies House form. It changes how you pay yourself, how VAT and stock are treated, and what you have to file every year. We handle all of it, not just the paperwork on day one.
Company Formation & Registration
We register your new limited company with Companies House and set you up for Corporation Tax with HMRC, so you’re trading legally from day one.
Sole Trader to Limited Company Transition
We handle the practical side of switching, transferring your VAT registration, updating marketplace seller accounts, and moving stock and assets onto the new company’s books correctly.
Corporation Tax Returns
We prepare and file your CT600 corporation tax return every year, claiming every allowable deduction your ecommerce business is entitled to.
Director Payroll & Dividends
We set up a tax-efficient split between salary and dividends, so you’re not paying more tax than you need to as a director.
Companies House Filings
Confirmation statements and annual accounts filed on time, every time, so you’re never at risk of a late filing penalty or being struck off.
Ongoing Bookkeeping in Xero
Your bookkeeping carries on in Xero exactly as before, just restructured under the new company, with your platforms and payment providers reconnected.
Incorporation Advice Built Around Ecommerce, Not Generic Business Structures
Most incorporation advice is written for consultants and freelancers with one client and one invoice a month. Ecommerce is different. Stock has to be valued and transferred correctly, VAT registration has to move across without a gap, and fulfilment costs from FBA or a 3PL affect the numbers in ways a generic accountant won’t factor into the “should I incorporate” decision. We work through the switch with your actual seller accounts in mind, not a template.
Why Choose Unicorn Accounting to Incorporate Your Ecommerce Business
SSwitching your business structure is a one-off decision with long-term consequences, so it’s worth getting right the first time. To make the transition seamless, we provide ecommerce-specific advice that factors in your actual platforms, fulfilment costs, and stock position rather than relying on a generic small business checklist.
Our company formation is priced as a single fixed fee agreed upfront, with no hidden extras once the paperwork is filed. You will also work with the same accountant before and after the switch; we handle your accounts as a sole trader and carry straight on once you’re a limited company, ensuring there is no handover, no re-briefing, and nothing falls through the cracks.
Furthermore, ongoing support is included, meaning your corporation tax, director pay, and annual filings are covered as part of your regular package
Incorporating Your Ecommerce Business, Step by Step
We keep the switch simple and make sure nothing about your trading gets interrupted while it happens.
Review Your Numbers
We look at your current profit, tax position and growth plans to confirm incorporating actually makes sense now, rather than in six months’ time.
Company Formation
e register your company with Companies House, set up Corporation Tax with HMRC, and guide you through opening a business bank account.
Migrate Your Accounts
We transfer your VAT registration, update your marketplace seller accounts and payment providers, and move your bookkeeping onto the new company correctly.
Ongoing Compliance
From here we handle your corporation tax returns, director payroll, dividends and annual Companies House filings as part of your regular service.
Common Mistakes Sellers Make When Switching to a Limited Company
Most of the problems we see with incorporation come from timing or gaps in the transition, not the decision itself. Incorporating before profit actually justifies the extra filing costs and admin. Forgetting to update marketplace seller accounts, so payouts still reference the old sole trader details. Leaving a gap in VAT registration during the switch. Taking all income as salary instead of a tax-efficient salary and dividend split, which costs more in tax than it needs to. We check for all of these before they become a problem, not after.
Fixed Fee Company Formation, Ongoing Support Included
Company formation is a fixed one-off fee, and ongoing limited company accounting is added to your regular fixed monthly fee based on your turnover and platforms. There’s no separate hourly bill for the switch itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I switch from sole trader to a limited company?
There’s no single figure that suits everyone, but many ecommerce sellers find it starts to make financial sense once profits are consistently above roughly £30,000-£40,000 a year, once the tax saved through a company structure outweighs the extra filing and accounting costs. We’ll run the actual numbers for your business rather than relying on a rule of thumb.
Is a limited company more tax efficient for ecommerce sellers?
Often yes, once profits reach a certain level, because a limited company pays Corporation Tax at 19% on profits up to £50,000 (rising on a sliding scale to 25% above £250,000), and you can then draw a mix of salary and dividends rather than paying Income Tax and National Insurance on everything as a sole trader.
How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
Companies House registration itself is inexpensive, but the real cost is getting the accounting, VAT transfer and marketplace account changes right at the same time. We quote this as a single fixed fee once we know your current setup.
Can I keep the same accountant when I incorporate?
Yes, and it’s usually the smoothest option. We handle your accounts as a sole trader and carry on seamlessly once you’ve incorporated, so nothing gets missed in a handover to a new accountant.
What happens to my VAT registration when I incorporate?
Your VAT registration doesn’t automatically carry over. We handle the transfer to your new limited company as part of the incorporation process, so there’s no gap in your VAT obligations.
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