Accounts without the waffle

Give me the whole paperwork pile. Yes, all of it.

Pen & Balance is Helen, a Hampshire bookkeeper who turns scattered receipts, late invoices and bank feeds into records you can actually rely on. You focus on clients. The figures stay under control.

Reclaim your evenings View monthly plans

Plans from £95 a month
Plain language, every time
Remote support across Hampshire & Berkshire

Friday nights are for the pub,not bank reconciliations.

Ring any bells?

"My receipts are in a Tesco bag somewhere"
"I'll catch up on admin next month" (probably not)
"When does that VAT return need to go in?"
"I couldn't tell you last month's profit if you paid me"

Very common. Very solvable.

What I do

Everything your small business needs, without the extras

Choose individual tasks or let a monthly package handle the lot. Each service is explained in everyday language before you agree to anything.

Monthly Bookkeeping

Transactions logged, categorised and reconciled each month, so your records are ready whenever your accountant or HMRC asks.

VAT Returns

Figures calculated, reviewed and submitted each quarter. Deadlines handled without the last-minute scramble.

Invoicing & Credit Control

Invoices sent on time and follow-ups handled with a firm but friendly tone, so outstanding payments do not drift for months.

Payroll

Payslips, pension contributions and RTI submissions managed for modest-sized teams, keeping payday straightforward.

Self Assessment Support

Income and expenses pulled together and checked well ahead of the January rush, so your return is filed with confidence.

Software Setup

Cloud accounting tools configured properly, with a guided tour of only the screens you will actually use day to day.

Receipts being sorted into neat labelled trays on a desk

Honestly, we find this part quite therapeutic.

How it works

Three steps to organised accounts

1
Share your paperwork
Drop off a folder, photograph receipts on your phone, or link your bank account. Whatever fits your routine.
2
I reconcile everything
Each receipt, bill and transfer is matched, coded and checked against your statements. Steady work, done in the background.
3
You receive a monthly snapshot
One readable email summarising income, spending and suggested tax set-aside. No pivot tables required.

Begin with step one

Simple plans

One predictable monthly fee

No ticking clock on hourly rates, no invoices that arrive out of nowhere. Every package includes quick questions by email or phone.

Sole Trader

from£95/mo

For freelancers and one-person operations who want bookkeeping off the to-do list.

Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
Plain-English monthly summary email
Self assessment figures prepared
Receipt capture via your phone

Ask about this plan

Growing Business

from£189/mo

For VAT-registered firms and small teams that need broader support.

Everything in Sole Trader
Quarterly VAT returns submitted
Invoicing and payment reminders
Payroll for up to five staff

Ask about this plan

Rescue & Catch-up

one-offquote

Records fallen behind? Several months out of date? No lectures — just a clear path forward.

Backlog cleared, however chaotic
Fixed price agreed upfront
Full reconciliation with a written summary
Then a clean monthly routine

Request a rescue quote

Unsure which option fits? Call Helen for a no-pressure chat about your setup.

Client feedback

From people who once avoided opening their accounts

"I delivered eighteen months of crumpled receipts in a shoebox and expected a lecture. Helen just got on with it, had everything reconciled within three weeks, and my VAT is now filed before I even think about it."

Rachel florist, Andover

"The monthly email takes me less than five minutes to read. For the first time I know exactly how much to ring-fence for tax, and I have stopped doing admin on Sunday nights."

James heating engineer, Basingstoke

"Helen talks like a normal person, not an accountant trying to impress someone. She chases my slow-paying clients so diplomatically that two of them actually paid early."

Sophie web designer, Newbury

Helen smiling while speaking with a client on the phone

Meet Helen

Hi, I'm Helen. I really do enjoy the detail.

I have supported small businesses with their accounts for more than a decade, working in practice before setting up Pen & Balance from my home office near Winchester. Too many owners told me bookkeepers made them feel embarrassed about messy records — so I built a service around patience and clarity instead.

My approach is straightforward: ask anything without feeling foolish, receive explanations in everyday English, and know your books will land somewhere between neat and spotless.

Certified bookkeeper with professional indemnity cover
Eleven years with sole traders and teams of up to twelve
Early riser, colour-coded spreadsheets, reliable with deadlines

Start a conversation

Get in touch

The first conversation costs nothing

Tell me what you do and where your paperwork currently lives — kitchen drawer absolutely counts. I will reply within one working day with a clear plan and a fixed price.

01234 567 890

Serving Winchester, Newbury, Basingstoke, and Reading within 15 miles. Fully remote if that suits you; a coffee meeting can be arranged locally.

Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Saturday: By appointment
Sunday: Closed

Pen & Balance Bookkeeping. A demonstration website design. All details are fictional.