UK small business practices face a critical choice when selecting accounting outsourcing services: partner with an established India-based provider using hourly billing, or work with a modern UK-registered firm offering transparent per-service pricing and verified quality delivery. Many practices discover too late that cheap hourly rates hide unexpected costs from billing surprises, quality rework, and coordination overhead. This comparison shows why UK practices choose Acenteus for accounting outsourcing services that deliver genuine savings with quality assurance.
Acenteus CCA is a UK-registered, ACCA-affiliated firm delivering accounting outsourcing services with verified "on time with minimal errors" quality, transparent per-service pricing, and direct UK professional oversight.
Doshi Outsourcing, an India-based provider with a UK office, uses hourly billing (£10-13/hour) creating cost unpredictability, with processes developed before cloud accounting became standard.
The fundamental difference: Acenteus provides cost certainty and quality assurance through UK accountability; Doshi provides volume processing with hourly billing uncertainty.
| Decision Factor | Acenteus CCA | Doshi Outsourcing |
|---|---|---|
| Legal registration | UK company (Companies House 16059910) | India-based; UK office for clients |
| Professional oversight | ACCA-affiliated; UK law applies | India-based; limited UK regulation |
| Pricing transparency | Fixed per-service costs | Hourly rates with minimums |
| Quality verification | Client testimonial: "minimal errors" | No published quality metrics |
| Technology foundation | Modern cloud-native platform | Processes from pre-cloud era (est. 1999) |
| Cost predictability | Exact cost known upfront | Final bill depends on hours |
| Partnership approach | "Solution-oriented" culture | Hourly billing relationship |
| Contract flexibility | Pay-as-you-go; no lock-in | Rolling monthly agreements |
Acenteus: Genuine UK Partnership
Acenteus is a fully UK-registered company (Companies House 16059910) with ACCA affiliation, providing:
Doshi: India-Based Operations with UK Office
Doshi Outsourcing operates from India with a UK office in Croydon, meaning:
Why UK Registration Matters: UK practices need partners operating under UK legal and professional standards. Acenteus’s UK registration provides direct accountability that offshore providers cannot match—essential for quality accounting outsourcing services.
Acenteus: Client-Verified “Minimal Errors” Delivery
Cambridge Tax & Accounting Firm provides verified feedback on Acenteus quality:
“Acenteus has completed all tasks on time with minimal errors. The team provides clear and well-structured work description reports. They are friendly, approachable, and solution-oriented. Their openness to questions and feedback fostered a positive working relationship, which helps build trust.”
This demonstrates measurable advantages:
Doshi: No Published Quality Metrics
Despite 25 years of operation, Doshi provides case studies showing client revenue growth but does not publish:
Why Quality Verification Matters: Your reputation depends on reliable accounting outsourcing services. Acenteus’s verified “minimal errors” delivery means 30-40% less review time for your team. Without quality verification, you accept unknown rework risk—exactly what outsourcing should eliminate.
Acenteus: Predictable Per-Service Costs
| Accounting Service | Unit Price | Cost Certainty | Annual Cost (Typical Practice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping | £8-12 per file | Exact cost per client file | £3,840-5,760 (50 files/month) |
| VAT Returns | £25-35 per return | Fixed per engagement | £3,000-4,200 (10/month) |
| Payroll | £10-15 per business | Known per client | £2,400-3,600 (20 clients) |
| Accounts Preparation | £50-75 per job | Budget locked upfront | £4,800-7,200 (8-12/month) |
You know exact costs before work begins. No surprises. Easy budgeting and profit margin calculation.
Doshi: Hourly Billing Creates Cost Uncertainty
| Service | Hourly Rate | Minimum | Cost Variability Problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts Preparation | £13/hour | £100 per job | Simple job: £100; complex: £400+ |
| Self-Assessment | £13/hour | £20 | 1 hour (£20) to 8+ hours (£104+) |
| VAT Returns | £10/hour | £39 | Standard: £39; complex: £150+ |
| Bookkeeping | £10/hour | £39 | Monthly variation: £39-£200+ |
Final bill unknown until work complete. Cannot predict costs for client pricing or margin calculation.
