Expanding from AU to the UK?
We’ll help you with all the niggly details.
Take a shortcut to the UK
Thinking of expanding to the UK? How exciting! And also… busy.
But don’t worry. We’re here to help you with the specifics of setting up a UK company, accounting, tax and more.
You know – all the boring niggly details so you can focus on landing and expanding.
- Company set up
- Comply with UK law
- Accounting + tax
- Set price (no surprises)
- No lock in contracts
Startup founders ♥ Standard Ledger
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our clients have to say about working with us.
“Closing our £2.5m round with Octopus Ventures was a huge milestone for HealsGood AI. Standard Ledger were instrumental throughout the process – helping us stay investor-ready, manage due diligence and present a clear financial story. They brought real structure and focus, which made a complex raise feel controlled and achievable. Having that level of financial leadership on our side gave us the confidence to move fast and negotiate from a position of strength.”
Jack Henderson
“The grant application for the Australian Government’s Boosting Female Founders Initiative is an absolute beast of a process. I’ve really enjoyed working with John to secure it.”
Jeanette Cheah
“Standard Ledger’s fractional CFO services identified KPIs driving operational improvements, making us an attractive acquisition target. Strategic exit planning structured our finances to maximise returns, and negotiating the complexities of the sale process secured us a deal that recognised our full value.”
Peter Neal
“Standard Ledger saved us from trouble during our UK setup. They turned around crucial work in 48 hours, preventing fines. Having the support you can trust, who knows what they’re doing, means less stress and frees up a lot of mental space.”
Peter Cole
“Standard Ledger was incredibly helpful in reviewing and modelling our finances. Thanks to their support, we reshaped our strategy and identified areas for growth. We are now ready for expansion into new sports and markets.”
Iggy Jovanovic
“John and the team have really understood our R&D story from day one, and have always had a plan for it. We’re in the third year of working together now, and it’s been really great.”
Nadun Hennayaka
The only startup-focused Australian accounting firm, with a UK office?
Yes we are! (As far as we know.) And we’re happy to share our experience and connections where we can.
Set up your UK company
Company Set-Up
- ✓Standard UK company set-up
- ✓Companies House registration
- ✓HMRC registration
- ✓Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE registration
- ✓Standard Articles of Association
Company Secretarial
- ✓Stay on top of Companies House reporting obligations
- ✓Keep your Company Register updated as you grow
- ✓File share confirmations correctly and on time
Registered Office & Business Address
- ✓Get an official Registered Office address
- ✓Stay compliant with Companies House requirements
UK accounting services for Australian startups
Bookkeeping
- ✓ Standard Xero set up
- ✓ 1 hr Xero training
- ✓ Snap n send receipts / invoices / expenses
- ✓ Quarterly VAT
- ✓ Up to 100 transactions / month
Payroll
- ✓ Outsource payroll for 1–5 employees
- ✓ Set up, payroll, queries and departures
- ✓ HMRC compliance
- ✓ Pensions and National Insurance Contributions
Annual Returns
- ✓ Company tax return
- ✓ Financial accounts
- ✓ Income tax return
- ✓ Annual tax planning
- ✓ Tax return lodgement
Services in more detail
- UK company registration with Companies House*
- HMRC registration for Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE
- Standard Articles of Association
- Basic share structure
- Annual Confirmation Statement (CS01) preparation and filing
- Changes to company name, registered address, directors or business activities
- Share capital changes — SH01 filings, transfers and consolidations
- Maintenance of your five statutory registers, including the PSC register
- Deadline reminders for Companies House and HMRC filings
If you’re setting up a UK company from Australia, you’ll need a UK Registered Office address for Companies House and HMRC. This service gives you exactly that, without needing a physical presence in the UK.
This service includes:
- A UK Registered Office address for use with Companies House and HMRC
- An online mail management platform so you can view and action any mail received
We recommend using this address only for statutory correspondence — Companies House and HMRC letters that legally require a UK registered address. For everything else, use a separate service address to keep costs down.
Questions? Book a free call and we’ll talk you through it.
When you’re expanding to the UK, the last thing you need is your bookkeeping becoming a distraction. We run an outsourced UK bookkeeping service built to scale with you — starting lean and growing as your transaction volume does.
For most AU startups entering the UK market, our Launch Package is the right fit. It includes:
- Standard Xero set up
- 1 hr Xero training
- Snap n send receipts / invoices / expenses
- Quarterly VAT returns (the UK’s equivalent of GST)
- Up to 100 transactions / month
Xero subscription fees are payable directly to Xero. No lock-ins.
Questions? Book a free call and we’ll talk you through it.
Paying a team in a new country — with different tax rules, pension obligations and HMRC requirements — takes up more headspace than it should. Our UK payroll service takes it off your plate entirely, with a low per-person rate that scales as your team grows.
This service includes:
- Outsourced payroll for your UK team
- Employee set-up, payments, queries and departures
- HMRC compliance
- Pensions and National Insurance Contributions
No lock-ins. If you’re expanding beyond the UK, our full payroll page covers global payroll options too.
Questions? Book a free call and we’ll talk you through it.
UK tax compliance works differently to Australia — HMRC has its own rules, forms and deadlines, and it’s easy to get caught out when you’re also running a business. Our UK team has over 10 years of HMRC experience, so you’re in safe hands.
This service includes:
- Company tax return
- Financial accounts
- Income tax return
- Annual tax planning
- Tax return lodgement
No lock-ins.
Questions? Book a free call and we’ll talk you through it.
Need more help with tax or cash forecasts?
No problem. We can help you with all those tricky tax questions when expanding overseas, including tax residency, transfer pricing and more. And if you need forward cash forecasts to make sure you’re not stretching yourself too thin with UK expansion, we’re here for that too.
Frequently asked questions
Can Standard Ledger help me set up a company in the UK from Australia?
Yes, we can handle your entire UK company setup. We’ll register your company with Companies House and HMRC, set up your Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE registrations and provide standard Articles of Association. This costs £220 (plus government fees and VAT) and takes the administrative burden off your plate so you can focus on landing and expanding in the UK market.
Do I need a UK address to register my company?
You’ll need a UK registered office address to comply with Companies House requirements. If you don’t have anyone in-country, we offer a registered office service for £15/month (plus VAT and letter-handling costs). This includes a UK address you can use with Companies House and HMRC, plus an online mail management platform so you can choose what to do with any mail you receive.
What's included in your UK bookkeeping service for Australian startups?
Our Launch Package is designed for startups in their initial UK expansion and costs £185/month (plus VAT). It includes standard Xero setup, 1 hour of Xero training, snap and send for receipts/invoices/expenses, quarterly VAT returns and coverage for up to 100 transactions per month. There’s no setup fee and no lock-in contracts.
How much does UK payroll cost for a small team?
We charge £12 per person per month (plus VAT) for teams of 1-5 people, with a £100 setup fee. This includes setting up employees, processing payments, handling queries and departures, HMRC compliance and managing pensions and National Insurance Contributions. Like all our services, there are no lock-in contracts and the rate reduces as your team grows.
What's the difference between your company secretarial and registered office services?
Company secretarial (£25/month plus VAT) handles your ongoing compliance obligations – preparing and filing your annual CS01 form, managing changes to company details, maintaining your statutory registers and providing deadline reminders. Registered office (£15/month plus VAT) simply provides a UK address for Companies House and HMRC correspondence. Most startups expanding to the UK need both services to stay compliant.