Joinery, Carpentry & Shopfitters – Limited Companies

Specialist accounting for joinery workshops, carpentry firms and shopfitting companies trading through a UK limited company.

Who this is for

This package is tailored for limited companies whose core work is:

  • Joinery workshops making doors, windows, staircases and bespoke items
  • Carpenters fitting kitchens, wardrobes, flooring and internal finishes
  • Shopfitters working on commercial units, cafés, salons and retail refits
  • Small teams providing a mix of workshop fabrication and on-site installation

Typical income and jobs

  • Bespoke joinery commissions – one-off items, heritage work, made-to-measure pieces
  • Kitchen and bedroom installations – supply and fit or labour-only contracts
  • Shopfitting projects – complete fit-outs, counters, displays and signage
  • Subcontract work for main contractors and larger fit-out companies

We help you clearly separate income from supply & fit projects, labour-only work and workshop-only fabrication so that margins and taxable profit are easy to track.

Common allowable expenses for joinery & carpentry Ltd companies

Typical expenses that are usually allowable for tax, as long as they are wholly and exclusively for the business, include:

  • Timber, sheet materials (MDF, ply, OSB) and boards
  • Ironmongery and fittings – hinges, handles, runners, fixings and screws
  • Finishes – paint, varnish, lacquers, stains, adhesives, sealants and fillers
  • Tools and equipment – saws, routers, drills, sanders, dust extractors
  • Plant and equipment hire – access towers, site tools and specialised kit
  • PPE and workwear – safety boots, goggles, ear protection, branded clothing
  • Workshop costs – rent, business rates (where applicable), electricity and waste collection
  • Vans and vehicles – fuel, insurance, servicing and road tax (business proportion)
  • Insurance – public liability, tools insurance and professional indemnity where needed
  • Software and admin – CAD/design software, estimating tools, job management apps
  • Advertising, website, online listings and local sponsorship

Larger items such as stationary machines, extraction systems and vehicles are usually treated under capital allowances, so you still get tax relief in a structured way rather than missing out entirely.

Jobs, deposits and stage payments

Many joinery, carpentry and shopfitting projects involve:

  • Deposits to secure materials and workshop time
  • Stage payments as work progresses
  • Final retention on completion or after snagging

We help you record deposits, work in progress (WIP) and retentions properly so that your turnover, VAT and profit reflect what has actually been earned in the year.

What we need from you to file accounts & CT600

To prepare year-end accounts and your corporation tax return, we will ask for:

  • Business bank statements (and any credit cards or finance accounts used by the company)
  • Sales invoices and job summaries showing deposits, stage payments and balance invoices
  • Purchase invoices from timber merchants, board suppliers and ironmongery wholesalers
  • Workshop rent, utility bills and business rates (if applicable)
  • Tool and machinery purchase invoices and hire invoices
  • Vehicle purchase / finance agreements and running cost invoices
  • CIS statements where you work as a subcontractor for main contractors
  • Payroll reports if you run a small team of fitters or workshop staff

With these records we reconcile your income and costs, calculate corporation tax, make sure CIS and VAT have been treated correctly and file the accounts and CT600 with HMRC and Companies House for you.

Fixed-Fee Package for Joinery & Carpentry Ltd

£795 + VAT
Typical fee for a small joinery, carpentry or shopfitting company
(turnover up to £250k, 1–2 directors, straightforward records).
  • Preparation of year-end statutory accounts
  • Corporation tax return (CT600) and submission to HMRC
  • Companies House micro/small accounts filing
  • Director payroll for up to 2 directors
  • Basic review of work-in-progress and stage payments at year-end
  • Reconciliation of CIS suffered where you subcontract
  • Email support up to filing deadlines
Add-ons (only if needed)
+ £25 + VAT per monthly VAT return (MTD compliant)
+ from £30 + VAT/month for bookkeeping if we process your invoices and bank
+ from £175 + VAT for older / overdue accounting periods
+ bespoke quote for turnovers above £250k or larger workshop teams
Start my Ltd company accounts Book a 15-minute call
Quick FAQs for Joinery, Carpentry & Shopfitters
Q: Can I claim for my home workshop or garage?
A: If part of your home is used regularly and substantially for the business (for example, a dedicated workshop area), we can usually claim a reasonable proportion of household costs or a flat-rate allowance. We’ll discuss your specific setup before deciding what’s appropriate.
Q: How do you treat materials bought at year-end?
A: Materials held for future jobs at the year-end are normally treated as stock. We’ll ask you for an estimate or list so that profit for the year isn’t distorted by large, unused purchases.
Q: What about deposits and stage payments?
A: Deposits and stage payments are recognised as income when work is done, not necessarily when money is received. We help you handle this simply so your accounts and tax reflect the real progress of your jobs.
Q: Are big woodworking machines fully deductible?
A: Large machines and long-life tools are usually capital assets. We use the appropriate capital allowance rules so you still receive tax relief, often in the year of purchase, depending on your circumstances.
Q: I subcontract to main contractors under CIS – is that a problem?
A: Not at all. We take your CIS statements, reconcile CIS suffered in the accounts and make sure it is correctly offset against your tax so you don’t overpay.