“Show Notes”
Bel Turpin works at Turpin Accounting Services, the business her mum started — and she thinks most sole traders are leaving money on the table simply by not asking an accountant the right questions.
Marcus and Sam talk to Bel about why an accountant is worth it even for a small business, when it makes sense to go limited or register for VAT, and the practical side of accounting for your own kit.
- Why the numbers usually aren’t wrong — it’s the bigger picture business owners can’t see
- Making Tax Digital: which businesses will soon be required to use accounting software
- Xero vs QuickBooks, and why Bel rates one slightly ahead of the other
- When going limited or registering for VAT actually pays off
- How to account for equipment you already owned before starting the business
- Why accountants themselves are a source of brand and video work photographers overlook
A practical primer on the accounting decisions that quietly shape how much of your revenue you actually keep.
Get in touch with Bel: turpinaccounting.co.uk.
Making more money from the business has both an accounting side and a tax side — January Survival & April Success: The Essential 2026 Tax Roadmap for Photographers is the tax-planning half of that conversation.
“Show Transcription”
Sam: Hello Marcus, how are you doing?
Marcus: Hey Sam, hi there, I’m very well, thank you. How are you?
Sam: Yes, excellent, thanks, and we’ve got a brilliant guest today, Marcus. So, I think this is a first for us. Our guest today is Bel Turpin from Turpin Accounting Services, and we haven’t actually had anyone on the show yet to talk about accounting, have we, Marcus?
Marcus: No, this is going to be a good one. I think it’s going to be very useful, very useful indeed.
Sam: So, welcome to the show, Bel.
Bel: Hi, thanks for having me.
Sam: No problem at all. Would you like to introduce yourself?
Bel: Sure, so my name’s Belle. I come from Turpin Accounting Services, as Sam said. We are a family-run firm based in East Yorkshire. I’ve been in the practice now for nine years. My mum actually founded it 14 years ago, so we’ve been in the business for a long time. We pretty much do anything that you need to help and grow your business, whether that be legislative matters, end-of-year accounts, making sure you’re tax-efficient, and helping your business to build and grow.
Sam: Excellent, sounds good. I’m trying to remember when we first met. I think we first met at a networking event on the banks of the River Humber, which must be seven years ago now, right, Bel?
Bel:Yeah, definitely. It was a long time ago. I’ve known you for a number of years now.
Sam: Excellent. So, what we often ask guests—and I think it will be really interesting—is: how did you get to where you are now? What’s your journey?
Bel: I sort of fell into accounting, if I’m honest. It was never really on the cards to be an accountant. I was actually working in retail management for a huge corporation called PVH, but my mum’s business expanded a little too quickly. They didn’t have enough people to do the data entry for the bookkeepers, so I was going in on my day off just to put things on Excel—because this was way before software—and everything was much harder. So, I did that and, having a bit of an OCD personality, I really enjoyed it. When a role became available, I thought, ‘You know what? I’m going to apply for it.’ I applied for the role and basically started off doing admin. Then, I moved into accounting qualifications, and now I focus on business development and marketing. I’ve done a bit of everything within the business, which helps me understand the accounting side of things.
Sam: Okay, so you’ve done data entry, bookkeeping, accounting, and now you’re in a different area again.
Bel: Yeah, so now, because I’ve got the knowledge of how accounts work and what businesses need, it gives me an edge when I go out into the business community. I can not only advise them on accounting, but I’m really good at talking to people, understanding their pain points, and using accounting solutions to fix those.
Sam: Okay, excellent. So you’re looking at a bigger picture than just the numbers but using the numbers to help.
Bel: Yeah, 100%.
Marcus: Bel, I’m going to put my hand up here and say I am an accountant virgin. I’ve never had an accountant and I tend to do it myself. So, tell me, what’s the advantage of coming to someone like yourself, an accounting specialist, for someone like me, a sole trader?
