1st Cloud Accountants

What 1st Cloud Accountants does

1st Cloud Accountants is a UK-based firm of Chartered Certified Accountants operating from headquarters in Sunderland and a second office in South Shields, serving small and medium-sized businesses, sole traders, partnerships, LLPs, limited companies, landlords, e-commerce traders, and individuals across the UK. The firm was formed in September 2011 through the merger of Bibby Webb & Co and Steven Tuckwell accountants, rebranded in 2013 to reflect its cloud-first positioning, and integrated JC Accountants in 2025. It employs over 15 staff including two ex-Tax Inspectors, with dedicated three-person teams for payroll and bookkeeping and an AAT apprenticeship programme reporting a 96% retention rate.

The firm's core technology stack is a multi-platform cloud accounting suite spanning Sage (SageOne, Sage 50 Cloud, Sage 200), Xero, QuickBooks, KashFlow, FreeAgent, ClearBooks, Reviso, E-conomic and QuickFile, delivered through ISO 27001-accredited hosting and a Doc Safe-powered client document portal. Differentiated capabilities include remote computer support via LogMeIn Rescue, Companies House ACSP ID verification (in-person or via WhatsApp/Teams/Zoom), bespoke accounting products and e-commerce website builds via sister company ST Software Ltd, and proprietary MTD-compliant software covering OCR receipt capture, online timesheets, and digital tax submissions. The firm holds Sage Partner status (one of fewer than 200 UK practices since April 2012) and Sage 200 Suite Accreditation.

Revenue is generated through a blend of professional services billing (£30-£227/hour by grade, time-charged in 10-minute intervals), fixed-fee monthly retainers (£60-£750/month), unit-priced services such as payroll (from £10/run), self-assessment returns (from £195), company formation (£350) and company secretarial (£200/year), plus ACSP verifications and e-commerce builds. Customer acquisition is sales-led through two physical offices, free initial consultations, graduated new-client discounts, and a multi-channel digital presence, with notable brand reinforcement from six consecutive years (2018-2024) as a top-3 Best Rated Accountant in Sunderland and the 1st Cloud Arena naming rights at South Shields FC through summer 2026.

Name

1st Cloud Accountants

Legal name

1st Cloud Accountants Accountants & Business Advisers

Website

https://1stcloudaccountants.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

1st Cloud Accountants is a UK Chartered Certified accountancy firm serving SMBs, sole traders, landlords, and e-commerce clients from offices in Sunderland and South Shields. It operates a cloud-first model across nine accounting platforms with Sage Partner status and proprietary MTD and ACSP services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunderland

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Hourly Billing: Core accounting services billed at hourly rates ranging from £30-£227 per hour depending on staff grade (administration, trainees, client managers, payroll staff, bookkeeping, partners/directors). Time charged in 10-minute intervals. Includes 25% supplementary surcharge for work arriving within one month of annual statutory deadlines.
2. Fixed Fee Monthly Retainers: Fixed fee service ranging from £60-£750 per month, bundling all ongoing accounting requirements into one monthly fee fixed for one year. Designed as a modern alternative to hourly billing for comprehensive client service.
3. Payroll Services: Payroll bureau service with over 90 payroll runs on weekly, monthly or annual basis. Simple payroll starting from £10.00 per run.
4. Company Formation: Company formation and incorporation service at £350 plus VAT, including Companies House filing, HMRC registration, tax planning guidance, secretarial work and SAIL address option.
5. Self Assessment Tax Returns: Personal self assessment tax return preparation from £195 plus VAT per return. Over 550 returns completed annually making them one of the largest processing centres in the North East.
6. Sage Partnership and Software: Sage Partner offering software sales at 10% discount off RRP, installation, network setup, customisation, and training. E-commerce website development starting from £2,200 for build and training.
7. Onsite Management Accounts: Monthly or quarterly on-site visits preparing management accounts and delivering business advice starting from £500 per month for established and expanding businesses.
8. Outsourcing Services: Complete outsourcing including sales invoice preparation, supplier payment management, and debt collection starting from £400 plus VAT.
9. ACSP ID Verification: Companies House ID verification service as Authorised Corporate Service Provider. Prices from £80 plus VAT for existing clients, £120 plus VAT for non-clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

