Carthy Accountants

What Carthy Accountants does

Carthy Accountants is a Stafford-headquartered chartered accountancy practice founded in 2001 by Michael Carthy and currently led by Managing Director Rupert Carthy. The firm operates from a Grade II listed town-centre office and employs approximately 15 staff, serving predominantly owner-managed small and medium-sized businesses across Stafford and surrounding areas in the West Midlands.

The firm's core offering combines traditional compliance services — accounts preparation, tax returns, payroll, and statutory filings — with advisory work in areas such as R&D tax credits, management accounts, and business growth planning. On the technology side, Carthy delivers its services through a multi-platform cloud accounting stack, holding Xero Platinum Champion status alongside FreeAgent Silver and QuickBooks ProAdvisor certifications, with workflow automation and document handling delegated to those third-party platforms.

Commercially the firm runs a fee-for-engagement model typical of regional UK accountancy practices, with revenue generated per client across compliance cycles and ad hoc advisory work. The firm supplements technical delivery with a content and community layer — a YouTube series ("Business Success Conversations"), a regular newsletter, downloadable guides, and the proprietary Carthy Club networking series — and participates in referral networks including BNI and NetworkIN. The 25th anniversary (2026) is anchored to the "One Big Mission" charity campaign. The practice carries ACCA Approved Employer status and is a member of the ICAEW.

Name

Carthy Accountants

Legal name

Carthy Accountants

Website

https://carthyaccountants.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carthy Accountants is a Stafford-headquartered chartered accountancy practice, founded in 2001, delivering compliance, tax, payroll, and advisory services to owner-managed small and medium-sized businesses across the West Midlands through Xero, FreeAgent, and QuickBooks cloud platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting Services

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121), Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Payroll Services (541214), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412), Office Administrative Services (5611)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Accounting & Bookkeeping Services (BPAHABAC)

Keywords

• Accounting services
• Tax compliance
• Bookkeeping services
• Payroll processing
• Business advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Stafford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accounting and Advisory Services: Comprehensive accountancy services including business accounts, tax returns, bookkeeping, payroll, management accounts, and business advisory. Revenue generated through service fees for ongoing compliance and advisory engagements.
2. Business Planning and Coaching: Business planning sessions, accountability coaching, and strategic advisory services to help business owners achieve their goals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Carthy Accountants provides statutory and recurring accountancy services for small UK businesses, including preparation of business accounts, self-assessment and corporation tax returns, bookkeeping, VAT and CIS compliance, payroll processing, and company secretarial filings. The firm augments compliance with strategic advisory offerings such as management accounts, outsourced financial director support, cashflow improvement consulting, business planning, and accountability coaching, delivered via cloud accounting platforms including Xero, FreeAgent, and QuickBooks.

