If you’re a creative professional, you’ve probably wondered at some point whether you actually need an accountant – or if it’s something you can put off until later.
Key Takeaways
- Creatives do not always need an accountant at the start, but many reach a point where managing finances alone becomes risky or time-consuming.
- Most creative professionals benefit from an accountant once income becomes irregular, multiple income streams appear, or HMRC requirements increase.
- Specialist accountants for creatives understand irregular income, creative expenses, and industry-specific tax rules better than general accountants.
- A creative accountant helps with bookkeeping, tax returns, VAT, tax planning, and ongoing financial management.
Table of contents
- 1. What needing an accountant actually means for creatives?
- 2. When creatives usually don’t need an accountant yet
- 3. The point where most creative professionals do need an accountant
- 4. Why creatives benefit from specialist accountants?
- 5. What a creative accountant actually helps you with
- 6. Is hiring an accountant worth it for creative businesses?
- 7. Final thoughts on creative accountants
1. What needing an accountant actually means for creatives?
For creatives, needing an accountant doesn’t mean you’ve failed at managing your finances. It just means your creative work has moved beyond something simple and predictable.
An accountant helps you:
- stay compliant with HMRC
- manage irregular income
- handle bookkeeping
- tax returns.
Accountants make sure you’re not paying more tax than you need to.
For many creative professionals, it’s less about maths and more about reducing risk, stress, and wasted time as your creative business grows!
2. When creatives usually don’t need an accountant yet
Let’s be honest: there are stages where a creative professional can manage without an accountant, as long as things stay simple and well organised.
You may not need an accountant yet if:
- Your creative income is low and fairly predictable
- Your work is closer to a hobby than a full creative business
- You have a single income stream and no side projects
- You are not VAT registered and nowhere near the threshold
- Your bookkeeping is up to date and easy to manage
- You’re comfortable filing a basic self-assessment tax return
At this stage, simple accounting software and good habits can be enough
3. The point where most creative professionals do need an accountant
For many creatives, the need for an accountant shows up as friction rather than a single clear moment. Things stop feeling simple, even if income hasn’t dramatically increased.
You’ll usually benefit from an accountant if:
- Your income is irregular or changes month to month
- You have multiple income streams from different creative work
- You’re freelancing alongside employment
- You’re approaching or have crossed the VAT threshold
- You’ve fallen behind on bookkeeping or paperwork
- You’re unsure what you can legitimately claim as business expenses
- You’re worried about getting something wrong with HMRC
- Managing finances is taking time away from your creative work
At this stage, the question isn’t really about you going alone, but whether doing so is costing you money, time, or peace of mind.
4. Why creatives benefit from specialist accountants?
Creative work comes with financial quirks that don’t fit neatly into standard accounting templates.
Specialist accountants for creatives add real value. Not by doing “extra” accounting, but by understanding the nature of creative businesses from the start.
Accountants understand creative income and irregular cash flow
Creatives deal with uneven income, project-based work, retainers, royalties, or multiple clients.
A specialist creative accountant knows how to manage irregular income without causing cash flow or tax payment problems.
Knowing the creative industries, not just the numbers
Accountants for creatives work with artists, freelancers, and creative companies regularly.
This means they understand how creative work is structured and how creative businesses actually operate.
They know what creative businesses can claim as expenses
From software and equipment to studio space and professional costs, creative industry accountants understand which business expenses are allowable and how to claim them correctly.
Using creative industry tax rules properly
Some tax rules and reliefs affect the creative sector differently.
An accountant who understands creative industries can apply tax law in a way that fits your work, rather than forcing it into a generic model.
Staying compliant with HMRC
Specialist accountants help creative professionals stay compliant with HMRC while avoiding unnecessary stress, late filings, or unexpected tax liabilities.
Clarity and peace of mind for creatives
Instead of guessing if you’re doing things right, you know your accounting and tax are being handled by someone who understands creative work and creative businesses.
5. What a creative accountant actually helps you with
A creative accountant’s role goes far beyond submitting a tax return once a year.
The right accountant supports your creative business throughout the year!
Bookkeeping that reflects creative work
A specialist accountant keeps your bookkeeping accurate and up to date, with all the invoices, expenses, and creative income – without overcomplicating things.
Self-assessment and tax returns
For freelancers and creative professionals, an accountant prepares and submits your Self-Assessment tax return correctly.
Reduce the risk of errors, HMRC penalties, or missed deductions.
VAT advice and VAT returns
If you’re VAT registered or approaching the threshold, a creative accountant helps you understand when to register for VAT, how to manage VAT, and how to submit accurate VAT returns.
Tax planning and managing tax liabilities
Rather than reacting at the last minute, a specialist accountant helps you plan ahead for tax payments, manage cash flow, and avoid unexpected bills.
Limited company and Corporation Tax support
For creative businesses operating as limited companies, an accountant handles:
- Corporation Tax
- Statutory accounts
- compliance
while advising on the most tax-efficient structure.
Ongoing financial management and advice
Not all accountants for the creative industries does this, but WallsMan Creative provides ongoing financial management and advice. If you’re communicating with us, we’ll find a ways to support you.
6. Is hiring an accountant worth it for creative businesses?
For many creatives, hiring an accountant becomes worthwhile once finances start feeling stressful or unclear.
Don’t worry about the cost! That is often offset by saved tax, fewer mistakes, and time freed up to focus on creative work.
More than anything, it gives you confidence that your business is compliant and being handled properly.
7. Final thoughts on creative accountants
WallsMan Creative has over 10 years of experience working exclusively with the creative sector, supporting freelancers, artists, agencies, and creative businesses across the UK.
Because we focus only on creative industries, we understand the realities, pressures, and financial quirks that come with creative work.
You can see this reflected in our Google reviews and the results we deliver for creative clients.
If you want a clearer picture of how we think and work, browse our blog for practical insights built around real creative businesses.
