PaulSpeaks Books
Bookkeeping So Simple, You'll Actually Do It
Track income, expenses, and tax reserves in minutes — not hours. Automatic 20% tax reserve calculation, VAT support, and CSV export for your accountant. Built for UK freelancers and sole traders. Just £39/year.
Sound Familiar?
It's January 31st. Self-assessment deadline. You're frantically searching through bank statements, invoices, and receipts trying to work out what you earned and what you owe HMRC. You swore last year would be different. You promised yourself you would keep on top of it this time. But here you are again, panicking at midnight, wondering if you have enough saved to cover the tax bill.
Most bookkeeping software is built for accountants, not for people like you. Dozens of menus, confusing jargon, bank feed integrations you do not need, and a monthly price that feels like a punishment for being self-employed.
PaulSpeaks Books is different. It does one thing brilliantly: it tracks what comes in, what goes out, and tells you exactly how much to set aside for tax.
How It Works — 4 Simple Steps
Log Income As It Arrives
Received a payment? Log it in seconds. Choose a category — Product Sales, Subscriptions, Consulting, Services, Affiliate, or Other. Add the amount and move on with your day.
Record Expenses by Category
Bought software? Paid for travel? Record it under the right category — Software, Marketing, Travel, Office, Professional, Bank Charges, Insurance, Training, Utilities, or Other.
Tax Reserve Calculated Automatically
PaulSpeaks Books calculates 20% of your profit in real time. You always know exactly how much to set aside for your self-assessment tax bill. No surprises in January.
Export CSV for Your Accountant
At the end of the quarter or tax year, hit Export. Your accountant gets a clean CSV file with every transaction, category, and total. That is it. Bookkeeping done.
Everything You Need, Nothing You Don't
PaulSpeaks Books strips away the complexity of traditional accounting software and gives you exactly what a freelancer or sole trader actually needs.
Automatic 20% Tax Reserve
The system calculates 20% of your profit in real time and shows you exactly how much to set aside for HMRC. Transfer this amount to a savings account each month and your January tax bill is already covered. No more scrambling to find the money.
Income & Expense Tracking
A clean dashboard showing your total income, total expenses, and net profit at a glance. Log transactions in seconds with categories like Product Sales, Consulting, Software, Travel, and more. See exactly where your money is coming from and where it is going.
VAT Support (Toggle On/Off)
Not VAT registered? Leave it off. Already registered? Toggle VAT on, enter your VAT number, and the system tracks VAT on your transactions. No unnecessary complexity — it adapts to your situation.
VAT Threshold Warnings
As your turnover approaches the £85,000 VAT registration threshold, PaulSpeaks Books warns you. This gives you time to plan, speak to your accountant, and decide whether voluntary registration makes sense for your business.
USD to GBP Conversion
Earn in US dollars from Etsy, Amazon, Upwork, or international clients? Log USD income and PaulSpeaks Books automatically converts it to GBP at a configurable exchange rate. Essential for UK taxpayers reporting foreign income.
UK Tax Band Reference
A built-in reference table showing current UK income tax bands, personal allowance, National Insurance thresholds, and dividend allowances. No need to Google it every time — the information is right there in your bookkeeping app.
CSV Export for Accountants
One click exports your entire transaction history as a clean CSV file. Your accountant can open it in Excel, Google Sheets, or import it into their professional software. Saves hours of manual data entry at year end.
Private (Data Stays in Your Browser)
PaulSpeaks Books stores all data in your browser using localStorage. Nothing is sent to any server. Your financial data is completely private and never leaves your device. You are in full control.
One Simple Price
No tiers. No hidden fees. No per-user charges. Just £39 per year for everything.
PaulSpeaks Books
Everything you need to stay on top of your books
That's just £3.25/month
- ✓ Income & expense dashboard
- ✓ Automatic 20% tax reserve
- ✓ Categorised transactions
- ✓ VAT tracking (toggle on/off)
- ✓ VAT threshold warnings
- ✓ USD to GBP conversion
- ✓ UK tax band reference
- ✓ CSV export for accountants
- ✓ Private browser storage
- ✓ Works on any device
See How Much You Save
Save £105–£249 per year compared to traditional bookkeeping software. PaulSpeaks Books costs less than a single month of FreeAgent.
Built For People Like You
PaulSpeaks Books is designed for anyone in the UK who needs to track income, expenses, and tax without the complexity of enterprise accounting software.
