Sole trader bookkeeping, sorted.
UK bookkeeping software for sole traders and self-employed people. Invoices, expenses, tax estimates, bookkeeping and payroll tools in one place.
No card needed. Takes under 60 seconds.
- Built around UK Self-Assessment rules
- 45p/25p mileage tracking included
- £1,000 trading allowance handled
- HMRC Making Tax Digital integration in progress
- Free accountant read-only access
- £9.99/month with a 30-day free trial, cancel anytime
Features
Tax-planning estimate
Refresh an indicative Income Tax and Class 4 NI estimate from available records. Scottish Income Tax calculations are not currently available.
Reviewable receipt capture
Upload a receipt and LedgerlyPro extracts key details and suggests a category for you to review before saving.
Tax reserve planning
Review an indicative reserve based on supported rules and the records available. It is not a final HMRC calculation.
Self-Assessment ready
Export a tidy income-and-expenses summary your accountant (or HMRC) can use in minutes.
Bookkeeping for sole traders, without the jargon
As a UK sole trader you and your business are the same legal person, which keeps things simple — but it also means HMRC expects you to keep accurate records of every pound you earn and spend, and to report your profit through Self-Assessment each year. Get the records right and tax becomes a quick calculation. Get them wrong and you either overpay or risk a penalty.
LedgerlyPro is bookkeeping software designed for sole traders. It records income from invoices and Controlled Statement Import, supports expense capture, and provides tools that can help organise information for tax planning. Estimates remain indicative and depend on complete, correctly categorised records.
Estimate your tax bill before deadlines arrive
A January tax bill and payments on account can be difficult to plan for. LedgerlyPro can provide an indicative planning estimate from available records for supported regions; it does not calculate a final liability.
| Profit | Income Tax | Class 4 NI | Roughly set aside |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | ~£2,486 | ~£746 | ~13% |
| £45,000 | ~£6,486 | ~£1,946 | ~19% |
| £70,000 | ~£15,432 | ~£2,657 | ~26% |
Figures are 2026/27 estimates for illustration. LedgerlyPro shows your own number, updated live, and reminds you about payments on account so the 31 January and 31 July deadlines never catch you out.
Read the full 2026/27 sole trader tax breakdown with worked examples.
Making Tax Digital for sole traders
MTD for Income Tax became mandatory in April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000, with the £30,000 band following in April 2027. It replaces one annual return with quarterly digital updates plus a final declaration.
LedgerlyPro helps organise digital records and quarterly bookkeeping totals for review. Its HMRC Making Tax Digital integration is in progress and currently targets iterative In-Year self-employment functionality; unsupported End-of-Year functionality is not currently available.
MTD-compliant bookkeeping software · Making Tax Digital explained
Why sole traders choose LedgerlyPro over Xero or QuickBooks
Legacy accounting suites are built for accountants and larger firms, with pricing and complexity to match. As a one-person business you want the essentials done brilliantly: capture income and costs, know your tax, get paid, and keep your accountant happy. That's exactly what LedgerlyPro does — at a price that makes sense for a sole trader, starting at £9.99/month with no per-feature upsells.
Frequently asked questions
What bookkeeping do sole traders need to do?
As a sole trader you must keep records of all business income and expenses, work out your taxable profit, and report it to HMRC through Self-Assessment (and quarterly MTD updates if your income is over the threshold). LedgerlyPro automates the record-keeping and calculates your profit and tax for you.
How much should a sole trader set aside for tax?
The appropriate reserve depends on your circumstances. LedgerlyPro can provide an indicative planning estimate for supported tax regions; it is not a final tax bill.
Do sole traders need software that supports Making Tax Digital record workflows?
MTD for Income Tax is phased by gross qualifying self-employment and property income: over £50,000 from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 from 6 April 2027, and over £20,000 from 6 April 2028. LedgerlyPro can organise records for review; verify that your chosen software supports the HMRC submission scope you need.
Can LedgerlyPro replace my accountant?
No. LedgerlyPro can reduce manual bookkeeping and keep day-to-day records organised. You can give your accountant a read-only link for year-end review and tax planning.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — try every feature free for 30 days, no credit card required. LedgerlyPro Premium is then £9.99/month.
New to self-employment? How to do bookkeeping as a sole trader — a step-by-step guide.
Compare us: LedgerlyPro vs QuickBooks for the self-employed.
See all plans and pricing £9.99/month with a 30-day free trial.
Sole trader bookkeeping, free for 30 days
Use Controlled Statement Import, scan receipts and organise records for an indicative tax-planning estimate. No card needed.
Create free accountNo card needed. Takes under 60 seconds.