Product overview

Carthy Accountants is a Stafford-based accounting firm offering a comprehensive suite of compliance and advisory services for small businesses. The core offering centers on traditional accounting services including business accounts preparation, self-assessment tax returns, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, and company secretarial work. Built around cloud accounting platforms (Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks), the firm augments compliance with strategic advisory services such as management accounts, financial director support, and business growth planning. Additional offerings include business planning coaching, team workshops, and the Carthy Club networking events. The firm distributes thought leadership through a free e-book ('The Business Success Playbook'), a weekly newsletter, and a YouTube channel. The product portfolio is structured as a service-based model rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Accounts & Tax Preparation of annual business accounts, statutory filings, and corporation tax returns for limited companies and businesses.
• Self-Assessment & Personal Tax Self-assessment tax return preparation and personal tax planning services for individuals and sole traders.
• Bookkeeping, VAT & CIS Ongoing bookkeeping services, VAT return preparation, and Construction Industry Scheme compliance support.
• Payroll Services Full payroll processing, PAYE management, auto-enrolment pension compliance, and payroll reporting services.
• Advisory & Business Growth Strategic business advisory services focused on growth planning, profitability improvement, and financial decision-making support.
• Management Accounts & Financial Director Services Monthly or quarterly management accounts preparation and outsourced financial director support for strategic business guidance.
• Company Secretarial & Administration Companies House filings, statutory register maintenance, and company administration services.
• Cloud Technology Cloud accounting software implementation, training, and ongoing support using platforms such as Xero, FreeAgent, and QuickBooks.
• Partner Services Access to a network of trusted professional partners including solicitors, mortgage advisors, web developers, and business coaches.
• Cash Flow & Profit Improvement Meeting Consulting session to help clients understand cash conversion cycles, improve debtor days, and implement strategies to strengthen cashflow and profitability.
• Business Planning & Accountability Coaching Annual business planning sessions and ongoing accountability coaching to help business owners set goals, track progress, and achieve targets.
• Team Workshop Sessions Workshop sessions to identify team strengths and weaknesses, improve communication, and help business owners delegate effectively.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client grew from one-person company to 4 employees and 3 freelancers with consistent accounting support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero Platinum Champion Partner - certified expertise in Xero cloud accounting software with highest partner status level.
• FreeAgentcoreTechnology or IntegrationFreeAgent Silver Partner - certified expertise in FreeAgent cloud accounting software.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationQuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor - certified expertise in QuickBooks accounting software.
• Nowell Meller SolicitorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional network partner for legal services referred to clients. Part of wider professional network including mortgage advisors, estate agents, web developers, and call handling services.
• BNI (Business Network International)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember of BNI networking group in Stafford for business referral and lead generation.
• NetworkINminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember of NetworkIN networking groups across Staffordshire, attending multiple team meetings across the region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BDO UK: Major UK accounting and advisory network serving SMEs, mid-market, and large corporates. Comparable core compliance and tax services for SMB clients, but offers deeper advisory capabilities and broader geographic reach than Carthy.
• Mazars UK: Top-10 international audit and advisory firm with a UK SMB practice offering accounts, tax, and advisory. Overlaps with Carthy in service lines and SMB customer base but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Regional players

• UHY Hacker Young: UK chartered accountancy network serving SMEs and mid-market clients with audit, tax, and advisory services. Comparable SMB-focused service mix with regional office coverage across the UK.
• Bishop Fleming: UK regional chartered accountancy firm serving SMBs and mid-market clients with compliance and advisory services. Comparable to Carthy in target customer (small business owners) and service mix (accounts, tax, payroll, advisory), but operating across multiple offices in the South West.
• Moore Kingston Smith: UK chartered accountancy firm providing accounts, tax, payroll, and advisory to SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and not-for-profits. Comparable SMB service mix and client profile; larger scale with multi-office London/South East presence.
• Kreston Reeves: Mid-tier UK chartered accountancy firm serving SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and private clients with compliance and advisory services. Directly comparable service offering and SMB target segment; larger scale and multi-office footprint.
• MHA Moore and Smalley: UK Top-30 chartered accountancy group delivering accounts, tax, payroll, and advisory to owner-managed businesses. Closely comparable service portfolio and SMB focus; broader geographic coverage than Carthy via multiple UK offices.

Emerging players

• Coconut: UK fintech providing self-employed and small business accounting software with built-in tax tools. Competes with Carthy for the same sole-trader and SMB segment but via a software-led, productized model rather than consultative service.
• Countingup: UK digital banking and accounting app combining business current account with built-in bookkeeping and tax features. Targets the same SMB/sole-trader segment as Carthy with a low-friction, software-first proposition.

Direct peers

• 1st Accountancy: UK online accountancy firm serving freelancers, contractors, and small businesses with fixed-fee compliance and advisory services. Most directly comparable in service mix, SMB target, and pricing philosophy to Carthy, but operates nationally online rather than from a single town-centre office.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carthyaccounts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Carthyaccountantsuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/carthyaccountants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carthyaccountants
• Instagraminstagram.com/carthyaccountants

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Carthy Accountants