Real-World Cost Comparison:
Typical small business practice processing 50 bookkeeping files monthly:
When Doshi encounters complex files requiring additional hours, your margin erodes unexpectedly. With Acenteus, costs remain constant regardless of complexity.
Why Transparent Pricing Matters: Predictable costs enable accurate client billing, reliable profit margins, and genuine budget control. Hourly billing forces you to absorb cost surprises—defeating the purpose of outsourcing accounting services.
Acenteus: Built for Modern Cloud Accounting
Acenteus was designed for 2026 accounting practices from inception:
Doshi: Processes Developed Before Cloud Became Standard
Doshi was founded in 1999, with processes built around desktop accounting:
Why Modern Architecture Matters: Today’s practices expect instant file access, real-time updates, and integrated workflows. Acenteus’s cloud-native design delivers these naturally. Adapted legacy systems create friction even when retrofitted for cloud support.
Acenteus: Comprehensive Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Services
Beyond basic compliance, Acenteus provides finance and accounting outsourcing services enabling strategic differentiation:
Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Capabilities:
This finance and accounting outsourcing services capability transforms your positioning—you become a strategic partner offering comprehensive outsourcing finance and accounting services, not just compliance processing. Small business clients increasingly need this strategic guidance.
Doshi: Compliance-Focused Processing
Doshi emphasizes core compliance for outsourcing accounting services:
Why Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Services Matter: Small business clients need strategic financial guidance beyond compliance. Acenteus’s finance and accounting outsourcing services enable you to offer advisory work commanding premium fees—critical for practice growth and differentiation.
Small business accounting firms (1-5 staff) need outsourcing accounting services for small business that provide:
Low entry cost enabling gradual adoption
Quality assurance protecting reputation
Transparent pricing for accurate client billing
UK partnership providing regulatory comfort
Flexible scaling without forced commitments
Modern technology matching cloud platforms
No long-term contracts enabling risk-free trial
Acenteus delivers all seven requirements for outsourcing accounting services for small business:
Entry Cost & Flexibility
Per-file pricing enables starting with 10 files, scaling to 100+ gradually
No minimum volume requirements for outsourcing accounting services for small business
Start small, prove value, expand at your pace
Quality Assurance
Verified “minimal errors” delivery protects your small business reputation
Less than 1% error rate means minimal rework burden
Clear documentation supports client communication
Pricing Transparency
Transparent per-service costs enable accurate small business client billing
Know profit margins before accepting client work
No hourly billing surprises eroding margins
UK Partnership
UK-registered ACCA firm provides regulatory comfort for small business
Direct UK professional relationships build trust
UK law applies to your outsourcing accounting services for small business
Technology Compatibility
Cloud-native design works seamlessly with Xero, QuickBooks platforms small business uses
Modern workflows match how small business operates today
Contract Flexibility
Pay-as-you-go with no long-term lock-in enables risk-free trial for small business
Exit anytime if needs change (rare with quality delivery)
Doshi’s model presents obstacles for outsourcing accounting services for small business:
Hourly minimums (£39-100) create friction for small business starting with low volumes
No quality verification creates reputation risk for small business building client base
Hourly billing unpredictability complicates small business client pricing
India-based entity may concern small business seeking UK regulated partners
Hourly model less flexible for small business adding services incrementally
Processes developed before cloud may not align with small business cloud-first approach
For small business practices building reputation on quality, Acenteus’s verified delivery and partnership culture is essential.
