Plain-English guide
Which accounting software should a plumbing firm use?
PipeworkHQ runs the work: customers, jobs, certificates, quotes, invoices and payments. Accounting software reconciles the bank and handles tax filing. You may need both, but you should not pay for more accounting software than your firm needs.
Prices below are normal UK monthly prices excluding VAT and temporary introductory offers. Checked 2026-09-03.
The short answer
Check your bank first
If an eligible business account includes FreeAgent, that can be the strongest value. Read the bank conditions before switching.
Already on Xero?
Staying put may be simplest, especially if your accountant works there. Check the invoice limit before connecting any job-management app.
Need VAT or CIS?
Do not choose a non-VAT sole-trader tier. Compare FreeAgent, Xero Ignite or QuickBooks Simple Start against how your accountant actually works.
What the main choices really cost
| Option | Normal price | Sensible for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeAgent through an eligible bank | £0 software subscription | A small firm happy with an eligible NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business account. | Bank eligibility still applies. Mettle requires at least one qualifying transaction each month and is aimed at sole traders or limited companies with no more than two owners. |
| FreeAgent bought directly | £10 sole trader · £19 partnership/LLP · £33 limited company | A firm that wants bookkeeping, tax tools and payroll in one product without changing bank. | Prices exclude VAT. Smart Capture includes 10 receipts or bills a month; unlimited capture costs £5 a month. Cash-basis accounts do not include payroll or stock. |
| Xero Simple | £7 a month | A non-VAT sole trader with very low invoice volume. | Limited to 10 invoices. Invoices pushed by an app partner can count towards that allowance. |
| Xero Ignite | £16 now · £18 from 1 September 2026 | A VAT-registered firm that sends no more than 20 invoices a month. | The 20-invoice allowance can include app-partner transactions. Some bank feeds and optional features cost extra. |
| Xero Grow | £37 now · £39 from 1 September 2026 | A busier firm already using Xero or working with a Xero-based accountant. | Payroll, expenses and some other features have usage limits or extra charges. Check the current plan before committing. |
| QuickBooks Simple Start | £16 a month | A sole trader or limited company that needs VAT and CIS support. | Payroll is a paid add-on. QuickBooks Sole Trader products are for non-VAT businesses without employees or contractor CIS filing. |
Where PipeworkHQ fits
Available now
Create and send invoices in PipeworkHQ, take payment through your connected Stripe account and export Xero-compatible invoice data for your books.
Coming soon
Sending invoices straight to Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent is not available yet. We are still testing the connections and what happens when an account reaches its invoice limit. Until then, download the Xero-ready invoice file.
Before you choose
- Ask your accountant which product and plan they support.
- Confirm whether you are VAT registered and whether you file contractor CIS.
- Count a busy month's invoices, including anything another app will push.
- Check payroll, receipt capture, bank feed and extra-user charges.
- Keep the business owner in control of the subscription and bank connection.
This is product guidance, not tax or accounting advice. Your accountant should confirm the right legal entity, accounting basis and filing setup.
Official sources
Prices change. We link to each accounting company rather than asking you to trust an old screenshot.
- FreeAgent UK pricingchecked 2026-09-03
- Mettle guide to included FreeAgentchecked 2026-09-03
- FreeAgent and Mettle eligibilitychecked 2026-09-03
- NatWest included FreeAgent termschecked 2026-09-03
- Xero UK pricingchecked 2026-09-03
- Xero Simple plan detailschecked 2026-09-03
- Xero Ignite plan detailschecked 2026-09-03
- Xero UK September 2026 price updatechecked 2026-09-03
- QuickBooks UK limited-company pricingchecked 2026-09-03
- QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus eligibilitychecked 2026-09-03