Crunch
UK online accounting service for freelancers and contractors.
About Crunch
Crunch is a UK-only managed accounting service that pairs cloud bookkeeping software with an assigned personal accountant. Day-to-day, you log expenses via receipt scanning or Open Banking feeds, raise invoices, and track income — then a named accountant handles your year-end accounts, corporation tax return, or self-assessment filing. For limited company contractors, that accountant also advises on IR35 status, which generic software like FreeAgent or QuickBooks cannot do without a separate advisor relationship. Crunch suits sole traders and limited company contractors billing between £30k and £150k annually who want accounting handled rather than just recorded. It is not built for growing SMEs with payroll complexity, multi-currency needs, or inventory. A three-person agency will hit its ceiling fast. The integration list is short. Open Banking and HMRC Making Tax Digital are covered, but there is no native Xero data migration path, no Stripe or Shopify connector, and no API for custom workflows. Switching to Crunch means accepting its ecosystem, and switching away means exporting data manually. The human-led model also means turnaround on accountant queries runs days, not minutes.
Best for
UK freelancers and contractors wanting managed accounting with dedicated accountant support
Key Features
- Online self-assessment tax returns
- Dedicated personal accountant assignment
- IR35 compliance support for contractors
- Real-time expense tracking and categorization
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Named personal accountant files your self-assessment or corporation tax return as part of the subscription — no separate accountancy bill at year-end
- IR35 status reviews included for contractors, covering both inside and outside determinations with written advice
- Open Banking feed categorises transactions automatically, reducing manual data entry for sole traders with straightforward income streams
- HMRC Making Tax Digital compliance is built in, covering VAT submissions without a third-party bridging tool
- Receipt scanning via mobile app captures expenses in real time and matches them to bank transactions
- Flat monthly pricing makes annual accounting costs predictable — no surprise invoices from an independent accountant
- UK-specific tax rules baked in throughout: dividend calculations, allowable expenses for contractors, and CIS deductions all handled correctly by default
Cons
- No free trial or evaluation tier — you pay from day one, which makes direct comparison against FreeAgent or Coconut costly to test
- Integration ecosystem is thin: no Stripe, Shopify, Xero migration, or open API, so any firm with connected tech already in place will hit friction immediately
- Accountant response times are measured in business days, not hours — urgent queries before a tax deadline are a known weak point in user feedback
- Pricing scales up sharply for limited companies compared to sole trader plans; the gap is not obvious from the headline rate
- No payroll module beyond basic director salary processing — firms with even one employee need a separate payroll tool
- Data portability is limited: exporting historical records if you leave Crunch requires manual downloads with no structured handoff to Xero or QuickBooks
Ledger Brief Take
This positions itself squarely against DIY accounting software by bundling human expertise with basic bookkeeping tools — essentially a managed service disguised as software. The dedicated accountant component targets UK contractors navigating IR35 complexities, where generic accounting apps fall short. While the integration ecosystem lags behind Xero or QuickBooks, the human-in-the-loop approach fills a genuine gap for freelancers who want accounting handled, not just enabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Crunch.
What does the entry-level Crunch plan actually include?
The starting price around £35/month covers sole trader bookkeeping, self-assessment filing, and access to a dedicated accountant by email and phone. Limited company plans cost more and add corporation tax returns and dividend planning. Check the current pricing page directly — Crunch adjusts tier boundaries regularly.
Does Crunch integrate with Xero or QuickBooks?
No. Crunch runs its own proprietary bookkeeping software and does not sync with Xero, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent. If you already use one of those platforms, migrating to Crunch means leaving your existing software entirely. There is no data bridge or parallel-run option.
How does Crunch handle IR35 compared to a standard accounting app?
Crunch includes IR35 status reviews with a qualified accountant, covering contract wording and working practices. Generic apps like QuickBooks or FreeAgent provide no IR35 guidance at all. Crunch's advice is written and accountant-signed, which matters if HMRC later challenges a determination.
Is Crunch suitable for a small agency or just individual contractors?
Crunch works well for sole traders and single-director limited companies. Firms with employees, complex VAT schemes, multi-currency invoicing, or inventory will find it underpowered. A two-partner agency billing internationally should look at Xero or QuickBooks with a separate accountant instead.
How secure is financial data held by Crunch?
Crunch is FCA-registered and stores data on UK-based servers with encryption at rest and in transit. Open Banking connections use read-only access via regulated providers. That said, Crunch does not publish a SOC 2 report, so firms with formal data security requirements should request their security documentation directly before committing.
What happens to my data if I cancel Crunch?
You can export transaction history and reports as CSV or PDF files. There is no structured export to Xero or QuickBooks format. Your accountant will not transfer records on your behalf — you manage the export manually. Factor this in before moving a long-running limited company onto the platform.