KashFlow
Simple UK accounting software by IRIS.
About KashFlow
KashFlow handles the core compliance workload for UK small businesses: MTD-compliant VAT returns submitted directly to HMRC, payroll processed within the same platform, bank feeds pulled from Barclays, HSBC, and Lloyds, and invoicing with PayPal and Stripe payment links. Owned by IRIS, it runs on stable infrastructure and gets updated ahead of HMRC deadline changes, which matters when Making Tax Digital rules shift mid-year. It fits sole traders, limited companies, and small practices managing clients with straightforward books — think a ten-person trade business or a retail shop needing clean VAT records and weekly payroll without a dedicated finance hire. The interface is deliberately simple, which speeds up onboarding but creates a ceiling. That ceiling is the main complaint. KashFlow does not handle multi-currency transactions, project-level profitability tracking, or advanced management reporting. If you run a firm billing international clients or need departmental P&L breakdowns, you will outgrow it fast. Xero and QuickBooks Online both offer deeper reporting at comparable UK pricing. KashFlow's value is specifically the payroll-plus-VAT bundle in one place, avoiding a separate Brightpay or Sage Payroll subscription.
Best for
UK small businesses wanting simple accounting with payroll and HMRC compliance
Key Features
- MTD-compliant VAT returns
- Integrated payroll processing
- Bank feed reconciliation
- HMRC direct submission
Pros & Cons
Pros
- MTD-compliant VAT returns submit directly to HMRC from inside the platform, no bridging software required
- Payroll is built in, not bolted on — run payslips, RTI submissions, and pension contributions without a separate tool
- Bank feeds connect natively to Barclays, HSBC, and Lloyds, covering the accounts most UK small businesses actually use
- IRIS ownership means compliance updates arrive before HMRC deadlines, not after
- Stripe and PayPal payment links attach directly to invoices, reducing debtor days for product and service businesses
- Onboarding takes under a day for a business with straightforward transactions — no consultant required
Cons
- No free tier and no meaningful trial without a credit card, making it harder to test against your actual client data
- Multi-currency is absent entirely — one foreign invoice and you need a workaround or a different tool
- Reporting stops at basic P&L and balance sheet; no project tracking, departmental splits, or custom report builder
- Xero and QuickBooks Online both have larger UK accountant communities, meaning more third-party add-ons and easier staff hiring
- Migrating data out is possible but not smooth — KashFlow's export formats require manual cleanup if you move to another platform
- Pricing is listed in USD on some storefronts despite being a UK-only product, which creates confusion around VAT on the subscription itself
Ledger Brief Take
Built specifically for UK compliance requirements, KashFlow delivers MTD-ready accounting with integrated payroll — a combination that eliminates the need for separate systems many small practices juggle. The IRIS backing provides enterprise-grade reliability, though the feature set remains deliberately streamlined rather than comprehensive, making it ideal for straightforward UK businesses that prioritize compliance over advanced reporting capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about KashFlow.
How does KashFlow pricing work and what does the entry tier include?
KashFlow starts at roughly £9 to £10 per month for the base plan, which covers invoicing, expense tracking, bank feeds, and MTD VAT returns. Payroll costs extra and is priced per employee. There is no permanent free plan. A trial is available but requires sign-up details upfront.
Does KashFlow integrate with Xero or QuickBooks Online?
No direct integration exists between KashFlow and Xero or QuickBooks Online. They are competing platforms. If you need to move data between them, you export via CSV and reimport manually, which is time-consuming and error-prone for anything beyond a year of transactions.
How does KashFlow compare to Xero for a UK small business?
KashFlow is cheaper and simpler but significantly narrower. Xero handles multi-currency, has a larger app ecosystem, and offers stronger management reporting. KashFlow wins on the payroll-plus-VAT bundle at lower cost. If your business is UK-only with straightforward books and under 20 employees, KashFlow is competitive. Above that complexity, Xero pulls ahead.
Is KashFlow MTD-ready for both VAT and Income Tax?
KashFlow is MTD-compliant for VAT and supports direct HMRC submission. MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment support is present for basic cases, but sole traders with complex income sources should verify their specific scenario with KashFlow support before committing.
Who should not use KashFlow?
Businesses billing overseas clients in foreign currencies, firms needing project-level cost tracking, or practices wanting deep custom reporting should look elsewhere. KashFlow also does not suit accountants managing large client portfolios — it lacks a proper practice management layer that tools like Xero Practice Manager provide.
Where is KashFlow data stored and is it secure for UK client data?
KashFlow is hosted within the UK and operated under IRIS, which holds ISO 27001 certification. Data is stored in compliance with UK GDPR. For most small business use cases this meets standard requirements, but you should review the data processing agreement before storing sensitive payroll records.