Danbro

What Danbro does

Danbro is a UK-based, privately-held professional services firm founded in 1999 by Helen and Damian Broughton, headquartered in Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire. The company provides specialist accountancy, umbrella employment, payroll, Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), and financial planning services to over 7,500 clients nationwide, employing 160+ staff. Its core products fall into five operating divisions: Danbro Accounting (contractor and limited company accountancy), Danbro Umbrella (employment solutions for contractors), Danbro Business Solutions (accountancy for SMEs, franchises, and start-ups), Danbro Financial Planning (wealth management, mortgages, and pensions), and Danbro International (Employer of Record services). The company also operates acquired subsidiaries including Trafalgar Workforce Solutions, Higsons, Graham Wood, and Black Diamond Accounting Services.

The technology stack is built on integrations with third-party cloud accounting platforms (FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks) and a proprietary client portal (OnePortal) for timesheets, payslips, and expense management. The company maintains direct HMRC integration for Self-Assessment filing, PAYE processing, and CIS compliance. Danbro holds dual FCSA accreditation (Accountancy and Umbrella), ISO 9001 certification, Cyber Essentials certification, and Investors in People Gold status, and is a FreeAgent Platinum Partner and BFA Adviser Member.

The business model is multi-stream and primarily recurring: monthly subscription fees for accountancy services (starting from £100 + VAT per month), per-timesheet margins on umbrella employment transactions, fixed one-time fees for CIS tax refunds and Self-Assessment returns, and professional services fees for financial planning advice. Go-to-market is distributed across online self-service portals, inside sales, dedicated account managers for recruitment agencies, and a multi-domain web presence spanning five distinct brand properties. Pricing is transparent with no hidden fees. The company operates 200,000+ contractor payments annually and is free of external institutional investment, remaining entirely founder-owned by the Broughton family.

Name

Danbro

Legal name

Danbro Holdings Ltd

Website

https://danbro.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Danbro is a UK-based, privately-held accountancy firm founded in 1999 that provides specialist accountancy, umbrella employment, payroll, CIS, and financial planning services to over 7,500 contractor, SME, and individual clients nationwide, operating through multiple subsidiaries from its Lancashire headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting & Payroll Services

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Payroll Services (541214)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Agent of Record (AOR) / Contractor Engagement Services (BPACAGAB)

Keywords

• Contractor accountancy services
• Umbrella employment solutions
• Business accountancy services
• CIS tax refunds
• Financial planning advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Lytham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contractor & Business Accountancy Services: Monthly recurring subscription fees for accountancy services including bookkeeping, tax returns, tax planning, and business insurance. Plans starting from £100 plus VAT per month for accountancy services. Self-Assessment tax returns offered as fixed one-time fees.
2. Umbrella Employment Margin: Revenue generated from margins charged per timesheet processed. Contractors pay only the margin when work is processed - no setup charges, no extra margins or hidden clauses. The margin is the primary revenue stream for umbrella employment services.
3. Financial Planning Services: Independent financial advice including wealth management, mortgage brokerage, insurance & protection advice, retirement & estate planning, and support with pensions & investments.
4. CIS Tax Refunds: One-time service for Construction Industry Scheme subcontractors to claim back overpaid tax. Fixed-rate fee upon completion of CIS tax return.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Danbro is a UK-based specialist accountancy firm providing contractor accounting, business accountancy, umbrella employment, CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) tax refund services, payroll administration, and independent financial planning services. The firm combines cloud-based accounting software (FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks) with proprietary client portals and direct HMRC integration to deliver tax compliance, payroll processing, and financial advisory services to contractors, SMEs, franchises, recruitment agencies, and individuals.

