Why choose us?
We have been advising successful local businesses for over 160 years and understand that all businesses are different. Whatever your budget or ultimate aims and ambitions the benefit of an accountant who is proactive and there when you need them is invaluable.
- Locally based accountants with experience in your sector and the challenges you face
- Proactive tax advice to help you keep more of what you earn
- Experts in cloud accounting software who can provide help whenever you need it
- Tax specialists to help maximise R&D spend and efficiently structure investment
- Experts in VAT, payroll, pensions and HR to provide advice at the right time
In addition, our unique firm of Financial Advisers Lovewell Blake Financial Planning work alongside your accounting and tax advisers to cover all aspects of pensions, strategic investment and shareholder protection.
As your business grows you will need experienced support to let you focus on maximising your potential. For those businesses structuring operations for a sale, getting the right advice early on can help you develop a market-ready saleable business. Speak to our Corporate Finance Team for bespoke advice which reflects your aims and ambitions.
Contact us to speak to one of our locally based accountants for a free initial meeting.

Different because you are
We pride ourselves in providing individually tailored services to our clients. Whatever your aspirations and priorities in business and life, we will be by your side with expert advice from local specialists. It is because your needs are unique, that the solutions we provide are distinct and personalised to you.
A good adviser will become a part of your business success, a sounding board, expert and trusted adviser to help you fulfil your potential.
- Advice led approach to maximise your business prospects
- Bespoke packages to fit your needs and budget
- Expert support, there when you need it
Your growth prospects will be challenging, you will need an adviser who understands your business from the outset and complements your team to maximise prospects, profits and opportunities
In addition to taking control of your compliance obligations we work with you to develop an advisory service right for you. There are many opportunities for tax efficiencies at the early stages of business and some simple advice can go a long way.
Our track record advising local businesses is second to none. We have the expertise to provide focused and dynamic advice whatever your size.

The team at Lovewell Blake makes sure that I never miss a deadline and give me peace of mind that my accounting and tax affairs are in order. This allows me to focus on running my business.
Download our New Business Kit to cover in detail everything you need to consider when starting up ion business:
We will complement your business as you grow and expand with our full range of diverse services. Get in touch to speak to one of experts.
Case studies

Timely intervention prevented our client paying £1000s in VAT
Careful planning ensured our client didn't fall foul to VAT legislation

IR35 appeals - a tale of two TV presenters
Former BBC presenter Christa Ackroyd has lost her appeal against a ruling that she was an employee, not a freelance contractor.
Key partners and staff
Brian Floringer
PartnerJames Shipp
PartnerJamie Norton
PartnerLeigh Thurston
PartnerMary Schofield
Partner
Philip Bartram
Partner
Ryan Lincoln
Partner
Shaun Mary
PartnerMark Chapman
ManagerFAQs
Do I need to register for VAT?
If your business is expected to turnover £85,000 of VATable turnover in the next 12 month period, you will need to register for VAT and start charging VAT on your supplies. You can reclaim VAT incurred on relevant expenditure and you pay the balance of VAT collected and recovered over to HMRC.
If your sales are standard rated for VAT, you will be charging an additional 20% of VAT on top of the invoice value. For customers who are not VAT registered themselves, this will make your invoices 20% higher. If your customers are VAT registered themselves (i.e. other businesses) they will be recovering the VAT themselves so your charges will not be higher.
If all or the majority of your customers are VAT registered, you may wish to voluntarily register for VAT even if your turnover is less than £85,000. You would then be able to recover VAT in your expenditure and as your customers recover any VAT you charge them, your invoices are effectively no more expensive.
Get in touch to discuss these options with one of our VAT specialists or local accountants.
Should I set up my business as a limited company?
When setting up in business, the structure you adopt is important. Limited companies are common but add a level of compliance to affairs which many small business owners can do without at the start of their business journey. In basic terms there are three things to consider and discuss with your accountant or adviser:
1. Cost - A limited company is a separate legal entity which has to prepare accounts and file a corporation tax return each year. As a sole trader your only compliance obligation is to prepare and file a personal tax return each year. As such, administering a limited company is likely to add cost to your overheads.
2. Tax - Limited companies pay tax on profits at 19%, extraction of profit can be done by salary, dividend or a mix. With the correct strategy there can be savings compared to a sole trader structure where tax and national insurance are payable on profits.
3. Risk - Limited companies provide a layer of protection as they are a separate legal entity. Whilst there are provisions to target Directors who behave recklessly, generally speaking the 'veil of incorporation' can offer legal protection to Director / Shareholders compared to unincorporated business structures.
Whether to incorporate will be a decision based on a balance of these three factors. Speak to one of our experts to discuss the best solution for you.
How easy is it to change accountants?
It is generally very straightforward to move to Lovewell Blake from another accountant. We will write to your previous adviser for professional clearance and also obtain copies of selected historic information such as last years accounts and tax references. We will then issue a letter of engagement and register as your tax agent direct with HMRC.
Which bookkeeping software should I choose?
Over the past few years we have seen the Cloud Accounting marketplace expand significantly and there are now numerous options to choose from. Popular names like Xero and Quickbooks have been around for a while now and are constantly being refined to reflect business need and consumer demand. SME's should definitely take a look at Xero which is extremely user friendly and simple to learn how to use.
For larger businesses with higher volumes of transactions and more complex functionality required, some of the established brands such as Sage are still leading the way. Our sector specialists can also help explain sector specific software options which may work better for your business if your accounts don't follow typical norms.
Our Cloud Accounting teams regularly run Masterclasses for those new to Xero or wanting to learn more about popular aspects. Check out our events for more information.
Related news

VAT filing changes in Xero
The original method of filing VAT returns in Xero is changing soon and we are assisting our clients to be ready for this.

National Lockdown - Furlough Scheme extension and other business support
Following the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s, statement on Saturday (31 October) it was announced that England is to enter a further National Lockdown from 5 November 2020, ending on 2 December 2020 at the earliest.

Making Tax Digital - the next phase
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT was introduced on 1 April 2019 for all business trading above £85,000 of taxable supplies, with an extension until 1 October 2019 for some businesses eg groups.