# Sidekick Accounting > Specialist accountants and fractional CFO advisory for UK agencies. We turn > founder-led agencies into highly profitable, cash-confident companies: > bookkeeping, tax, VAT, payroll and CFO-level planning, benchmarked against > agencies actually like yours. ICAEW chartered. Based in the UK, working with > digital, creative, PR, SEO, PPC, social and performance marketing agencies. Figures on this site reflect UK 2026/27 tax rates and thresholds unless a page says otherwise. ## Services - [Accounting for agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/accounting): Bookkeeping, year-end accounts, tax and VAT built around agency economics such as retainers, project income and pass-through ad spend. - [Fractional CFO](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/cfo): Forecasting, margin work and CFO-level planning for agencies past the survival stage. - [Client results](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/results): What changed for the agencies we work with, in their own words. - [Book a call](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/book-a-call): A 30 minute call about your agency, straight into the team's calendar. ## Who we help - [Accountants for Digital Marketing Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/digital-marketing-agency): Specialist accountants for digital marketing agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for ad spend, retainers and internati... - [Accountants for SEO Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/seo-agency): Specialist accountants for SEO agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for retainer revenue, contractor delivery and clien... - [Accountants for Social Media Marketing Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/social-media-marketing-agency): Specialist accountants for social media marketing agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for retainers, content costs and... - [Accountants for Creative Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/creative-agency): Specialist accountants for creative agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for project revenue, work in progress and free... - [Accountants for PPC Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/ppc-agency): Specialist accountants for PPC agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for large media budgets, cash flow timing and perfo... - [Accountants for PR Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/pr-agency): Specialist accountants for PR agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for retainers, disbursements and freelance contribut... - [Accountants for Performance Marketing Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/performance-marketing-agency): Specialist accountants for performance marketing agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for performance fees, media spend... - [Accountants for Influencer Marketing Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/influencer-marketing-agency): Specialist accountants for influencer marketing agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for creator payments, internationa... - [Accountants for Email Marketing Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/email-marketing-agency): Specialist accountants for email marketing agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for retainer revenue, tooling costs and... - [Accountants for Branding Agencies](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sectors/branding-agency): Specialist accountants for branding agencies. Bookkeeping, tax, VAT and fractional CFO support built for high-value projects, work in progress and... ## Free tools - [Agency tax savings calculator](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/tax-savings-calculator): Eight questions against current 2026/27 rates showing where an agency is overpaying tax. - [Agency benchmarks](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/agency-benchmarks): Compare six lines of your monthly P&L with agencies like yours, in pounds rather than percentages. ## Guides and benchmarks - [Agency Profit Margins: What Good Looks Like and How to Get There](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/agency-profit-margins): What is the average profit margin for a marketing agency? See industry benchmarks, understand what good looks like and learn how to improve yours. - [Digital Marketing Agency Profit Margins: UK Benchmarks and Targets](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/digital-marketing-agency-profit-margins-benchmarks): Digital marketing agency margins explained. Learn the UK benchmarks for gross and net profit, plus practical strategies to improve your agency's pr... - [How much profit margin should a creative agency aim for?](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/creative-agency-profit-margin-benchmark): Find out what gross margin a creative or marketing agency should target, with realistic benchmarks and practical tips to protect your profit. - [Agency Profit Benchmarks by Size: 1-Person to 50-Person](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/agency-profit-benchmarks-by-size): Profit benchmarks for agencies from solo to 50 people, showing what net margin and EBITDA you should be targeting at each stage of growth. - [The Agency Rate Card: How to Build One That Works](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/build-agency-rate-card-guide): How to build an agency rate card that covers studio time, day rates and project fees, with practical guidance for