Tradespeople have two needs: quoting and running jobs, and keeping the tax side straight. No single tool does everything perfectly, so the smart setup is MTD-recognised accounting software for your quarterly HMRC updates, often paired with a job-management app for the site work.
Answer 5 questions, get your shortlist
The MTD Software Finder asks how your business actually works — your bank, how busy you are, what matters most — then recommends three tools with honest reasons and limitations.
What tradespeople actually struggle with
- Tracking materials and job-specific costs without guesswork
- Managing mileage and vehicle costs between jobs
- Handling VAT alongside MTD once turnover passes £85,000
- Staying on top of CIS payments as a contractor
- Keeping test certificates and job records organised
Three MTD software picks for tradespeople
Each pick below is HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax — with one honest exception pointed out where relevant.
FreeAgent is an HMRC-recognised accounting package for UK freelancers, sole traders, and micro limited companies. It bundles bookkeeping, invoicing, time tracking, and mileage into one simple dashboard.
- Best for
- UK sole traders & micro limited companies who want a simple all-in-one package
- Not ideal for
- Not ideal if you need a wide app ecosystem or bespoke workflows — third-party integrations and reporting customisation are more limited than Xero or Sage.
Key features
- MTD Income Tax submissions
- Built-in time tracking, mileage and CIS
- Self Assessment and corporation tax support
- Invoicing
Worth knowing: The free tier only applies if you hold a qualifying NatWest, RBS, Mettle, or Ulster Bank business current account — everyone else pays the monthly subscription.
Price: Free with a NatWest, RBS, Mettle, or Ulster Bank business current account, otherwise from £19/month + VAT
QuickBooks Online from Intuit is HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax and starts at £10/month for sole traders. It is best known for its excellent mobile app and tight payroll integration.
- Best for
- Sole traders & small businesses already in the Intuit ecosystem
- Not ideal for
- Not ideal if you are not already in the Intuit ecosystem — it has less of a UK-native feel and a less flexible category structure than Xero.
Key features
- MTD Income Tax submissions
- Integrated QuickBooks Payroll and Intuit payments
- Excellent mobile app with mileage tracking
- Instant receipt capture
Worth knowing: Recent UK price increases have drawn criticism, and useful features like MTD VAT and multi-currency sit on higher-priced tiers.
Price: From £10/month (Sole Trader) — £24/month (Essentials)
Tradify
Tradify (Access Group)
Tradify is job management software built for UK tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, and gas engineers. It handles quoting, scheduling, job tracking, and invoicing alongside MTD-recognised accounting software.
- Best for
- UK tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, HVAC) who need job management, quoting, and invoicing
- Not ideal for
- Not ideal if you need MTD tax submissions in one tool — Tradify is not MTD-recognised on its own — or if you are a single trader on a tight budget.
Key features
- Quoting and invoicing
- Scheduling with Google Calendar sync
- Job tracking with photos and notes
- Compliance certificates for gas and electrical work
Worth knowing: It is not HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax, so you still need Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage alongside it for tax submissions.
Price: From £34/month (Lite) — £44/month (Plus)
Affiliate link — see our disclosure.
Selection criteria for tradespeople
These are the features that matter most when choosing MTD software for tradespeople.
- MTD-recognised for your quarterly Income Tax updates
- Easy expense capture from your phone while you are on site
- Mileage tracking between jobs
- Clean job-profit numbers per customer or job
- VAT handling that scales with you past £85,000
- A compatible job-management app if you need quoting and certificates
Your MTD prep checklist
- Log every job and material cost in the same place as your bookkeeping
- Turn on mileage capture so travel between jobs records itself
- Check whether you are VAT-registered — it changes your MTD setup
- Ask your accountant which product they prefer to work in, then confirm it is MTD-recognised
- Set reminders for the 7th of the month after each quarter end
- Keep your spreadsheets or builder diary as backup for the first quarter