Specialist Accountants for Opticians & Optometrists
Accountants for Opticians in Melrose
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Opticians and Optical Professionals 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 rarely fit a simple accounting mould. Professional fees, retail sales, stock, equipment and staff costs all behave differently, and the way each is recorded and taxed can shape both your compliance position and your cash flow.
- Separating income streams: professional fees, spectacle and contact lens sales may need separate tracking, as each can be treated differently.
- Stock and inventory: frames, lenses and contact lenses tie up cash, and accurate stock records matter for margins and year-end figures.
- Equipment and professional expenses: testing equipment, software and CPD costs need correct treatment, and capital versus revenue spending often requires judgement.
- VAT on mixed supplies: professional services and optical goods can carry different VAT treatments depending on the supply, so accuracy here matters.
- Payroll and practice costs: staff wages, associate or locum payments, rent and practice running costs all feed into bookkeeping and cash flow.
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
Accountants for Opticians handle the day-to-day and year-end accounting that optical professionals and practices need. That typically covers bookkeeping, Self Assessment, annual accounts, Corporation Tax, payroll and VAT support where applicable, with records shaped around professional fees, spectacle and contact lens sales, stock, equipment and practice costs.
Support is available to independent opticians, optometrists, dispensing opticians, self-employed locums, practice owners and other optical businesses. Because roles and business models differ, the accounting requirements are not identical for everyone, and a sole trader locum and a limited company practice will usually need quite different levels of support.
Yes. Self-employed optometrists, locums and dispensing opticians often need straightforward but accurate support, usually centred on Self Assessment, expense records and tax planning. If you later incorporate or take on a partner, the structure of that support can be reviewed so it continues to fit how you work.
It depends on the practice. Many need bookkeeping, annual accounts, Corporation Tax returns and payroll for staff, plus management accounts to monitor margins on frames, lenses and professional work. VAT support and tax planning may also be relevant, although not every practice requires every service.
Yes. Accurate bookkeeping underpins everything else, keeping income from professional fees, spectacles and contact lenses separate from practice costs. From there, Self Assessment can be prepared for self-employed opticians and optometrists, with the exact treatment depending on individual circumstances and how income is earned.
Spectacles, contact lenses and other optical goods are sales and usually form part of trading income, while the stock you hold at year end affects your reported figures. Accounting and VAT treatment can vary depending on the nature of the supply and the circumstances of the business, so it is worth taking advice.
Possibly. Optical businesses often make a mix of supplies, and professional optical services and goods such as spectacles and contact lenses can carry different VAT treatments depending on the nature of the supply. Whether you need to register, and how each supply is treated, depends on your own circumstances.
Yes. Moving accountants is usually straightforward, and much of the work involves gathering your existing records, confirming upcoming deadlines and picking up where the previous accountant left off. If you are unsure what you need, a conversation about your practice or professional work is a sensible first step.