Bel: I think it’s having someone who knows the right questions to ask to get the right answers from you. A lot of people who do their own accounts aren’t doing it wrong, but they’re not maximizing what they can get out of it. They’re not using the figures to grow. Sometimes they don’t realize they have a gap in their business or a service they could improve to make more income, or they don’t see a hole because they’re too busy working in the business. We take a top-down view to help grow the business. When you’re doing it yourself, you’re just submitting expenses, income, and paying tax. We like to advise you on how to do that better.
Marcus: Okay, that sounds cool. So, you come along, have a top view of my business, and help me decide where to focus my strengths and address my weaknesses.
Bel: Yeah, 100%. If we can make you more tax-efficient so that more money stays in the business and helps you grow, we’ll do that.
Sam: Right, cool. For people who aren’t sure, can you explain to us the difference, Bel, between bookkeeping and accountancy? Some people probably know, but some don’t. You can go to an accountancy firm or a bookkeeping firm, or even to people who do both, can’t you?
Bel: You can, yeah. A bookkeeper is somebody that keeps control of the day-to-day for you. Bookkeeping is our bread and butter, really. We do all the input into the software for people, turn the reports around for you, and then discuss things with you. Whereas your accountant sort of does the same thing, but they probably specialize in things that are a little more advanced. When you’re looking at audit or end-of-year accounts, which we also do, we often work alongside other accountants. We’ll do the day-to-day bookkeeping, and they’ll handle the larger numbers at the end of the year. So, while we do similar things, your bookkeeper focuses more on the day-to-day, keeping you on track and telling you what your reports mean. Your accountant compiles everything at the end of the year and shows you how to lower your corporation tax if you’re a limited company or how to manage expenses.
Sam: Okay, so bookkeepers are putting the day-to-day data in so that your accounts make sense, and then the accountant looks at that and sees what picture it gives them of your business?
Bel: Yeah.
Sam: Okay, that makes sense. So, for a small business, if you’re a photographer, which is usually a small business, which is better: to go for a bookkeeper to save time, or to go for an accountant for high-level advice?
Bel: I think it depends on what you want to get out of the business yourself. At the end of the day, how valuable is your time? People come to me all the time and say, ‘Oh, I can’t afford an accountant; I don’t think I do enough work to warrant one.’ I always ask, ‘What is an hour of your time worth?’ Say, for example, it’s worth £200. How long does it take you to do your accounts? Maybe a whole day, eight hours minimum? So, think of how much that costs you to do it yourself. Someone like me, who does this day in and day out, knows where things go, what can be claimed, and how to get tax refunds. It may take me two hours, and you’ll then have that whole day to do what you do best. So, it’s about how valuable your time is and how valuable it is to save money and grow your business.
Sam: Okay, so bookkeeping is about saving time, and accounting is about getting the most value out of your business and advice.
Bel: Yeah.
Sam: Okay.
Marcus: Interesting. I did have a quick look at your website for Turpin Accounting, and yeah, it looks really nice. You’ve got some great branding on there, I must say.
Bel: Thanks.
Marcus: I can’t help but ask: is the name related to the character Dick Turpin?
Bel: It’s nothing to do with Dick Turpin! I get asked this all the time. Turpin is actually my family name. We were originally Turpin Bookkeeping Services because, when my director, Liz, started, she only did bookkeeping. That was all the practice was. But as we grew, we employed more people, the services became more diverse, and we pivoted to offering end-of-year accounts and more advisory services. In 2020, we rebranded to Turpin Accounting Services to reflect that we were offering accounting services and were missing out on the market by just being called bookkeeping.
Marcus: I love it. Are you ever tempted to make a catchphrase out of Turpin Accounting? Something like ‘Rob the rich to pay the poor’?
Bel: I think Liz would kill me.
Marcus: probably not! Okay, we’ll skip that. Clearly, that’s why I’m not doing your branding!
Sam: Excellent. So, I’m thinking about photographers in general. Do you think, Belle, there are things photographers often do with their accounts that could save them money, like claiming expenses or dealing with equipment?