Product overview

Danbro is a unified platform offering specialist accountancy, payroll, umbrella employment, CIS (Construction Industry Scheme), and financial planning services. The core product suite includes Danbro Umbrella Employment (providing employment benefits for contractors), Danbro Contractor Accounting (for contractors and limited company directors), and Danbro Business Accountancy (for SMEs and franchises). Additional services encompass CIS Tax Refunds, Self-Assessment Tax Returns, Tax Investigation Protection, Agency Services, Financial Planning, and International EOR. The portfolio serves contractors, businesses, construction workers, and individuals across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Umbrella Employment UK's premier provider of umbrella employment solutions, combining the freedom and flexibility of contracting with the security and benefits of employment. Provides statutory payments, holiday pay, and a private pension scheme to contractors through recruitment agencies and direct engagement.
• Contractor Accounting Specialist accounting services for contractors and limited company directors including bookkeeping, tax returns, tax planning, business insurance, and account submissions. Plans start from £100 plus VAT per month.
• Business Accountancy Award-winning business accounting specialist service for start-ups, SMEs, franchises, and the self-employed. Includes franchise accountancy, landlord and buy-to-let accountancy, start-up support, and outsourced finance and payroll.
• CIS Tax Refund Construction Industry Scheme tax refund service for CIS subcontractors to claim back overpaid tax. Offered as a one-time service with a fixed-rate fee upon completion of the CIS tax return.
• CIS Scheme (CIS-Compliant Umbrella) CIS-compliant umbrella company services with all necessary insurances for construction industry subcontractors operating under the Construction Industry Scheme.
• Agency Services Umbrella, payroll, and Personal Service Company solutions for recruitment agencies and end clients with dedicated account managers. Includes streamlined onboarding and efficient payment processing for agencies placing contractors.
• Financial Planning Independent financial advice including wealth management, mortgage brokerage, insurance and protection advice, retirement and estate planning, and pension and investment support for contractors, business owners, and individuals.
• International Employer of Record (EOR) Employer of Record service enabling businesses to expand into new markets and place talent anywhere in the world, handling international employment, payroll, and compliance on behalf of client companies.
• Self-Assessment Tax Returns Self-Assessment tax return service for contractors, tradies, landlords, and limited company owners, completed on their behalf by Danbro's tax team. Fixed-rate one-off fee from £195 + VAT with no hidden charges.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ contractor payments processed annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Operation OrphancoreOthersInternational charity partnership through the Danbro Foundation. The foundation formally supports Operation Orphan, a charity dedicated to protecting vulnerable children in the UK and internationally. CP Walker & Son was inspired by Danbro's model to commit long-term funding to Operation Orphan.
• Home-StartcoreOthersThe Danbro Foundation donated £1,500 to Home-Start: Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre, funding the cost of supporting one local family for 12 months. Home-Start focuses on generating lasting development amongst parents and children.
• Street AngelsminorOthersLocal community safety charity partnership working alongside the Danbro Foundation. Street Angels is a community-based organization supported by Danbro's charitable efforts.
• Aspired FuturesminorOthersLocal charity partnership supported by the Danbro Foundation as part of their community outreach initiatives.
• FreeAgentcoreTechnology or IntegrationDanbro is a FreeAgent Platinum Partner - the highest partnership tier. FreeAgent cloud accounting software is offered to clients for managing finances on the move, with Danbro providing integrated accountancy support.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero accounting software integration available for accountancy clients. Part of Danbro's multi-software approach offering clients choice of accounting platforms.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationQuickBooks accounting software integration available for accountancy clients. Part of Danbro's supported accounting platform ecosystem.
• HMRCcoreTechnology or IntegrationDirect integration with HMRC systems for Self-Assessment filings, PAYE processing, and Construction Industry Scheme compliance. Danbro's tax team deals with HMRC directly to complete client tax returns.
• UberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partnership offering Danbro Umbrella clients 12 months FREE Uber One membership. New umbrella employees receive up to 10% Uber Cash back on rides, FREE delivery on eligible Uber Eats orders, and exclusive promos and discounts.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDanbro client Get Work announced partnership with Google to provide a fully automated lead generation service for UK tradespeople. The innovative service launched nationwide enabling tradesmen and women to get job leads via Google Ads.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orange Genie: UK umbrella, accountancy and financial services provider offering contractor accountancy, umbrella employment, CIS and mortgage services to the same contractor and small business segments as Danbro.
• SJD Accountancy: One of the UK's largest contractor-only accountancy firms, offering limited company accountancy, IR35 advice, tax planning and umbrella services to a similar contractor and limited company director audience.
• Nixon Williams: Specialist UK contractor accountants serving limited company contractors with accountancy, tax, IR35 and compliance services — overlapping significantly with Danbro Accounting.
• ClearSky Accounting: UK specialist contractor accountants providing accountancy, tax, IR35 and advisory services to contractors and limited company directors — directly comparable customer base and service mix.
• Brookson Group: UK-based specialist contractor accountants and umbrella provider with a comparable service stack including accountancy, umbrella, CIS and financial services for the freelance/contractor market.
• JSA (James Smith Accountants): UK contractor and freelancer accountants and umbrella services provider offering limited company accountancy, umbrella, CIS and IR35 services to the same contractor segments.
• Dolan Accountancy: UK contractor and small business accountancy firm offering bookkeeping, tax returns, payroll and CIS services to a comparable freelance, contractor and SME audience.
• Giant Group: UK-based umbrella, accountancy and payroll provider serving contractors and recruitment agencies with similar core offerings including PSC accountancy, umbrella employment and CIS solutions.
• PayStream (now part of OneAdvanced): UK umbrella company and payroll provider offering umbrella employment, limited company accountancy services, CIS and contractor financial services — directly comparable to Danbro's umbrella and accountancy offering.
• Parasol Group: One of the UK's largest umbrella employment and contractor accountancy providers. Closely comparable to Danbro across umbrella, accountancy, CIS and IR35 services, serving the same contractor and recruitment agency customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/danbroltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/danbropage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danbro
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedanbrogroup

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries13 records

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 Danbro