Freelancers
Graphic designers, copywriters, web developers, photographers, translators, and other freelancers who invoice clients and need to track what they earn and spend. PaulSpeaks Books takes the stress out of self-assessment by keeping your finances organised throughout the year.
Sole Traders
Whether you run a cleaning business, a mobile hairdressing service, or a dog walking company, if you file self-assessment as a sole trader, PaulSpeaks Books helps you keep accurate records of every pound in and every pound out. Your accountant will thank you.
Contractors & Consultants
IT contractors, management consultants, and interim professionals who work through an umbrella or directly for clients. Track your contract income, business expenses, travel costs, and know exactly how much to set aside for tax at all times.
Side Hustlers
Got a side business alongside your day job? Whether you sell on eBay, teach yoga at weekends, or do freelance work in the evenings, HMRC still wants its share. PaulSpeaks Books helps you track that extra income and know what you owe.
Small Business Owners
Micro businesses and one-person operations that do not need the complexity of Xero or QuickBooks. If your business is just you, or you and a partner, PaulSpeaks Books gives you the financial clarity you need without the learning curve.
International Earners (USD)
UK residents earning in US dollars from platforms like Etsy, Amazon KDP, Upwork, Fiverr, or international clients. Log USD income and PaulSpeaks Books converts it to GBP automatically, making it easy to report everything in sterling on your self-assessment.
PaulSpeaks Books vs The Competition
We are not trying to replace Xero or FreeAgent for complex businesses. We are the simple, affordable alternative for freelancers and sole traders who just want to track income and expenses.
PaulSpeaks Books does not include invoicing, bank feeds, or payroll because most freelancers do not need them. If you do, FreeAgent or Xero may suit you better. But if you just need to track income, expenses, and tax reserves — we do it for 86% less.
The 20% Tax Reserve — How It Works
The tax reserve feature is the heart of PaulSpeaks Books. Here is why it matters and how it protects you from the dreaded January shock.
Why 20%?
The UK basic rate of income tax is 20% on earnings between £12,571 and £50,270 (2024/25 tax year). For most freelancers and sole traders earning within this band, setting aside 20% of profit covers your income tax liability. If your earnings are higher and fall into the 40% band, you should set aside more. But for the majority of self-employed people in the UK, 20% is the right starting point. It is simple, it is safe, and it stops the January panic.
How It Protects You
Every time you log income or an expense, PaulSpeaks Books recalculates your profit and updates the tax reserve figure instantly. The idea is simple: each month, transfer the reserve amount from your business account into a separate savings account. When January 31st arrives, the money is already sitting there waiting. No credit cards, no payment plans, no interest charges from HMRC. You pay your self-assessment bill and carry on with your life.
A Real Example
Say you earn £40,000 in a year and have £8,000 in allowable expenses. Your profit is £32,000. After the personal allowance of £12,570, your taxable income is £19,430. At 20%, that is roughly £3,886 in income tax, plus Class 4 National Insurance. PaulSpeaks Books shows you that £6,400 (20% of £32,000) should be set aside — giving you a comfortable buffer that covers tax and NI with room to spare.
The golden rule of self-employment: Never spend money that belongs to HMRC. PaulSpeaks Books makes it impossible to forget how much you owe, because the tax reserve figure is always visible on your dashboard.
What Our Users Say
I have been freelancing for six years and every January was a nightmare. Bank statements everywhere, receipts in shoeboxes, guessing what I owed. PaulSpeaks Books changed everything. I log income and expenses as they happen, and I always know my tax reserve. My accountant said my records have never been this organised. For 39 quid a year, it is an absolute bargain.
As an IT contractor, I was paying FreeAgent 24 pounds a month for features I never used. I do not need invoicing or payroll. I just need to know what I earned, what I spent, and how much to put aside for tax. PaulSpeaks Books does exactly that. I saved over 200 pounds in the first year alone. The CSV export is clean and my accountant imports it directly.
I sell handmade jewellery on Etsy and earn in US dollars. The USD to GBP conversion feature is exactly what I needed. I log my Etsy deposits in dollars and it converts them automatically. When my accountant asked about foreign income, I just exported the CSV and everything was there in pounds. So much easier than doing it manually in a spreadsheet.
Frequently Asked Questions About PaulSpeaks Books
Is PaulSpeaks Books compatible with Making Tax Digital (MTD)?