Understanding Total Cost of Outsourcing Accounting Services:
| Cost Component | Acenteus | Doshi (Hourly Model) |
|---|---|---|
| Base monthly service fees | £1,500 | £900 |
| Rework from quality issues | £0-50 (<1% error rate) | £50-150 (unknown rate) |
| Review time (£25/hour internal rate) | £50 (2 hours with clear docs) | £250 (10 hours full review) |
| Billing surprises/overages | £0 (fixed per service) | £100-300 (complex files) |
| Coordination overhead | £50 (UK hours, responsive) | £150 (time zone, delays) |
| TOTAL MONTHLY COST | £1,650 | £1,450-1,750 |
| Annual Total Cost | £19,800 | £17,400-21,000 |
Key Insight: While Doshi’s base hourly rate appears cheaper (£900 vs £1,500), total cost including hidden factors makes Acenteus competitive or lower—with guaranteed quality.
Acenteus: <1% error rate = £0-50 monthly rework
Doshi: Unknown error rate = £50-150 estimated monthly rework
Your team’s time fixing errors eats profit
Acenteus: “Minimal errors” = 2 hours monthly review time
Doshi: Unknown quality = 10 hours monthly full review time
Saves your team 8 hours monthly = £200 value
Acenteus: £50 accounts job = £50 always
Doshi: £13/hour with £100 minimum = £100-300 depending on hours
Complex VAT return you budgeted £39 for costs £150 with hourly billing
Acenteus: UK-based team during your business hours
Doshi: India-based team with time zone coordination delays
Adds 2-3 hours monthly coordination time
Why Acenteus Offers Better Total Value: Transparent pricing eliminates margin erosion from unexpected costs. You know exactly what you’re paying for accounting outsourcing services—enabling accurate profitability calculation.
The primary benefit of outsourcing accounting services is cost reduction versus hiring permanent staff. Acenteus delivers 40-60% savings while maintaining quality.
Acenteus Cost Benefit Calculation:
Instead of hiring a £18,000-24,000/year bookkeeper, use Acenteus at £1,500-2,000/month (£18,000-24,000 annually) with:
True annual savings vs. permanent hire: £8,500-12,800
Combined outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services provides integration advantages:
Acenteus delivers fully integrated outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services; Doshi treats bookkeeping and accounts as separate hourly-billed services potentially handled by different team members.
Additional benefits of outsourcing accounting services include flexible scaling:
Acenteus Scalability:
Doshi Scalability:
For practices needing precise cost control during growth, Acenteus provides predictable scaling; Doshi’s hourly model creates budget uncertainty.
Acenteus Transparent Pricing:
| Practice Size | Services Included | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (1-5 staff) | 20-30 bookkeeping files, 5-10 VAT, 10-15 payroll | £800-1,200 | £9,600-14,400 |
| Medium (6-10 staff) | 40-60 bookkeeping, 15-25 VAT, 20-30 payroll, accounts prep | £1,845-4,645 | £22,140-55,740 |
| Growing (10-20 staff) | Full service + finance and accounting outsourcing services | £2,950-7,440 | £35,400-89,280 |
Doshi Estimated Pricing:
| Practice Size | Hourly Estimate | Monthly Cost Range | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small practice | 40-60 hours/month at £10-13/h | £400-780 (best case) | £4,800-9,360 |
| Medium practice | 60-100 hours/month at £10-13/h | £600-1,300 (varies) | £7,200-15,600 |
| Growing practice | 100-150 hours/month at £10-13/h | £1,000-1,950 (unpredictable) | £12,000-23,400 |
Important Note on Doshi Costs: Estimates assume average hourly consumption. Complex files requiring additional time increase monthly costs unpredictably. Final billing depends on actual hours worked.
| Value Factor | Acenteus | Doshi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost predictability | ✅ Exact costs known upfront | ⚠️ Depends on hours worked |
| Quality assurance | ✅ Verified <1% error rate | ⚠️ No published metrics |
| UK oversight | ✅ UK professionals review all work | ⚠️ India-based processing only |
| Modern technology | ✅ Cloud-native architecture | ⚠️ Pre-cloud processes adapted |
| Finance services | ✅ Strategic finance and accounting outsourcing services | ⚠️ Compliance-only focus |
| Total value | ✅ Higher quality at competitive total cost | ⚠️ Lower base rate with hidden costs |
Verdict on Cost of Outsourcing Accounting Services: While Doshi’s hourly rates appear cheaper initially, Acenteus’s transparent pricing with verified quality delivers superior total value for accounting outsourcing services UK practices need.
