Here’s a concise, practical shortlist of well-regarded outsourced accounting providers and models UK small businesses commonly use — with a quick note on who each suits and sources so you can check details:

Top picks for UK small businesses

• Mazuma — Online subscription accounting and bookkeeping for sole traders, freelancers and small limited companies. Good if you want fixed monthly pricing and fully managed bookkeeping + tax filings. (Mazuma-accountants.co.uk)
• Crunch — Cloud-first accountant for freelancers, contractors and small growing companies. Combines in‑house chartered accountants with its software; popular for flat-fee packages and on‑demand support. (Crunch.co.uk)
• TaxAssist Accountants (network) — UK’s large franchise network focused on small/local businesses; gives you a local contact backed by a network with payroll, bookkeeping and advisory services. Good if you prefer face‑to‑face/generic small‑business support. (taxassistgroup.com)
• Caroola / SJD (contractor-specialist firms) — Firms such as SJD (now part of Caroola/Optionis group) specialise in contractor/limited‑company services and payroll; useful if you’re a contractor, umbrella company user or specialist freelancer. (en.Wikipedia.org)
• QX Global (outsourcing provider) — For small businesses that need outsourced finance teams or managed accounts-payables/accounts-receivables services (rather than just an accountant), specialist outsourcing firms like QX Global offer scalable F&A operations and automation. Good if you want a nearshore/offshore blended delivery model. (Outsource-Work.com)

Also-consider (platform + partner approach)

• FreeAgent / Xero / QuickBooks (software + partner accountants) — If you want to keep control of daily bookkeeping but outsource year‑end, payroll or advisory: choose a cloud package (FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks) and pick a certified Xero/QuickBooks partner accountant. This gives flexibility and wide marketplace choice. (See vendor partner directories on each provider’s site.)

How to choose the right outsourced accountant for your small business

1. Define scope: bookkeeping only, bookkeeping + payroll, full compliance + tax returns, CFO/management reporting, or transactional outsourcing (AP/AR).
2. Pricing model: fixed monthly subscription, hourly, or per-task. Small firms often prefer fixed monthly to avoid surprises.
3. Technology fit: ensure they support your accounting software (Xero/QuickBooks/FreeAgent) and bank feeds. Automation reduces cost.
4. Industry experience: ecommerce, contractors, landlords, and hospitality have specific needs (VAT, CIS, platforms integrations).
5. Responsiveness & reviews: check Trustpilot/Google reviews and ask for sample SLAs or guaranteed turnaround times.
6. Data security & compliance: confirm GDPR, ISO/SOC certifications (if relevant) and how they handle access to your banking data.
7. Onboarding & exit terms: ask about migration support and what happens to your records if you leave.

Practical next steps (quick)

• Shortlist 3 providers from above based on scope and price preference.
• Ask each for: a) a clear monthly price breakdown, b) examples of same‑industry clients, c) onboarding timeline, and d) sample reporting (management pack).
• If you use Xero/QuickBooks/FreeAgent, check each provider’s partner status (they usually list it on their site) — that ensures smoother integration.

If you want, I can:

• narrow this to 3 firms matched to your industry (ecommerce, services, contractors, etc.), or
• pull up current pricing and a direct comparison for 3 chosen providers (I’ll fetch their latest plans and reviews).

Which would you prefer?