Bel: I think there’s definitely some education needed. Some people don’t realize what they can actually claim. I’m sure people are putting through their cameras and travel expenses when they’re on projects, but there are other things you can claim too, like your home office. You can claim a percentage per square foot for your internet, electricity, gas, and even part of your mortgage. Travel expenses, office supplies, all of that can be claimed too. If you’re using things within the home office, you can put those through. For example, if you’re buying new lenses or lighting rigs, you can put that through. Even the different filters for the lenses, different types of batteries, chargers, all that sort of asset-related stuff can be included. Then, you’ve got your subscriptions as well, which some people don’t realize can be put through, such as Adobe packages, PhotoBox, CRM packages like ClickUp, and imaging software. Your accountancy packages too, and even when you’re attending photography shows—like the big ones in Birmingham and London—you can put those through because it’s part of education for your sector. There are so many things that people don’t realize can be included in their accounts, and it’s specific to your sector. It’s beneficial for your business, and if it brings down your tax payment, why wouldn’t you put it through?
Sam: Right, yeah, so that’s the advantage of putting everything through your business. It reduces your tax bill at the end of the day, basically.
Bel: Yeah, 100%.
Sam: Cool, that’s perfect. And then, what about—sorry, go on, Marcus.
Marcus: As someone who does their own tax returns online, I must admit, I’ve been doing it for many years, and they’ve made it a lot easier. It is quite straightforward, and you can call them if you have any queries. I’ll give it to them—the HMRC in the UK makes it easy to pay your taxes.
Bel: I think, especially now that everything’s gone digital, with cloud software, it’s become so simple. You can just take a picture of your receipts and upload them straight away. As long as someone sets it up correctly for you in the beginning, you can navigate the software yourself. It’s very easy, and it also makes submitting your return super easy. My advice to anyone who is self-employed and not using software is: get it, utilize it, and start using it. As soon as MTD comes into play in 2026, you’ll need software to report if you’re over the threshold anyway. Learn how to use it now, and make the most of it.
Sam: Sorry, what was the name you just mentioned, Belle?
Bel: It’s MTD, which stands for Making Tax Digital for the self-employed. It was supposed to come in 2024, but they’ve postponed it. I’m saying 2026 because that’s the information we have now. It could be postponed again—who knows? They’re looking to change annual reporting at the end of January to quarterly reporting, so you’ll have to report every three months, like VAT. Then, you’ll do one big one at the end to counteract and add it all together. I think, for some self-employed people, if you’re not doing your accounts and you’re not used to the software, it’s going to be very difficult to transition if you’re not already prepared.
Sam: Do you know roughly what the threshold is going to be, Bel?
Bel: I think it’s £12,000,
Sam: It’s pretty low.
Sam: So, unless it’s just a hobby and you’re doing a couple of things, you’re going to need to comply.
Bel: Yeah, 100%.
Sam: Oh, okay. I mean, I use Xero and do VAT, and it is so easy. You just press a button. Yeah, exactly! You can see how much VAT you’re going to owe, and at the end of the three months, you press go, and off it goes to HMRC. It’s so simple.
Bel: And if you’re keeping on top of it day to day, it’s going to be easy to manage.
Sam: Yeah, and the digital systems—there are a couple, like QuickBooks, Xero, and others. Do you have any recommendations, or are they all pretty similar?
Bel: I think it depends on what you want to do with your business, really. They all do the same sort of things and are very user-friendly. However, if you want to develop things a bit.
Sam: Yeah, okay, interesting.
Marcus: May I ask, Bell, um, I hope this isn’t too long of a question, but can you maybe just go through the pros and cons of (a) being a limited company and (b) VAT registered?
Bel: It depends on what you want to achieve with your business, really. I mean, some people won’t work with companies if they’re not a limited company, so if you’re looking to work with bigger brands, tender for contracts, or work with larger names—say, for example, the NHS or large engineering or factory companies—they won’t work with you unless you’re a limited company. So, that’s a pro of being a limited company if that’s your target market. A limited company means you’ve got limited liability, whereas, as a sole trader, you are solely responsible. So again, it depends on what you want to do with the company and how you want to structure it. When working with a limited company, you can take things out in different ways, such as a payroll that runs under the threshold, and then you would draw down dividends, which come at 10% rather than the 20% tax you’d pay above the threshold as a sole trader. Regarding VAT registration, if you’re coming up to the threshold, you’ll have to register anyway, but if you want to work with larger companies, you may need to register sooner. On the flip side, if you’re buying a lot of equipment and getting returns from that, it may be more beneficial to register. But if not, you might not want to go over the threshold too early, as you’ll have to pay 20% VAT on everything anyway. So, those are the pros and cons for both. Again, it depends on what you want to achieve. Having software or an accountant depends on whether you’re happy doing a couple of bookings a week, or if you want to grow your business and hire employees. Where do you want to take it? What works for you might not work for someone else.