creative, digital and ad agencies. - [How to price retainers at your email marketing agency](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/agency-retainer-pricing-guide): A practical guide to agency retainer pricing, covering fee structures and how to set retainer rates for advertising and email marketing clients. - [Digital Marketing Agency Pricing: What to Charge in the UK](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/digital-marketing-agency-pricing-guide): Benchmarks and guidance on digital marketing agency pricing in the UK, covering hourly rates, monthly retainers and project fees for 2026. - [Pricing models every creative agency should test](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/creative-agency-pricing-strategy): Explore the pricing models creative agencies use, from day rates and retainers to value-based fees, and find out which structure suits your studio. - [Social Media Agency Packages: Pricing Content Creation and Management](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/social-media-agency-packages-pricing-guide): How much should you expect to pay for a social media marketing package in 2026? See typical agency pricing for content creation and management. - [PR consultant day rates and hourly rates UK 2026](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/pr-consultant-day-rate): Typical PR consultancy rates in the UK, from hourly to day rates for freelancers and agencies. Benchmarks to help you set or evaluate fees with con... - [PR Agency Retainer Pricing: What Clients Should Expect to Pay](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/pr-agency-retainer-fees-client-guide): Find out what PR agencies typically charge on retainer, what affects the price and how to assess whether you are getting value from your monthly PR... - [Influencer Agency Commission Models: How to Structure Creator Payments](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/influencer-agency-commission-models): How influencer marketing agencies can structure commission and creator payment models, from performance-based deals to fixed fees and hybrid arrang... - [Third-Party Markups at Agencies: How Much to Add and How to Justify It](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/agency-markup-third-party-costs): Find out what agencies typically charge as markup on third-party costs, how commission structures work and how to justify uplifts to clients. - [How AI agencies can automate reporting on usage, spend, and performance](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/ai-agency-financial-reporting-automation): Practical guidance on automating financial reporting with AI agents, covering card usage, spend tracking, and performance reporting for agencies. - [Freelancer, Contractor, or Employee: What's Best for Your Agency in 2026?](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/should-i-hire-freelancer-contractor-employee): Should your agency hire a freelancer, contractor or employee? Compare the true costs and tax implications to make the right decision for your team. - [UK Capital Gains Tax for Expats: Property & Investment Tax Rules 2026](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/uk-capital-gains-tax-expats-2025-guide): Selling UK shares while abroad? This guide explains UK capital gains tax rules for non-residents, what triggers a charge, and how to reduce your bill. - [Do You Still Need to Keep Business Expense Receipts in 2026?](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/business-expense-receipts-requirements-2025): Find out which business receipts HMRC requires, how long to keep them, and whether digital copies count for expenses and tax returns. - [Travel Expenses for Agency Owners: What HMRC Allows](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/hmrc-travel-expenses-agency-owners): What HMRC allows for business travel expenses, including mileage rates and subsistence, explained for UK agency owners and directors. - [Agency Director's Loan Accounts: The Rules You Need to Follow](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/directors-loan-account-rules-agency): Avoid unexpected tax charges on your director's loan account. Clear guidance on DLA repayment rules, the £10,000 threshold and what HMRC expects. - [Director salary vs dividends in 2026/27: the most tax-efficient split for agency owners.](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/director-salary-dividends): Salary, dividends, or both? The 2026/27 rules moved the maths, and the setup most founders inherited is quietly overpaying. Here is how the split a... - [Agency Corporation Tax Payment Dates and Penalties: 2026/27 Deadlines](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/corporation-tax-deadlines-2026-27): UK corporation tax payment dates for 2026/27, what happens if you miss a deadline, and how your incorporation date affects your first filing. - [Agency Utilisation Rate: What It Is and Why It Decides Your Profit](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights/utilisation-rate-agency-profit-guide): Agency utilisation rate is the single most important metric for your profit. Learn what it is, how to calculate it, and how to improve it for your... All articles: [https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/insights) (sitemap: https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/sitemap.xml) ## Company - [About](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/about) - [Privacy](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/privacy) - [Terms](https://www.sidekickaccounting.co.uk/terms-conditions)