60–70% of UK SMEs Don’t Use an Accountant

There’s a statistic often quoted that 60–70% of UK SMEs don’t use a professional accountant.

At first glance, that might sound like reassurance.

You might think, "Well, most businesses are managing without one, so I probably can too."

But that raises a more important question:

Are those the businesses you want to model?

Do you actually need an accountant, or is software enough?

The Difference Isn’t Capability. It’s Mindset

With cloud accounting software and AI tools, it has never been easier to submit accounts.

So yes, many business owners can do it themselves.

But the businesses we work with at Carthy Accountants are not asking:

“How do I file my accounts?”

They are asking:

• “How do I improve profit?”
• “How do I reduce tax legally?”
• “How do I make better decisions with my numbers?”

That’s a very different conversation.

What Happens When “Saving Money” Becomes Expensive

We regularly see business owners who initially chose to manage things themselves.

One example stands out.

A business owner came to us, asked for advice, then decided to handle their own accounts to avoid the cost.

Three years later, they came back.

Not for growth support.
Because they had to redo three years of accounts.

We were able to fix it and even save them more in tax than our fees cost.

But they still paid in other ways:

• Time lost
• Stress
• Delayed decisions
• Incorrect records that couldn’t be removed

So the question isn’t just about cost.

It’s about what that decision is costing you long term

Software Is a Tool. Not a Strategy

Modern accounting software is powerful.

It gives you access to real-time data and can simplify processes.

But it doesn’t replace:

• Experience
• Context
• Commercial judgement

And it doesn’t tell you what to do next.

That’s the gap.

The Businesses That Grow Think Differently

The most successful business owners don’t look at accounting as an admin task.

They see it as:

• A source of clarity
• A decision-making tool
• A way to move the business forward

They don’t just want their accounts done.

They want to understand what the numbers are telling them.

So, Do You Need an Accountant?

That depends on what you want from your business.

If your goal is to keep costs down and meet minimum requirements, you may be comfortable doing things yourself.

But if your goal is to:

• Build a profitable business
• Make confident decisions
• Avoid costly mistakes
• Grow with clarity

Then working with the right accountant becomes a very different proposition.

Helping You Get The Business You Want

If you’re serious about growing your business, the question isn’t:

“Can I do this myself?”

It’s:

“Am I making the best decisions with the information I have?”

At Carthy Accountants, you get more than compliance. You get insight, direction, and support to help you move forward with confidence.

Get in touch and start building the business you actually want: https://carthyaccountants.co.uk/contact