Marcus: That’s a great answer and another reason why it’s best to consult someone like you, Bel—someone who knows what they’re talking about.
Bel: A lot of accountants nowadays offer free consultations. For example, we hold free accounts clinics every month where you get 30 minutes of free time with an accountant to ask business or accounts-related questions. Even if you decide not to hire an accountant, you can still ask the questions and use the advice yourself, or an accountant can suggest something you hadn’t considered.
Sam: Brilliant. Regarding taxes for limited companies—many photographers tend to be sole traders. But from what you’re saying, Bel, it’s not a lot of extra work being a limited company, is it? And there are definite tax advantages.
Bel: There are, but as soon as you transfer to a limited company, if you’re using an accountant, the price does tend to double due to the increased legislation. You’ve got to submit your year-end accounts, corporation tax, and a confirmation statement to Companies House. As a sole trader, you only need to file a self-assessment.
Sam: So, there’s more paperwork and costs. It often depends on your income—if it’s large enough to save on tax, it may be worth it.
Bel: Yeah.
Sam: That makes sense. I was also thinking about equipment—let’s say you’re transitioning from being an amateur to a professional photographer. You already own cameras and lenses, and now you’re using them professionally. What can you do about that?
Bel: You can bring the equipment into the business. For example, if you’re a limited company and already own a camera and lighting rig, you can transfer those into the business, and the business will owe you for them. In a limited company, it’s called a director’s loan, whereas, as a sole trader, it would be categorized differently. Essentially, the business owes you for assets you brought in to help it run.
Sam: So, the limited company would pay you the reasonable secondhand value for the equipment,
Bel: And it would also count as an asset once the business is established?
Sam: Yes. And since photographers often have expensive equipment that devalues, I would recommend having an accountant handle the depreciation over the asset’s working life. That would save you money in the long run.
Marcus: Got it. I imagine branding and personal branding are quite important for an accountant. Clients tend to judge based on how well they get along with their accountant, right?
Bel: Absolutely. We try to market ourselves as demystifying accounting jargon and providing numbers that our clients can use. We don’t just see clients once a year; we want to be part of their journey, a member of their team. I always tell people to call me if they have a question. We are friendly, approachable, and not the stereotypical middle-aged men in suits. We’re more relaxed and use current tools to help our clients.
Marcus: I can see that in your branding. It works well for you.
Bel: Thank you!
Sam: And for photographers, branding is key too. Many accountants want to show that they’re not the gray, archetypal accountants. There’s definitely a niche for photographers in this space.
Bel: 100%. We work with a guy named Sam, who handles our photos and videos, even producing content on new legislation for our clients. If you can help accountants with their branding, showing them how to refresh and enliven their image, they’ll appreciate that.
Sam: Perfect. This has been really interesting. I’m sure people will be thinking more about their accounts, software, and maybe seeking out a bookkeeper or accountant.
Bel: I really hope so! Go speak to a bookkeeper or accountant, even if it’s just a half-hour session. If anyone wants to chat with me, we hold online accounts clinics every first Wednesday of the month. You can book a slot through Eventbrite.
Sam: Amazing. I’ll put links in the show notes. Thank you so much, Bel.
Bel: Thank you,
Sam: And if anyone wants to stay updated with our shows, they can join our mailing list at shoottothetop.com for tips on photography, marketing, and more.
Marcus: Great! And don’t forget about our Facebook group, Shoot to the Top!
Sam: Yes, see you next week. Bye!”
