Accountants in Hastings

Hastings is a town of very small businesses, from seafront trade to makers, manufacturers and creative studios, and most of the questions we expect from here are about keeping a one or two person business in order. This page is for sole traders, micro firms, landlords and seasonal businesses in Hastings and St Leonards. Accountant in Sussex is an enquiry service, not an accountancy firm, and we read every enquiry and, where we can, connect you with a local accountant, without any promise that one will be available.

A town of small firms and sole traders

The Hastings Regeneration Plan (November 2025).pdf) describes a local economy driven by tourism, health, retail, manufacturing and the creative industries. Its 2025 business survey had 96 respondents, so it is a snapshot rather than a full count, but the pattern is clear: almost two-thirds employed fewer than five people, and around one in ten were sole traders or self-employed.

The council's regeneration plan says Hastings attracts over 4 million visitors a year and that tourism supports 22% of local employment, although it does not give a year for those figures. The East Sussex prosperity strategy also calls Hastings a significant centre for advanced manufacturing, so alongside cafes and guest houses there are engineering and production firms with stock, machinery and staff to account for.

Landlord licensing has ended

Landlords who remember the old schemes may wonder where things stand. Hastings ran a selective licensing scheme across seven wards (Braybrooke, Castle, Central St Leonards, Gensing, Old Hastings, Ore and Tressell) from 26 October 2015 to 25 October 2020. The council's summary page sets out the old scheme, and its June 2021 news item records that the Secretary of State refused a replacement scheme in May 2021.

The additional HMO licensing designation ended on Wednesday 3 May 2023, and the council says there is no requirement to renew an additional licence when it expires. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies to HMOs with five or more people in two or more households.

Rates relief and where to get support

Hastings sits in a two-tier area, with Hastings Borough Council handling business rates and East Sussex County Council providing county services. The borough's relief and reductions page explains small business rate relief at 100% for rateable values below £12,000 with tapered relief between £12,001 and £15,000. It also describes the 2026 Supporting Small Business scheme, which applies for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and is added automatically for eligible ratepayers.

For wider advice, the Business East Sussex Growth Hub serves businesses across East Sussex, and the council's established business page lists local networks including Hastings Creatives. The Sussex Chamber of Commerce covers the whole county.

Three questions for any accountant

First, who supervises them for anti-money laundering? They should be able to name either HMRC or a professional body, since the Money Laundering Regulations require one or the other, and GOV.UK warns that trading while unregistered is a criminal offence.

Second, what are they a member of? The title "accountant" is not protected in UK law, but "chartered accountant" is a title that the Royal Charters of bodies such as ICAEW and ICAS keep for their own members.

Third, what will you pay and what will you get? Get both set down in writing, and if you are already in Making Tax Digital or will be from April 2027, find out what compatible software they work with.

Work that small Hastings businesses often need

Simple bookkeeping set up so that records are ready at the year end.
Self assessment tax returns for sole traders and partners, including working out payments on account.
Accounts for seasonal and hospitality businesses with uneven takings.
Stock, equipment and capital allowances for small manufacturers.

If cost is a worry, the cost guide shows what affects fees, and how it works explains how we handle an enquiry.

Accountancy services in Hastings

Read how each service works, the rules that apply and what to ask, then tell us what you need and, where we can, we will put you in touch with an accountant in or near Hastings.

Common questions

Do I still need a selective or additional licence to let a house in Hastings?

Not under the old local schemes. Selective licensing ran from 26 October 2015 to 25 October 2020 and additional HMO licensing ended on 3 May 2023. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies to HMOs with five or more people in two or more households.

Do I need to tell HMRC if I have just started selling crafts in Hastings?

Once your craft sales bring in more than £1,000 of gross trading income in a tax year, GOV.UK says you need to register for Self Assessment. The deadline to register is 5 October following the tax year the income was earned in, so for 2025 to 2026 it was 5 October 2026.

Why is HMRC asking my Hastings business for extra payments after a good year?

These are probably payments on account, which are advance payments towards your tax bill, each half of the tax you owed last year, due by 31 January and 31 July. You do not have to make them if last year's bill was less than £1,000 or more than 80% of your tax was paid outside Self Assessment.

Sources for the figures on this page

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