Chartered accountants in Welwyn

We’ll Handle Your Accounts – You Focus on the Fun Stuff *
*Like Alpaca Walking 

A Trusted Expert – Friendly, jargon-free advice whenever you need it. Smart accounting, a personal touch, and absolutely no corporate nonsense.

Let's ChatNo-nonsense Services
Lorraine smiling while holding her laptop

I help small businesses and sole traders take control of their finances, so they can manage cash flow, plan ahead, and actually achieve their business goals—without getting lost in spreadsheets or tax deadlines.

Think of me as your financial co-pilot, making sure the numbers work so you can focus on growing your business.

Keep Cash Flow Flowing

Unpredictable income and unexpected expenses can sink a business. I’ll help you stay on top of your cash flow, so you always know what’s coming in, what’s going out, and how to plan ahead with confidence.

Tax? Sorted. No Stress, No Surprises.

From VAT to self-assessment, I make sure you’re compliant, tax-efficient, and never caught off guard by an unexpected bill—so you can focus on running your business, not worrying about HMRC.

Payroll Without the Pain

Hiring staff? Managing payroll? Navigating pensions? I take care of it all, ensuring your team gets paid correctly and on time while keeping everything fully compliant.

Smarter Accounting with Digital Tools

Spending hours on bookkeeping? I’ll help you move to cloud accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks, so managing your finances is faster, easier, and (dare we say it?) almost enjoyable.

*No pressure, no jargon, just a friendly chat about how we can help.

Business Accounting & Bookkeeping

Stay on top of your finances without the hassle. We handle the financial records, reporting, and compliance ensuring your accounts are accurate, up-to-date, and tax-ready.

Whether you need ongoing support or a one-off tidy-up, we’ll keep your numbers in order so you can focus on running your business—not your spreadsheets.

Sole Traders & Contractors

Running your own business is rewarding—but dealing with finances, tax returns, and HMRC compliance? Not so much. We provide straightforward, tailored accounting for sole traders and contractors, helping you manage cash flow, track expenses, and stay tax-efficient.

Whether you need help with self-assessment, tax or business growth, we make the numbers work for you—without the jargon or stress.

Personal Taxes

Tax doesn’t have to be stressful—we make it simple. Whether you’re an employee, landlord, pensioner, or have multiple income streams, we’ll ensure your personal tax return is accurate, compliant, and tax-efficient.

From self-assessment submissions to tax planning advice, we take the hassle out of the process, so you can avoid penalties, maximise allowances, and have peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of.*

Bolt-On: Bookkeeping * Payroll * CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) * VAT * Quarterly Management Accounts

* With Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax on the horizon, we also help you transition to digital record-keeping and compliant submissions, ensuring you’re ahead of the curve and ready for upcoming changes.

xero bronze partner cert advisor badges
Quick Book ProAdvisor
Quick Book ProAdvisor

Lorraine Marshall

Chartered Management Accountant, ACMA

We are a small team, headed up by Lorraine Marshall, based in Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
We do all sorts of accountancy stuff from the boring to the not-so-boring but all aimed at helping you understand what your business needs to keep on the right side of HMRC, saving you time and money in the process.
Our combined experience in finance means that we are well placed to cover all aspects of financial support.

Lorraine was efficient, professional and patient. Highly recommended. 

James

Lorraine, founder of LM Accounting sitting in front of sofa holding a mug

How It Works

A Simple, Hassle-Free Process

1

Chat & Discovery Call

We start with a friendly, no-obligation chat to understand your business, your challenges and how we can help.  No jargon, no pressure – just an opportunity to see if we are the right fit for each other.

2

Tailored Proposal

Based on our conversation, we’ll put together a clear, personalised proposal outlining the services you need and a fixed monthly fee—so there are no surprises.

3

Sign Up & Onboard

Once you’re happy, signing up is simple. We’ll get the paperwork sorted quickly so you can focus on your business while we handle the details.

4

Handover, AML & Software Setup

We’ll take care of all the necessary checks (AML compliance, HMRC authorisation, etc.) and help you set up any accounting software you need—making the transition seamless and stress-free.

5

Get Started!

That’s it! With everything in place, we’ll start managing your accounts, keeping your finances in order, and providing ongoing support whenever you need it.

*No pressure, no jargon, just a friendly chat about how we can help.

Happy Customers

Just a “Thank-you” for your help with my Italian affairs.  I felt quite lost when I got the letter from HMRC and so relieved when you offered to help.  Thanks so much. 

Rob

This is just a little note in appreciation of the professional help you have provided me over the years. 
Your diligence, helpfulness and advice enabled me to get on with building my business from scratch. 

Paul

A truly excellent accountancy service, Lorraine made being self-employed much less stressful.

Stephen

Despite your help Lorraine, I couldn’t find enough money to pay my taxes.  Tonight I am trying something else.

Guy Fawkes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I choose you over a big accountancy firm?

Because we offer more than just accounting—we offer a trusted partnership. You won’t get lost in a sea of clients or passed around different advisors. Instead, you get personalised, expert support tailored to your business, with clear communication and no hidden fees.

How much do your services cost?

We believe in transparent, fixed pricing, so you always know what to expect. After a discovery call, we’ll provide a tailored proposal with a fixed monthly fee—no surprises, no hourly rates, just fair pricing for the support you need.

Do you only work with small businesses and sole traders?

Yes, we specialise in helping small but growing businesses, sole traders, contractors, and landlords. Our focus is on offering bespoke accounting that adapts as you grow, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Can I switch to you from my current accountant?

Absolutely! We make switching accountants easy and hassle-free. We’ll handle the entire process, including requesting the necessary information from your previous accountant—so you don’t have to deal with any awkward breakups.

What accounting software do you use?

We work with Xero and QuickBooks both cloud-based accounting platforms. If you’re new to digital accounting, we can get you set up and show you how to make the most of it.

Will you remind me about deadlines?

Yes! We proactively manage deadlines for tax returns, VAT, and payroll, so you never have to worry about missing them. No more last-minute panics!

Do I need to be local to work with you?

Not at all. We work with clients across the UK, and most of our services can be handled online. But if you’re local and fancy a coffee (or an alpaca chat), we’re always happy to meet in person.

How do I get started?

Simple! Just book a free discovery call, and we’ll chat about your business, what you need, and how we can help. From there, we’ll send you a tailored proposal and get everything set up smoothly.

What’s New in Accounting?

August 2024 – Tax update

August 2024 – Tax update

Use tax-free childcare account to pay for summer holiday clubs Tax-Free Childcare accounts can be used to pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or 16 if the child has a disability. This can include paying for a summer holiday club or...

read more
Budget date announced

Budget date announced

The State Opening of Parliament took place on 17 July and the King’s Speech set out the measures that the government intends to introduce during the next session of parliament. Other than a mention of the proposal to remove the VAT exemption for private school fees...

read more
Beware the 60% income tax trap

Beware the 60% income tax trap

It has recently been reported over half a million taxpayers paid a marginal income tax rate of 60% in 2022/23, up by 23% from the number in 2021/22. This marginal rate applies where an individual’s adjusted net income falls between £100,000 and £125,140, where every...

read more

The best businesses don’t wait until they’re drowning in financial chaos to get help—they plan ahead.

Let’s make your finances work for you, not against you.

*No pressure, no jargon, just a friendly chat about how we can help.