ICS Accounting
ICS Accounting is a UK-based accountancy and employment solutions firm serving contractors, freelancers, small businesses, landlords, and recruitment agencies via FCSA-accredited limited company, umbrella, PEO, payroll, CIS, and property accounting services built on FreeAgent cloud software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersLancaster, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What ICS Accounting does
ICS Accounting is a UK private limited company (ICS Accounting Limited, Company Reg No. 4380099) established in 2002 in Lancaster, providing accountancy, payroll, and employment solutions primarily to contractors, freelancers, small businesses, landlords, and recruitment agencies across the United Kingdom. Its operating perimeter spans Limited Company Accounting (supporting both inside and outside IR35 arrangements), a Contractor Umbrella Solution, a Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) offering, Outsourced Payroll, Business Accounting for SMEs, specialist CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) services, and dedicated Property Accountant packages for residential and commercial landlords.
The core technology backbone is FreeAgent cloud accounting software, in which ICS holds Platinum Partner status and was described as celebrating a decade of partnership in 2026. ICS packages FreeAgent access into its client subscriptions and supplements it with proprietary digital touchpoints such as the IR35 Hub, the free IR35 Role Assessment Tool, and the "ICS Switch" migration product. The business is not a software vendor; it is a regulated professional services firm whose differentiation rests on accreditations (FCSA across all four payment solutions, ACCA and CIMA Approved Employer, Cyber Essentials Plus, SafeRec Certified) rather than technology IP.
ICS generates revenue primarily through recurring monthly retainers from a base of 2,800+ cloud-accounting clients and thousands of umbrella employees (per its website and job postings). Disclosed landlord packages price at £145+VAT and £185+VAT per month, while contractor and small business packages are quote-based. Distribution combines a phone-led direct sales team, online self-service onboarding, recruitment-agency partnerships (a key channel for umbrella services), and a Refer-a-Friend program. The wholly-owned subsidiary ICS Umbrella Ltd (250+ employees per Gender Pay Reporting) hosts the umbrella employment arm and supports payroll processing on a multi-thousand-contractor base.
ICS Accounting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ICS Accounting
- Legal name
- ICS Accounting Limited
- Website
- https://icsuk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ICS Accounting is a UK-based accountancy and employment solutions firm serving contractors, freelancers, small businesses, landlords, and recruitment agencies via FCSA-accredited limited company, umbrella, PEO, payroll, CIS, and property accounting services built on FreeAgent cloud software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ICS Accounting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Accounting Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed Assets Accounting (Capitalization, Depreciation, Asset Register) (BPAAAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Independent Contractor Compliance & Classification (IC vs Employee) (BPACAGAA)
Keywords
Where ICS Accounting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ICS Accounting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Contractor Accountancy Services: Monthly retainer services for limited company contractors including IR35 support, company formation, VAT returns, payroll, annual accounts, and corporation tax returns. Supports both inside and outside IR35 arrangements.
- Umbrella Employment Services: Payroll and employment services for contractors working through umbrella companies. Handles payroll processing, tax deductions, pension, and statutory benefits.
- Landlord Property Accounting: Specialist property accountant services for residential and commercial landlords, including limited company formation for property businesses, VAT returns, and tax compliance.
- Small Business Accounting: Full-service accounting for small businesses including bookkeeping, annual accounts, payroll, VAT returns, and tax services.
- Outsourced Payroll: Cost-effective payroll processing services for businesses, handled by payroll experts with all filings completed before statutory deadlines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Complete Package - Full landlord accounting service for limited companies |
| Subscription | Monthly | Enhanced Package - Complete package with additional quarterly meetings |
| Other | Annual | Part Qualified Contractor Accountant Salary |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ICS Accounting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ICS Accounting provides accountancy, payroll, and employment services primarily to UK contractors, freelancers, small businesses, and landlords. Core offerings include limited company accounting (inside and outside IR35), umbrella employment solutions, PEO services, outsourced payroll, small business accounting, and specialist CIS and landlord accounting packages. Services are delivered on a recurring monthly subscription basis with dedicated account managers and direct accountant access.
Product overview
ICS Accounting offers a comprehensive suite of accountancy and employment solutions primarily targeting contractors, freelancers, and small businesses across the UK. The core portfolio includes Limited Company Accounting for PSC holders (supporting inside/outside IR35 work), Contractor Umbrella Solution for flexible employment, and PEO services. The offering is complemented by IR35 Hub providing contract reviews and a free role assessment tool, Outsourced Payroll, Business Accounting for SMEs, CIS specialist services for construction contractors, and Specialist Property Accountants for landlords with tiered Complete and Enhanced packages. ICS Switch enables PSC holders to migrate to umbrella employment without closing their existing company. The company operates as a cloud-based practice serving 2,800+ clients, leveraging FreeAgent accounting software as their primary platform partner.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Limited Company Accounting
- Contractor Umbrella Solution
- PEO Solution
- Outsourced Payroll
- Business Accounting
- CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) Accounting
- Specialist Property Accountants for Landlords
Quantifiable outcome
- Supporting thousands of contractors and freelancers with payroll and accounting services
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ICS Accounting
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ICS Accounting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
ICS Accounting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Lancaster and Morecambe CollegeminorEducational partnership supporting apprenticeships and career development. ICS Accounting participated in Apprenticeship Awards, represented career pathways, and offered work experience opportunities alongside other employers.
