Case study
Growing from day one with TaxCalc and Engager
How Amy Hancock turned a side hustle into a thriving compliance and audit practice, with software that grows as she does.
01 / Full Video Testimonial
02 / Overview
Executive Summary
Hancock and Hastings is a compliance and audit practice founded by Amy Hancock. TaxCalc was the very first software she subscribed to when she took her side hustle full time with just 12 clients. Today the growing firm runs on TaxCalc and Engager, with faster onboarding, automated client communication and software so intuitive that new starters don’t need a training course.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- 1 database for onboarding, prospects and clients
- 1 click to add new products as the firm grows
- MTD client emails automated with Engager
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Accounts Production
Produce compliant statutory accounts and file to Companies House
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Tax Return Production
Prepare and file personal, corporation and trust tax returns
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MTD Quarterly Filer
Keep clients MTD-compliant with easy quarterly submissions to HMRC
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VAT Filer
File client VAT returns to HMRC via MTD and Gateway
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Sales & Onboarding
Track deals and convert prospects into clients seamlessly
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CloudConnect
Access your practice data securely from anywhere with UK-hosted cloud storage
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Company Incorporator
Set up limited companies and LLPs directly with Companies House
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Companies House Forms
Complete and file statutory forms to Companies House online
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03 / THE CHALLENGE
Going it alone without the big budget
When Amy decided to go it alone, she didn’t have the investment behind her for the software she’d used in previous roles, most of which required paying up front. Without an affordable option, she faced the prospect of filing directly with HMRC.
“At that point in time, I was thinking I was going to have to use the HMRC website. Petrifying.”
04 / THE SOLUTION
Software that grows as you grow
Amy had walked past the TaxCalc stand at Accountex, wrongly assuming it was only for personal tax. Taking a closer look changed everything. The subscription model meant she could start with exactly what she needed (accounts production, tax production, practice management and company secretarial) and add more at the click of a button.
“You didn’t have to have a meeting and have complex plans or anything like that. You’ve got the flexibility for TaxCalc to grow as you grow.”
05 / IMPLEMENTATION
No training needed, no going back
TaxCalc was intuitive from the start. “I didn’t need any training,” says Amy. “Even now when I have staff starting, I don’t put them on a training course. I say, ‘You’ve used other software before. Go and have a look.’ And they can just pick it up.” SimpleStep has been a standout, using clear sections like employment, self-employment and property instead of HMRC form language.
“If you took Engager out of the firm, I’d be lost. Tracking where everyone is at outside of a practice management tool like Engager would be hours. I would never go back.”
Amy Hancock, Founder - Hancock & Hastings
Automated emails have made Making Tax Digital far more manageable, and the team has unanimously agreed to move its workflows onto Engager next. With a product team of accountants who understand their pain points and really listen, Amy is confident the software will keep pace with the firm’s growth.
See what TaxCalc could give your practice back
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