Specialist Accountants for Opticians & Optometrists
Accountants for Opticians in Shoreham-by-Sea
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Optical Professionals and Businesses 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 combine clinical professional work with the sale of optical goods, which can make the bookkeeping, tax and VAT position more layered than it first appears. Getting the detail right matters.
- Professional income streams: Locum sessions, eye examinations, contact lens aftercare and dispensing fees may all be earned differently, so each needs clear records.
- Stock and inventory: Frames, lenses, contact lenses and solutions tie up cash, and stock movements need accurate recording for accounts and margins.
- Equipment and practice costs: Diagnostic instruments, testing equipment, premises costs and refurbishment can be significant, and each needs the right accounting treatment.
- Payroll and staff costs: Optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical assistants and reception staff may be employed or engaged on different terms, so payroll must reflect each arrangement.
- VAT on mixed supplies: Professional services and optical goods can be treated differently for VAT, so invoicing needs to distinguish each type of supply.
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 behind an optical business, including bookkeeping, annual accounts, Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, payroll and VAT support where it applies. Because optical work combines professional services with the sale of goods, they also help keep income streams, stock and expenses properly recorded. The exact scope depends on your circumstances.
Support is available for independent opticians, optometrists, dispensing opticians, self-employed and locum practitioners, practice owners, partnerships and limited companies operating in the optical sector. Each has different reporting duties and different financial pressure points, so the work is shaped around how the individual or business actually earns income and is structured.
Yes. Sole traders and partners typically need Self Assessment, clear records of professional fees and any goods sold, and help with allowable expenses such as equipment, professional fees and travel between sites. If you also run or part-own a limited company, the interaction between salary, dividends and personal tax can be reviewed together.
It varies. A single-handed practice may only need bookkeeping, annual accounts and Self Assessment, while a larger practice with employees might also need payroll, management accounts and Corporation Tax support. Stock records for frames, lenses and contact lenses, plus equipment and premises costs, usually form part of the picture. Services are matched to your circumstances.
Frames, lenses, contact lenses and solutions should be tracked so that purchases, sales and remaining stock agree across the year. Expenses such as diagnostic equipment, testing instruments, practice insurance, professional fees and premises costs need supporting records. How each item is treated for tax depends on whether it is stock, equipment or a routine running cost.
VAT depends on the nature of each supply and the business's circumstances. Professional optical services and the supply of optical goods such as spectacles and contact lenses can be treated differently, and registration thresholds and exemptions may apply. It is not a case of one rule covering everything, so records should clearly distinguish the different types of supply.
Yes, switching is usually straightforward. We can review your current records, accounts and tax position, then take over the relevant filings and deadlines. It helps to have details of your existing accountant, recent accounts and any outstanding returns, so the handover is as smooth as possible.
Get in touch and tell us about your optical business, how it is structured and what support you are looking for. We can then outline the services likely to be relevant, along with clear fees and no hidden extras, before anything is agreed.