STYLES & ASSOCIATES
ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES
Serving businesses in Alton, and throughout Hampshire
Outsourced Bookkeeping Services in Alton and Hampshire
Styles & Associates is an Alton-based accountancy firm providing outsourced bookkeeping for sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and growing businesses across Hampshire and Surrey. Our AAT-qualified bookkeepers keep your records accurate and up to date in Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, so your VAT returns, payroll and year-end accounts are ready when you need them.
Call 01420 541 554 or book a free consultation. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
What does an outsourced bookkeeper do?
An outsourced bookkeeper records and reconciles your business transactions on your behalf, using cloud accounting software. We handle the day-to-day record keeping, so you don't have to, and you can see your figures at any time.
Typical tasks include:
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Recording sales invoices and supplier bills
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Bank reconciliation, matching bank statements to the general ledger
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Chasing and allocating customer payments
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Recording loan repayments and monitoring asset depreciation
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Processing payroll, including pay calculations and deductions
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Preparing monthly financial reports
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Preparing your books for VAT returns and year-end accounts
We tailor the scope to your business. A sole trader may only need monthly reconciliations, while a limited company may want weekly processing, payroll and management reporting.
Who is our bookkeeping service for?
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Sole traders and the self-employed who want their records ready for Self Assessment
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Limited companies and partnerships needing accurate books for statutory accounts and Corporation Tax
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VAT-registered businesses that need clean records for quarterly VAT returns
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Growing SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheets or a shoebox of receipts
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Larger businesses needing consistent, scalable ledger management
Which accounting software do we work with?
We work in the cloud accounting platforms you already use, including Xero, QuickBooks, Sage 50 and Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) for receipt and bill capture. Your records stay in your own software account, so you always have full access and ownership of your data.
Styles & Associates is a Xero Partner. Read about our Xero partnership.
What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of financial transactions. Accounting is the analysis and reporting built on those records, covering year-end accounts, tax, forecasting and advice.
The two depend on each other. Without accurate bookkeeping, an accountant cannot prepare reliable accounts or tax returns. Because we provide both under one roof, your bookkeeper and accountant work from the same records, with no handovers and no duplicated work. See our full range of accountancy services.
How much does outsourced bookkeeping cost?
Bookkeeping fees depend on transaction volume, whether payroll or VAT is included, and how often you want updates. We quote a fixed fee up front.
Why use double-entry bookkeeping?
Double-entry bookkeeping records every transaction as a debit and an equal, matching credit. It is the standard method for business accounting. Because the totals must always balance, it produces more reliable reports and makes errors and fraudulent entries easier to spot.
What records do you need to keep?
Every transaction should have supporting evidence, such as sales invoices, supplier bills, receipts and bank statements. This creates a complete audit trail, which makes HMRC enquiries, audits and year-end accounts faster and cheaper to deal with.
Making Tax Digital and your bookkeeping
HMRC's Making Tax Digital rules require VAT-registered businesses to keep digital records and submit returns using compatible software, and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being phased in for sole traders and landlords by income level. We keep your records in MTD-compatible software and submit your VAT returns and quarterly updates for you.
Local bookkeeping across Hampshire and Surrey
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We provide bookkeeping from our Alton office and work with businesses across Hampshire and Surrey.
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Book a free consultation: call 01420 541 554 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), email info@stylesandassociates.co.uk, or contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bookkeeper if I use Xero or QuickBooks?
Software automates data capture, but it doesn't check categorisation, reconcile exceptions or spot errors. A bookkeeper makes sure the numbers are right and you stay compliant.
Can you take over my existing bookkeeping?
Yes. We review your current records and bring everything up to date before moving to regular bookkeeping.
Do you handle payroll as well?
Yes. We can calculate pay and deductions as part of your bookkeeping package.
Do you work with sole traders as well as limited companies?
Yes. We support sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and larger corporations.
Are your bookkeepers qualified?
Our team includes AAT-qualified bookkeepers.
Do you work with businesses outside Alton?
Yes. We work with businesses across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, including Farnham, Guildford, Basingstoke, Winchester, Petersfield and Portsmouth, and we work remotely with clients anywhere in the UK.