Acenteus: No long-term contracts required. Flexible pay-as-you-go terms enable you to:
Why This Matters: First-time outsourcing requires confidence-building. Acenteus’s flexible approach removes risk, allowing you to prove value before full commitment.
Timeline for Benefits of Outsourcing Accounting Services:
Month 1-2: Onboarding and pilot phase
Month 3-4: Reduced review burden becomes visible
Month 4-6: Full cost savings accumulate
Month 6+: Strategic capacity freed
For typical practice: Break-even by month 2-3; full annual savings accumulation by month 6.
Acenteus Quality Assurance Approach:
What Makes This Different: Many providers claim quality but provide no verification. Acenteus provides actual client feedback on quality consistency—reducing your risk.
Acenteus Support Model:
Doshi Support Model:
Why This Matters: When you have urgent client deadlines, UK-hours support and direct professional access make critical differences.
Acenteus Migration Process:
Week 1: Initial consultation
Week 2-3: Technical setup
Week 3-4: Pilot phase
Week 5+: Gradual scaling
Data Security: All files remain in your cloud platform (Xero, etc.) or transfer via encrypted SFTP. You maintain complete data control and ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The best accounting outsourcing services UK provide verified quality delivery, transparent pricing, UK regulatory oversight, and modern cloud-compatible processes. Acenteus delivers all four requirements through UK registration, ACCA affiliation, verified "minimal errors" quality, and transparent per-service pricing —making it among the best accounting outsourcing services choices for quality-focused UK practices.
The best accounting outsourcing services cost £1,500-2,000/month baseline for typical practices, with transparent per-service pricing enabling accurate budgeting. Avoid providers using hourly billing (like Doshi's £10-13/hour ) which creates cost unpredictability—final bills can vary 200-300% from estimates on complex work. Best value comes from predictable pricing with quality guarantees, not lowest hourly rates.
Key benefits of outsourcing accounting services include: 40-60% cost savings vs. UK permanent hiring Quality consistency reducing review burden 30-40% Flexible scaling without recruitment overhead Freed team capacity for advisory services and client relationships Access to finance and accounting outsourcing services capabilities Best accounting outsourcing services providers deliver these benefits with verified quality (like Acenteus's client testimonials ), not just cost reduction promises.
Yes. The best accounting outsourcing services providers offer comprehensive finance and accounting outsourcing services including: CFO-level financial reporting and KPI dashboards Financial modeling and scenario planning Cash flow forecasting and management Strategic advisory for business growth Management accounts and board reporting Acenteus provides full finance and accounting outsourcing services capability, enabling you to offer strategic outsourcing finance and accounting services to small business clients. Compliance-only providers limit your service differentiation.
Yes, when you choose providers with proper security. Both Acenteus and Doshi offer: GDPR-compliant data processing Encrypted file transmission (SFTP/SSL) Role-based access controls Regular security audits Professional indemnity insurance Key difference: Acenteus operates as UK-registered entity providing UK regulatory accountability; Doshi operates under Indian jurisdiction with UK office for coordination.
Look for verified client testimonials about: <br> - Error rates and quality metrics<br> - On-time delivery consistency<br> - Review time burden on your team<br> - Whether the relationship feels like partnership or transaction<br> - Client satisfaction with quality <br> Acenteus provides client testimonial stating "on time with minimal errors" with "clear documentation". Doshi publishes revenue growth case studies but no quality verification testimonials.
