Who this is for
This package is for limited companies such as:
- PR and media relations agencies
- Corporate communications and reputation management firms
- Crisis communications specialists
- Public affairs and stakeholder engagement consultancies
- Internal comms and employee engagement agencies
Typical income and billing models
- Monthly retainers for ongoing PR and communications support
- Project fees for launches, campaigns and announcements
- Day-rate or hourly fees for senior counsel and crisis support
- Media training sessions and workshop packages
- Event management and press conference fees
We ensure revenue is recognised in line with retainers and project timelines so your profit and corporation tax follow the reality of the work delivered.
Common allowable expenses for PR & comms agencies
Typical allowable business expenses include:
- Salaries and PAYE for account teams, consultants and support staff
- Freelancers – copywriters, media trainers, crisis specialists, photographers
- Media databases and monitoring tools (e.g. journalist databases, news monitoring)
- Press release distribution platforms and email tools
- Design and layout services for press materials and reports
- Software – project management, CRM, video conferencing and collaboration tools
- Travel and accommodation for client meetings, events and press tours
- Event costs – venue hire, staging, AV, catering (partially restricted for hospitality)
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Office and remote-working costs – rent, co-working, utilities, equipment
- Marketing your own agency – website, branding, networking and advertising
Hospitality and entertainment rules can be complex. We’ll separate fully allowable costs (e.g. staff travel) from non-deductible client entertaining so your tax position is correct and low-risk.
Retainers, crisis projects and WIP
PR work is often a mix of:
- Long-running retainers with a monthly fee
- Short, intense crisis projects billed on time or fixed fee
- Discreet assignments where work is completed before being made public
We take a practical approach to work-in-progress (WIP) so that revenue, costs and profit are matched sensibly to each accounting year.
What we need from you to file accounts & CT600
For year-end accounts and corporation tax we’ll ask for:
- Business bank statements (and any company cards or finance accounts)
- Client list with retainer values and key projects for the year
- Sales invoices and credit notes, including any success/performance fees
- Purchase invoices for software, freelancers, events and other costs
- Payroll reports for all employees and directors
- Details of any major equipment or asset purchases
- Basic summary of any large ongoing retainers or crisis projects at year-end
We then reconcile your income and costs, separate out non-deductible entertaining, calculate corporation tax and file your accounts and CT600 with HMRC and Companies House.