PaulSpeaks Books is designed for simple income and expense tracking with tax reserve calculations. For MTD-compatible VAT submissions directly to HMRC, you would use your accountant or a dedicated MTD tool alongside PaulSpeaks Books. Our CSV export makes it easy for your accountant to file on your behalf. Most freelancers and sole traders under the VAT threshold do not need MTD-compatible software until April 2026 at the earliest, when MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment is expected to launch for those earning over £50,000.
Where is my financial data stored? Is it secure?
All your financial data is stored locally in your browser using localStorage. This means your data never leaves your device and is never sent to any server. It is completely private and GDPR-friendly by design. The trade-off is that if you clear your browser data or switch devices, you will need to re-enter your records. We strongly recommend exporting your data as CSV regularly as a backup. Many users export monthly and keep the CSV files in a folder on their computer or in cloud storage.
How does the 20% tax reserve calculation work?
PaulSpeaks Books calculates your profit by subtracting your total expenses from your total income. It then calculates 20% of that profit figure and displays it as your tax reserve. This amount updates in real time as you add transactions. The 20% rate is based on the UK basic rate of income tax and represents a sensible starting point for most freelancers and sole traders. If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you may wish to set aside more than the displayed amount.
Can I track income received in US dollars?
Yes. PaulSpeaks Books includes a USD to GBP conversion feature. You can log income in US dollars and the system will automatically convert it to pounds sterling using a configurable exchange rate. You can update the exchange rate in settings at any time to reflect current rates. This is essential for UK taxpayers earning from international platforms like Etsy, Amazon, Upwork, Fiverr, or direct international clients, as HMRC requires all income to be reported in GBP.
Do I need to be VAT registered to use PaulSpeaks Books?
No. VAT tracking is completely optional and turned off by default. Most freelancers and sole traders under the £85,000 threshold are not VAT registered, and PaulSpeaks Books works perfectly without VAT. If you are VAT registered, simply toggle the VAT feature on in settings and enter your VAT number. The system will also warn you proactively if your turnover is approaching the £85,000 registration threshold so you can plan ahead.
Can my accountant use the exported CSV file?
Absolutely. The CSV export produces a clean, well-structured file that any accountant can open in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or import directly into their professional accounting software such as Iris, TaxCalc, or Sage. The export includes dates, descriptions, categories, amounts, and running totals. Many of our users export their data quarterly or at year end and email it to their accountant, saving both parties significant time compared to handing over a shoebox of receipts.
How does PaulSpeaks Books compare to using a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet can technically do what PaulSpeaks Books does, but you have to build and maintain it yourself. PaulSpeaks Books gives you a ready-made dashboard with income and expense categories, automatic profit calculation, a tax reserve figure that updates in real time, VAT tracking if needed, and a one-click CSV export. No formulas to write, no formatting to maintain, no risk of accidentally deleting a cell and breaking everything. It is a spreadsheet that is already built, tested, and purpose-designed for UK self-assessment.
Is PaulSpeaks Books suitable for a limited company?
PaulSpeaks Books is designed primarily for freelancers, sole traders, and self-employed individuals who file self-assessment tax returns. Limited companies have more complex accounting requirements including corporation tax, VAT returns, dividends, director loans, statutory accounts, and Companies House filings. While a director could use PaulSpeaks Books for quick personal tracking, we recommend dedicated software like Xero or FreeAgent if you operate through a limited company.
Can I use PaulSpeaks Books on my phone or tablet?
Yes. PaulSpeaks Books runs entirely in your web browser, so it works on any device with a modern browser including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. The interface is fully responsive and adapts to any screen size. Visit books.paulspeaks.com on your device to get started. Note that since data is stored in your browser, records entered on your phone will not automatically appear on your laptop. Use the CSV export to keep a master backup.
What if I need help or have a question about my tax situation?
PaulSpeaks Books is a bookkeeping tool, not tax advice. For specific tax questions, we always recommend speaking to a qualified accountant or using the HMRC helpline. However, if you have questions about how to use PaulSpeaks Books, you can contact our support team at hello@paulspeaks.com or call us on +44 118 230 7182. We are happy to help you get the most out of the app.
Start Tracking Today
Stop guessing what you owe HMRC. Stop scrambling at self-assessment deadline. PaulSpeaks Books takes 30 seconds to set up and keeps your finances organised all year round. Just £39 per year — less than a single month of FreeAgent.