Choosing between TaxAssist and Crunch is a common decision for UK business owners who have outgrown doing their own books but are not ready for a full-service traditional firm. Both are established brands. Both market themselves to small businesses, contractors, and sole traders. But they operate in fundamentally different ways.

TaxAssist is a network of franchised local accountants. You get a real office you can visit, a named person handling your work, and a high-street presence. Crunch is a cloud-only accountant built around its own software platform. You manage your day-to-day bookkeeping in their system, and their team reviews and files your returns from there.

This comparison is not about which is "better". It is about which model fits your business. We will walk through pricing, service scope, software, and the practical realities of working with each. By the end you should know which direction to investigate further.

How TaxAssist Works

TaxAssist is not a single accountancy firm. It is a franchise network. Each branch is independently owned and operated by a qualified accountant who has bought the TaxAssist licence. There are over 200 branches across the UK. You deal with your local branch directly.

The core offering is traditional accountancy delivered locally. You get a dedicated accountant who handles your bookkeeping, tax returns, payroll, and year-end accounts. You can drop into their office, phone them, or email. Many branches offer free initial consultations and fixed-fee pricing for the first year.

TaxAssist targets sole traders, landlords, contractors, and small limited companies. Their typical client turns over between £20,000 and £500,000. They also handle VAT, CIS, and payroll for businesses with a handful of employees.

How Crunch Works

Crunch is a fully online accountancy firm built around its own accounting software. You do all your day-to-day bookkeeping in the Crunch platform. Their team then reviews your transactions, reconciles your accounts, and prepares your statutory filings.

Crunch started as a contractor-focused firm and still has a strong presence in that market. But they now serve sole traders, limited companies, and small partnerships too. Their software integrates with bank feeds, invoicing, and expense tracking. You upload receipts via their mobile app.

You do not get a named accountant in the traditional sense. You get a client manager and access to a team. Communication is through a secure messaging system in the platform, plus phone and email support. There are no physical offices.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing structures are different between the two, so a direct line-by-line comparison is tricky. But we can set out the typical costs for a standard limited company or sole trader.

TaxAssist Pricing

TaxAssist branches set their own fees. There is no central price list. However, typical ranges are:

  • Limited company year-end accounts and corporation tax return: £600 to £1,200 per year, depending on complexity and location.
  • Sole trader self assessment: £200 to £400 per year.
  • Monthly bookkeeping and management accounts: £100 to £300 per month.
  • Payroll for up to 5 employees: £30 to £60 per month.
  • VAT returns: £50 to £150 per quarter.

Many branches offer a fixed fee for the first year to attract new clients. After that, fees typically rise annually with inflation or as your business grows.

Crunch Pricing

Crunch publishes its prices openly on its website. As of 2025/26, typical packages are:

  • Limited company "Do It Yourself" (software only, no accountant): £25 per month.
  • Limited company "Standard" (software plus year-end accounts and tax return): £95 per month.
  • Limited company "Plus" (adds VAT returns, payroll, and management accounts): £135 per month.
  • Sole trader "Standard": £45 per month.
  • Additional services like company secretarial, R&D claims, or CIS returns are charged separately.

Crunch's pricing is transparent and predictable. You pay the same monthly fee regardless of how much work your business generates. There are no surprise bills for extra transactions.

Software and Technology

This is where the two diverge most sharply.

TaxAssist Software

TaxAssist does not mandate a specific software platform. Each branch uses whatever they prefer. Many use IRIS, Sage, or Xero. Some use a mix. If you already use Xero or QuickBooks, your local TaxAssist branch may be happy to work with that.

The downside is inconsistency. If you move branches or your accountant leaves, you may need to switch software. You also do not get a single integrated platform where you can see everything in one place. Your accountant handles the filing. You send them your paperwork.

Crunch Software

Crunch's software is proprietary. You must use it. It is designed to be simple for non-accountants. Bank feeds pull in transactions automatically. You categorise them. Invoicing is built in. The mobile app lets you photograph receipts and log mileage.

The software is MTD-compatible for both VAT and (from April 2026) income tax. It produces management accounts on demand. You can see your profit and loss, balance sheet, and tax liability in real time.

The trade-off is flexibility. You cannot use Crunch with Xero or QuickBooks. If you prefer a different platform, Crunch is not for you. But if you want everything in one system with your accountant working inside the same platform, it works well.

Service Quality and Accessibility

TaxAssist: Face-to-Face Local Service

The main advantage of TaxAssist is the local office. You can walk in, sit down with your accountant, and go through your figures. For business owners who prefer a personal relationship and find email or phone support frustrating, this is valuable.

Service quality varies by branch because each is independently run. A good branch is excellent. A poor branch is frustrating. You should visit your local branch before signing up and ask to speak to the actual accountant who will handle your work.

Response times are typically same-day or next-day during office hours. Urgent queries may take longer if your accountant is in meetings or on holiday. There is usually a backup person, but continuity depends on the branch.

Crunch: Digital-First Remote Service

Crunch is entirely remote. You never meet your accountant. All communication is through the platform's messaging system, email, or phone. This works well for people who are comfortable online and prefer asynchronous communication.

Crunch's client managers are generally responsive. The platform logs all queries so nothing gets lost. You can see the history of every conversation. For straightforward queries, this is efficient.

The downside is that you cannot sit down with someone and talk through a complex issue. If your business has unusual structures, overseas transactions, or complex tax planning needs, Crunch may feel impersonal. Their service is designed for standard, straightforward businesses.

Who Each Suits Best

TaxAssist Suits

  • Business owners who want face-to-face contact and a local office.
  • Sole traders and small Ltds with straightforward affairs who value personal service over technology.
  • Older business owners or those less comfortable with cloud software.
  • Businesses that already use specific software and want to keep it.
  • Anyone who needs hand-holding through their first year of trading.

Crunch Suits

  • Contractors and freelancers who are comfortable managing their own bookkeeping in a cloud platform.
  • Limited companies with simple income and expense patterns.
  • Tech-savvy business owners who want real-time visibility of their finances.
  • People who want predictable monthly pricing with no surprise bills.
  • Businesses that need MTD-compatible software built into their accountancy service.

What Neither Covers Well

Both TaxAssist and Crunch are designed for straightforward businesses. If your situation is complex, neither may be the right fit. Examples include:

  • Multi-entity groups with associated companies and group relief.
  • Businesses with significant R&D activity requiring detailed claims.
  • Companies with overseas subsidiaries or complex transfer pricing.
  • High-growth startups raising external investment and needing audit-ready accounts.
  • Businesses with turnover above £1 million and complex VAT schemes.

For those situations, a traditional mid-tier or boutique accountancy firm with specialist expertise is usually a better choice. That is where a firm like Holloway Davies comes in. As ICAEW qualified accountants, we work with growing businesses that have outgrown the one-size-fits-all model.

Making the Decision

Start by being honest about how you want to work. Do you want to drop into an office and talk to someone? Or do you want to log into a platform and manage everything from your phone?

If you want local, personal service and are happy with traditional bookkeeping, TaxAssist is worth investigating. Visit your local branch. Ask about their fees, their software, and who will handle your work day to day.

If you want a modern, integrated platform with transparent pricing and are comfortable with digital-only communication, Crunch is a strong option. Sign up for their free trial and see if the software works for you.

If your business is growing fast, has complex needs, or you simply want a more comprehensive service, consider a firm that offers the best of both: a dedicated team of qualified accountants who use modern software but also provide strategic advice. That is what we do at Holloway Davies. You can get in touch to discuss your specific situation.

Either way, do not rush. The right accountant saves you money, time, and stress. The wrong one costs you all three.