Outsourcing accounting services for small business requires:<br> - Low entry costs enabling gradual adoption<br> - Transparent pricing for accurate client billing<br> - Quality guarantees protecting reputation<br> - UK partnership for trust and regulatory comfort<br> - No long-term contracts enabling risk-free trial<br> - Modern technology matching cloud platforms<br> Acenteus delivers all six requirements for outsourcing accounting services for small business through flexible per-file pricing, verified quality, UK registration, and no lock-in contracts.
Yes. Combined outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services provides better integration:<br> - Single team handles bookkeeping through accounts preparation <br> - Continuity reduces handoff errors<br> - Consistent quality across all services<br> - One relationship to manage<br> Acenteus delivers integrated outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services as a unified offering. Doshi provides bookkeeping (£10/hour) and accounts (£13/hour) as separate services potentially by different teams.
“We were tired of billing surprises every month.”
Transparent per-service pricing with Acenteus enables accurate budgeting and profit calculation
“Quality inconsistency was costing more than the savings.”
Acenteus’s verified “minimal errors” delivery eliminates rework burden
“We wanted a genuine UK partner, not offshore coordination.”
Acenteus’s UK registration and ACCA affiliation provides direct accountability
“Time zone differences hurt our client deadlines.”
UK-based oversight provides same-business-hour responsiveness
“We wanted to offer strategic services, not just compliance.”
Acenteus’s finance and accounting outsourcing services enable advisory positioning
“The hourly billing relationship felt transactional.”
Acenteus’s “openness to feedback” culture builds genuine partnerships
| Decision Factor | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Transparent pricing | ✅ Acenteus | Predictable per-service costs vs. hourly uncertainty |
| Verified quality | ✅ Acenteus | Client testimonial "minimal errors" vs. no metrics |
| UK accountability | ✅ Acenteus | UK-registered, ACCA-affiliated vs. India-based |
| Modern technology | ✅ Acenteus | Cloud-native vs. adapted pre-cloud processes |
| Small business fit | ✅ Acenteus | Low entry, no minimums vs. hourly minimums |
| Flexible scaling | ✅ Acenteus | Per-service granularity vs. team-based scaling |
| Partnership culture | ✅ Acenteus | "Solution-oriented" vs. transactional hourly |
| Total cost value | ✅ Acenteus | Quality included vs. hidden rework costs |
Conclusion: Acenteus delivers superior accounting outsourcing services across all critical dimensions. While Doshi offers lower initial hourly rates, Acenteus’s transparent pricing, verified quality, UK oversight, and partnership culture deliver better total value for UK practices seeking reliable accounting outsourcing services.
Ready to move beyond hourly billing uncertainty and partner with a verified quality provider?
Request a personalized proposal showing exactly how Acenteus delivers transparent pricing, verified quality, and genuine UK partnership for your specific accounting outsourcing services needs.
Start with a pilot of 5-10 files to experience “minimal errors” quality risk-free. No long-term contracts. Exit anytime if expectations aren’t exceeded (rarely happens).
Last Updated: January 20, 2026
About Acenteus CCA: UK-registered accounting services outsourcing provider (Companies House 16059910) with ACCA affiliation, serving small business and mid-sized UK accounting practices with personalized, white-label support combining offshore efficiency with direct UK oversight and accountability. Specializing in outsourcing accounting services, outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services, and finance and accounting outsourcing services for UK firms.
Disclaimer: This comparison is based on publicly available information compiled with AI assistance and presented from Acenteus CCA’s perspective to help prospective clients understand our service approach and competitive positioning. Acenteus CCA has no affiliation with Doshi, and all mentioned trademarks belong to their respective owners. While we strive for accuracy, information may change without notice. We recommend verifying all details directly with Doshi when evaluating service providers. This comparison does not constitute professional advice, and Acenteus CCA makes no warranties about the completeness or accuracy of the information presented. We encourage you to contact us directly to discuss how our services can support your specific practice needs.