Specialist Accountants for Opticians & Optometrists
Accountants for Opticians in Shoreham
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Optical Professionals and 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 sit somewhere between a professional service and a retail operation, which is where the accounting complications usually begin. Multiple income streams, stock, equipment and mixed supplies all need to be recorded accurately and consistently.
- Mixed income streams — Professional fees from eye examinations, contact lens fittings and retail sales of frames and lenses behave differently, so they need to be tracked separately.
- Stock and inventory — Frames, lenses, contact lenses and solutions tie up cash, and poor stock records distort margins and year-end figures.
- Equipment and practice costs — Testing equipment, fitting instruments, leasehold improvements and premises costs often need to be treated differently in the accounts.
- Payroll and associate arrangements — Practice staff, locums and associate optometrists can be engaged in different ways, each with different tax and payroll consequences.
- VAT on mixed supplies — Professional services and supplies of spectacles, contact lenses and other optical goods can be treated differently for VAT, depending on each 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 Around 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 accounting and tax work that optical professionals and practices need, including bookkeeping, annual accounts, Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, payroll and VAT support where it applies. The aim is to keep your financial records accurate, your reporting on time and your tax position clearly understood.
Independent opticians, optometrists, dispensing opticians, self-employed locums, practice owners, partnerships and limited companies. Because these roles and structures differ — clinically and financially — the support is shaped around how you actually work and earn income rather than applied in the same way to everyone.
Yes. Sole traders and self-employed professionals typically need help with record keeping, expenses, Self Assessment and payments on account. Where income comes from a mix of locum work, examinations and product sales, separating those streams properly makes the figures far easier to manage.
It depends on the practice. Many need bookkeeping, payroll, management accounts and annual accounts, along with Corporation Tax or Self Assessment depending on structure, plus VAT support if their supplies require it. Stock, equipment and premises costs also need to be recorded in a way that reflects the business accurately.
They are usually recorded as trading stock or sales of goods, separate from professional fees earned from examinations or fittings. Accurate recording matters because it affects turnover, gross margin, the stock valuation at year end and potentially the VAT treatment of each individual supply.
They may. Professional optical services and the supply of optical goods such as spectacles and contact lenses can carry different VAT treatments, and the position depends on the nature of each supply and the circumstances of the business. Registration thresholds and any exemptions also need checking individually.
Yes. We can take over the records you already hold, confirm what remains outstanding and continue the necessary reporting. Having recent accounts, tax returns and bookkeeping to hand helps, though gaps in the records can normally be worked through where needed.