1st Cloud Accountants is a Chartered Certified accounting firm that delivers accounts production, tax planning, payroll bureau, bookkeeping, company formation and secretarial, VAT, CIS, and e-commerce/property specialist advisory to SMEs, sole traders, partnerships, and individuals across the UK. Service delivery combines certified advisor expertise across Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, and other cloud accounting platforms with a paperless two-office model, secure document portal, and remote computer support.

Product overview

1st Cloud Accountants is an award-winning firm of Chartered Certified Accountants based in Sunderland and South Shields, UK. The firm operates a cloud-first approach with certified advisors across multiple accounting platforms (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, KashFlow, FreeAgent, ClearBooks, Reviso, E-conomic). Their core offering combines traditional accounting services (accounts production, tax planning, payroll, VAT, company secretarial) with technology-enabled Hybrid Accountant Services featuring real-time connectivity and remote support. The firm provides proprietary MTD-compliant software tools for digital tax submissions, an ISO-accredited Client Document Portal, Companies House ID verification (ACSP), remote computer services, and e-commerce consultancy through sister company ST Software Ltd. Services are delivered via flexible pricing models including fixed-fee monthly packages (£60-£750/month) and traditional hourly billing, with new client introductory offers of 20% off in year one.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Accounting Services (Accounts Production and Financial Statements, Bookkeeping, Payroll, VAT, Corporate Tax Planning, Company Secretarial, Budgeting and Cashflow Forecasts) Core outsourced accounting services for UK sole traders, partnerships, LLPs, and limited companies covering statutory accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, corporate tax, and company secretarial work.
• Company Formation Complete UK company incorporation service including Companies House registration, director appointments, share capital setup, HMRC registration, tax planning guidance, and SAIL address option, priced at £350 plus VAT.
• Payroll Bureau Service Outsourced payroll processing with three dedicated staff operating over 90 payroll runs weekly, monthly or annually, with simple payroll starting from £10 per run.
• Self Assessment Tax Returns Personal self-assessment tax return preparation from £195 plus VAT per return with a 20-point final check, completing over 550 returns annually and positioning the firm among the largest processing centres in the North East.
• Bookkeeping Services Dedicated bookkeeping with three staff using Sage or E-conomic packages, with remote computer access, starting from £60 plus VAT per month.
• Sage Partner Services (Software Sales, Installation, Network Setup, Customisation, Training) Sage Partner offering including installation on networks, setup, customisation, system design, training, and Sage software at 10% off RRP for clients.
• Making Tax Digital (MTD) Software and Advisory MTD-compliant software and advisory including OCR reading, receipt capture, online timesheets, payslip software, and MTD submission tools, paired with implementation advisory.
• Companies House ID Verification (ACSP) Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) ID verification service for UK and overseas documents, available in person or online via WhatsApp, Teams, or Zoom, priced from £80 plus VAT for existing clients and £120 plus VAT for non-clients.
• ISO-accredited Client Document Portal Secure online client portal powered by Doc Safe, ISO accredited for safety and security, allowing clients to store, retrieve, and approve documents 24/7.
• Remote Computer Services Remote technical support using LogMeIn Rescue, enabling firm staff to log into client computers in real time to resolve bookkeeping and IT issues rather than waiting until year-end.
• Onsite Business Management Accounts Monthly or quarterly on-site visits preparing management accounts and delivering business advice, starting from £500 per month for established and expanding businesses.
• Outsourcing Services Complete accounts outsourcing including sales invoice preparation, supplier payment management, and debt collection, starting from £400 plus VAT.
• Fixed Fee Monthly Service All-inclusive monthly fixed-fee accounting service bundling all ongoing accounting requirements into a single monthly fee between £60 and £750, fixed for one year.
• Specialist E-commerce and eBay/Amazon Trader Services Specialist accounting and tax services for eBay, Amazon, and online platform traders, including VAT treatment of platform fees and bespoke accounting packages.
• Specialist Second-Hand Goods Retailer Services Bespoke accounting and VAT services for second-hand goods retailers including watches, antiquities, and second-hand car dealers, with stock book management and margin scheme support.
• Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) Services Specialist CIS tax return, gross contractor status, and contractor/sub-contractor status advisory for the construction sector, handling over 75 sub-contractor tax returns annually.
• Property Portfolio Planning Property portfolio structuring, rental income accounting, capital gains tax planning, principal private residence elections, and lettings relief advisory for landlords and property investors.
• Estate Planning and Retirement Strategies Estate planning, inheritance tax planning, business asset disposal relief claims, and retirement strategy planning for business owners and individuals.
• Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit Claims Preparation and submission of R&D tax credit claims for eligible UK businesses.
• Business Planning and Budgeting / Cashflow Forecasts High-quality business plans, budgeting, and cashflow forecasting services, starting from £300 plus VAT and typically taking up to one week to prepare.
• E-commerce Website Development and Bespoke Accounting Products (via ST Software Ltd) E-commerce website development, bespoke accounting products, and VAT consultancy for worldwide e-commerce trading delivered via sister company ST Software Ltd, including the corporation tax calculator.
• Company Secretarial Annual Service Annual company secretarial subscription at £200 plus VAT including SAIL address, annual return filing, and unlimited compliance work; one-off annual return available at £50 plus VAT.
• Tax Investigations and Tribunals Defence HMRC investigation and tribunal defence handled by two ex-Tax Inspectors on staff, including online trader investigations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded top of 3 Best Rated Accountants in Sunderland for 6 consecutive years since 2018
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.

