Specialist Accountants for Opticians & Optometrists
Accountants for Opticians in Canterbury
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Opticians, Optometrists and Optical Practices We Support
Independent Opticians
GOS income reconciliation, VAT apportionment between exempt sight tests and taxable dispensing, stock control and owner profit extraction.
Locum Optometrists
Self-assessment, IR35 status on agency work, GOC and professional fees, mileage between practices and equipment claims.
Optometry Clinics & Multiples
Management accounts per branch, partial exemption calculations, payroll for optical assistants and funding for new sites.
Private & Specialist Eye Care
Ophthalmology and refractive surgery providers: company accounts, VAT on cosmetic versus medical treatment and capital allowances on equipment.
Our Accounting Services for Optical Practices
Optical Tax Planning
Incorporation reviews, capital allowances on OCT scanners and consulting room fit-out, and profit extraction planning for practice owners.
Payroll & Pensions for Optical Staff
Payroll for optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical assistants, plus auto-enrolment, statutory pay and locum payments.
Bookkeeping for Optical Practices
Cloud bookkeeping that reconciles GOS payments, private fees and retail till takings so your figures are accurate all year.
VAT Apportionment for Opticians
Sight tests are exempt while frames and lenses are taxable, so a mixed supply needs apportioning. We use an HMRC-acceptable method and defend it if queried.
Management Accounts & Reporting
Reports showing tests per day, dispensing conversion, margin per branch and profit trends, so decisions are based on real numbers.
Key Accounting Challenges for Optical Businesses
Optical businesses often combine professional income with retail sales of eyewear and consumables, which can make bookkeeping, stock control and tax reporting more involved than for a purely service-based business.
- Separating professional income from product sales — Sight test fees, contact lens fittings and spectacle sales often need tracking separately, as each can be treated differently for accounting and VAT purposes.
- Stock and inventory management — Frames, lenses and contact lenses tie up money in stock, so accurate records help you value inventory correctly and manage cash flow.
- Equipment and professional expenses — Diagnostic instruments, testing equipment and continuing professional development costs need sensible recording and, where relevant, appropriate capital allowances treatment.
- Payroll and staff costs — Optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical assistants and locum cover can create varied payroll, pension and contractor payment obligations across a busy practice.
- VAT on mixed supplies — Professional services and optical goods may fall under different VAT treatments, so it is worth reviewing how each supply is classified rather than assuming one approach fits all.
Why Specialist Accounting Support Matters for Optical Businesses
Real Optical Expertise
GOS income, voucher values, partial exemption and dispensing margin — no explaining required.
Built Around Your Practice
Independents, multiples and locum optometrists each get a different service, not a template.
VAT Apportionment Done Right
We use a defensible apportionment method and keep the workings ready in case HMRC asks.
Fixed, Transparent Fees
One agreed monthly fee with no hourly billing and no surprises at year end.
Clear Margin Reporting
Management accounts that show where the profit actually comes from, test by test and branch by branch.
Named Accountant, Real Answers
You deal with the same qualified person every time, by phone or email, not a call centre.
Our Simple 3-Step Process for Optical Businesses
1. Initial Consultation (It’s Free):
We begin by getting to know your practice and understanding your unique needs. This step ensures we have a clear picture of your operations and your goals.
2. Customised Plan:
Based on our initial discussion, we create a personalised plan designed specifically for you. The aim is to keep everything organised and easy to follow. You can rest assured that your numbers are being handled with expert precision.
3. Ongoing Support & Updates:
From there, we take care of the ongoing work and keep you updated with reports. You’ll always know what’s happening, and we’re always here to answer your questions, ensuring you have a clear picture of your financial health at all times.
Accounting Support Built for Optical Practices
Technology Driven
Using the latest technology to offer customised financial strategies that help healthcare practices grow and thrive.
Named Optical Accountant
A dedicated accountant for opticians who understands GOS income, stock and dispensing margin.
Ongoing Support
Our team is here whenever you need guidance. We offer unlimited support to ensure your financial management is always on point.
Experienced Team
Our team has over 100 years of combined accountancy experience.
Free - Email Reminders
Never Miss any deadline with our automated email reminders.
Yes, We Are Chartered!
We’re an ICAEW, ACCA & AAT accredited Firm.
How to Join/Switch
Take a back seat and let our expert accountants handle everything. Here’s how easy it is to get started with us:
Get in touch
Reach out to us, and we’ll discuss your needs and how we can help your healthcare practice thrive.
Letter of Engagement
We’ll send over a simple letter to formalise our partnership and get everything in motion.
Previous Accountants
If you're switching, we’ll take care of contacting your previous accountants to make the transition smooth.
We Do the Rest
From there, sit back and relax. We’ll manage your accounts, taxes, and everything in between, keeping your practice running smoothly.
FAQs
They handle the day-to-day accounting and tax work for optical professionals and practices, including bookkeeping, annual accounts, Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, payroll and VAT support where applicable. The aim is to keep financial records accurate, deadlines met and reported figures aligned with how the optical business actually trades.
Independent opticians, optometrists, dispensing opticians, self-employed locums, practice owners, partnerships and limited companies. Because roles and business models differ, support is tailored to how you earn income, whether that is clinical work, dispensing, retail sales of eyewear or a combination of these.
Yes. Bookkeeping can be organised to separate professional income from optical goods sales, track stock and record expenses such as equipment and premises costs. For self-employed opticians, optometrists and dispensing opticians, Self Assessment returns are prepared from those records, with allowable expenses considered based on individual circumstances.
If your practice trades through a limited company, statutory annual accounts and a Corporation Tax return are usually required. We prepare these from your records, taking income streams, stock, equipment and allowable expenses into account. Exactly what applies depends on your company's structure, activities and individual circumstances.
Frames, lenses, contact lenses and consumables should be recorded consistently so stock values and costs of sale stay accurate. Expenses such as testing equipment, practice software, insurance and premises costs should be kept with receipts. Good records make year-end accounts, tax reporting and VAT returns more straightforward, particularly where stock levels fluctuate during the year.
They may. Professional optical services and supplies of optical goods can be treated differently for VAT, and the position depends on the nature of each supply and the business's circumstances. Registration thresholds and what must be charged should be reviewed individually rather than assumed, so it is worth checking your specific situation.
Yes. Payroll support can cover optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical assistants and administrative staff, including payslips, real-time reporting and pension duties. Where practice owners use locums, payments may need to be treated differently depending on whether those individuals are engaged as employees or as self-employed contractors.
Yes. Switching usually involves letting your current accountant know and arranging for records and information to be passed across. We can talk you through what is needed and how the handover works, so the change is managed without unnecessary disruption to your bookkeeping, payroll or reporting deadlines.