- Circular BenefitscorePartnership with HR platform leaders Circular Benefits to enhance Employee Benefits Portal. Built around four pillars: Salary Benefits, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle Discounts, and Reward & Recognition. Provides ICS Umbrella employees with 24/7 access to benefits including retail discounts, cinema savings, and hotel discounts.
- FreeAgentcorePlatinum Partner with FreeAgent, award-winning UK cloud accounting software designed for small businesses, freelancers and contractors. Partnership celebrated decade of collaboration in 2026. ICS Accounting provides clients with FreeAgent access as part of their accounting services.
- FCSA (Freelancer and Contractor Services Association)coreFCSA accreditation for all four payment solutions: Limited Company, Umbrella, Self-Employed CIS, and PEO. FCSA is the professional body setting standards for the contractor services industry.
- SafeReccoreSafeRec Certified umbrella company, providing independent compliance verification for the umbrella company market as part of government efforts to tackle non-compliance.
- Lancaster and Morecambe Chamber of CommerceminorActive member of local Chamber of Commerce, participating in networking events and industry discussions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ICS Accounting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dolan Accountancy: UK contractor accountants providing limited company accounting, IR35 support, and tax services; mid-tier competitor serving a similar freelancer and contractor customer base as ICS.
- JSA Services: UK accountancy and umbrella services provider focused on contractors and freelancers, offering limited company, umbrella, and CIS services in the same vertical as ICS.
- Brookson Group: UK contractor accountancy and umbrella provider serving limited company contractors with accounting, tax, and IR35 support - directly comparable to ICS's core limited company and umbrella offerings.
- 1st Choice Accountants: Mid-tier UK contractor accountancy firm providing limited company accounting, IR35 support, and self-employed CIS services to a similar SME and contractor client base as ICS.
- Giant Pay: UK umbrella company offering employment, payroll, and compliance services for contractors across multiple sectors - directly competes with ICS Umbrella on the umbrella payment solution.
- SJD Accountancy: Large UK contractor-focused accountancy firm offering similar limited company, umbrella, and IR35 services to contractors and freelancers, with a comparable target customer profile.
- PayStream (MyPayStream): UK umbrella company providing employment solutions for contractors and freelancers, including payroll, tax, and benefits; closely comparable to ICS Umbrella on the umbrella employment proposition.
- ClearSky Contractor Accounting: UK contractor accountancy specialising in limited company accounting and IR35 status assessments; comparable to ICS on the core PSC accounting proposition and contractor advisory services.
- Parasol Group: One of the largest UK umbrella and contractor accountancy providers, offering limited company, umbrella, and IR35 services to a similar contractor and freelancer base as ICS Accounting.
Broad incumbents
- Reed (Reed.co.uk): Large UK recruitment and workforce solutions group with adjacent accountancy/payroll services for contractors; broader incumbent operating across multiple service lines where ICS focuses narrowly on contractor accountancy and umbrella.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ICS Accounting social profiles
Digital presenceICS Accounting compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
ICS Accounting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ICS Accounting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ICS Accounting subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ICS Accounting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ICS Accounting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ICS Accounting
What does ICS Accounting do?
ICS Accounting provides accountancy, payroll, and employment services primarily to UK contractors, freelancers, small businesses, and landlords. Core offerings include limited company accounting (inside and outside IR35), umbrella employment solutions, PEO services, outsourced payroll, small business accounting, and specialist CIS and landlord accounting packages. Services are delivered on a recurring monthly subscription basis with dedicated account managers and direct accountant access.
Is ICS Accounting a public or private company?
ICS Accounting is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ICS Accounting founded?
ICS Accounting was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ICS Accounting based?
ICS Accounting is headquartered in Lancaster, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ICS Accounting make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Contractor Accountancy Services are the primary driver. The others are umbrella Employment Services, landlord Property Accounting, small Business Accounting and outsourced Payroll.
Who are ICS Accounting's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dolan Accountancy, JSA Services, Brookson Group, 1st Choice Accountants, Giant Pay, SJD Accountancy, PayStream (MyPayStream), ClearSky Contractor Accounting and Parasol Group. Reed (Reed.co.uk) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does ICS Accounting have an API?
No public API is recorded for ICS Accounting.
What industry is ICS Accounting in?
ICS Accounting's product category is Accounting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAAGAF, Fixed Assets Accounting (Capitalization, Depreciation, Asset Register), with a secondary code of BPACAGAA, Independent Contractor Compliance & Classification (IC vs Employee). Its NAICS code is 541211.