• JC AccountantsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025JC Accountants merged into 1st Cloud Accountants in 2025. Team of Fiona, Sean, Julie, Henry and Ryan now integrated at Sunderland office. Full service transition including client records, GDPR compliance, and tax efficiency reviews.
• South Shields FCflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Stadium naming rights partnership since 2019 (renamed 1st Cloud Arena, continuing through at least summer 2026). Sponsorship stepped up significantly in recent years with additional networking opportunities and formation of business club. Association has led to trusted partnerships with other local businesses enhancing services delivered to client base.
• Sage (SageOne, Sage 50 Cloud, Sage 200)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2012Sage Partner status achieved April 2012 with less than 200 UK practices having this recognition. Certified advisors on all Sage accounting software including installation, network setup, customisation, and training. Clients can obtain Sage software at 10% discount off RRP through the partnership.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero Certified Advisor status. Cloud accounting partnership providing Xero software to clients, often free or at discounted prices.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership providing QuickBooks software to clients, often free or at discounted prices as one of the leading online accounting platforms offered.
• KashFlowsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationOnline accounting software partnership offering KashFlow to clients, one of multiple cloud platforms supported.
• FreeAgentsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnership offering FreeAgent accounting software to clients, one of the online systems providers with certified advisors.
• ClearBookssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnership offering ClearBooks cloud accounting software, one of multiple online platforms supported by the firm.
• RevisosecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnership offering Reviso cloud accounting software as part of the multi-platform approach.
• ST Software Ltd (Sister Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company dealing with advanced computer and internet-based services including e-commerce website development, bespoke accounting products, corporation tax calculator, and VAT consultancy for worldwide e-commerce. The partnership enables 1st Cloud to offer technology services including API integrations and custom app development.
• Doc SafesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationDocument partner powering the secure client document portal. ISO accredited for safety and security ensuring documents are always safe.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/staccountantltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/StAccountants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1st-cloud-accountants

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 1st Cloud Accountants