Know how much tax you owe
With ANNA, tax is never a surprise. You'll know what you owe HMRC in real time, based on all your transactions and invoices.
The best business account for catering businesses
Invoices created and sent, ingredients and kit expensed, tax set aside as money comes in. ANNA handles the admin side so you can focus on the next event.
- Create and send invoices on the go
- Expense ingredients and kit automatically
- Tax set aside as each booking pays out
- VAT, Corporation Tax or MTD Self Assessment filed
Trusted by 100,000+ business owners
How ANNA helps run your catering business
The financial side of a catering business doesn't look like most other trades. Events booked months in advance, deposits paid upfront, ingredients bought before a penny comes in. Here's what you're actually dealing with – and what ANNA handles for you.
Ingredients and kit, expensed properly
Food, packaging, kitchen equipment, catering hire, mileage to venues and suppliers – the receipts pile up fast. ANNA's AI receipt scanner reads each one and categorises the expense automatically. No missing receipts, no manual entry.
Pay yourself or a team member simply
Running a limited company? The +Taxes add-on includes payroll for a director or employee, built into the same app you use for everything else.
Deposit now, balance later
both invoiced properly – Take a deposit to secure the booking, then invoice the balance once the event's done. Add a payment link to each one so clients can pay by card straight away.
Casual staff, paid without the palaver
Bring in extra kitchen or serving staff for a big event, pay them by bank transfer, and it's logged as an expense automatically – no float, no IOUs to remember.
Recurring supplier costs, on autopilot
Weekly ingredient deliveries, kitchen equipment hire, professional subscriptions – set up a Direct Debit once and ANNA logs every payment automatically, so nothing needs manual entry.
Invoicing
Invoice before the event arrives
Create and send a professional invoice in seconds, directly from the ANNA app. Add a payment link so clients can pay by card on the spot. Set up recurring invoices for regular clients so you never have to think about it.
For catering businesses: Chase late payments automatically. Corporate and event clients can be slow to pay. ANNA sends reminders so you don't have to make that awkward call.
- Create and send invoices in seconds
- Payment links – clients pay by card from their phone
- Recurring invoices for weekly and monthly clients
Expenses
Every catering expense, categorised automatically
ANNA will remind you to take a picture of receipts as you buy. Our AI receipt scanner reads them and categorises the expense. It all lands in the right place, ready for your tax return.
For catering businesses: Ingredient costs can swing wildly from one event to the next – a stag do is not a wedding for four hundred. ANNA's AI receipt scanner categorises every purchase automatically, so your margins stay visible even when the shopping list doesn't.
- AI-powered receipt scanner – photo it and move on
- Efficient expense auto-categorisation
- No missed transactions and no human error
- No human accountant needed – it's all handled for you
Tax Pot
Tax set aside automatically, so there are no nasty surprises
Every time you get paid, ANNA can automatically move a percentage into a Tax Pot. When MTD Self Assessment or a VAT bill arrives, the money's already there. No scrambling, no borrowing, no stress.
For catering businesses: A packed December can mask a very quiet January. Setting aside tax as each payment arrives – not as a lump sum when the bill lands – is the simplest way to stay on top of it without losing sleep over a slow month.
- Running tax estimate so you always know what you owe
- Separate pot for VAT, Corporation tax or Self assessment
- Automatic Tax Pots – set your percentage and forget it
Auto Accountant · +Taxes
VAT, Self Assessment and Corporation tax – handled
ANNA's Auto Accountant calculates your taxes behind the scenes, so that you can review and file them directly with HMRC – no spreadsheets, no accountant required.
For catering businesses: Once your turnover hits £90,000 you must register for VAT and file quarterly under Making Tax Digital (MTD) – HMRC's digital record-keeping system. ANNA handles it for you, one more job off your to do list.
- Auto Accountant calculates your taxes on the background
- VAT filing directly to HMRC (MTD-compliant)
- MTD Self Assessment filed in a few clicks
- Corporation Tax sorted if you run a limited company
- Expert support when you need a human
Team expense cards
Give your team a card – with limits you control
When your kitchen staff need to buy supplies on a job, give them their own ANNA business expense card with a spending limit. No petty cash, no reimbursements, no receipts shoved in a pocket.
For catering businesses: Great for staff who buy last-minute supplies on event day. They spend within the limit you set, ANNA logs every transaction automatically.
- Up to 5 expense cards on the Business plan
- Set individual spending limits per card
- See all team spending in one place in real time
- Virtual cards available instantly
Plans that grow with your catering business
Start free, upgrade as you grow. No hidden fees, cancel any time.
Pay As You Go
£0Pay for what you use
Basic account with no monthly fees. You only pay for what you use
No monthly fee
0.95% commission on all payments into your account
No commission on transfers from your own accounts
Business
Most Popular
£22.90a month+VAT
Business account with all the essentials to get your business growing
First month is free
60 free local transfers
Up to 5 free expense cards
Big Business
£59.90a month+VAT
Unlimited account with everything your business needs to thrive
First month is free
Unlimited free local transfers
Unlimited free expense cards
+Taxes add-on
£29.00a month+VAT
Your bookkeeping, corporation tax, VAT and payroll sorted. LTD companies only
Tax calculation & filing
Auto-bookkeeping
Expert tax support
Do you need a business account for a catering business?
It depends on your structure – but separating business and personal money almost always makes financial admin easier.
If you're a sole trader caterer
Not legally required, but HMRC expects clear business records. Mixing them with personal spending makes your tax return harder and gives HMRC more to question. A free account solves this in minutes.
If you run a limited catering company
A limited company is a separate legal entity. Using a personal account for company money isn't permitted – it can create serious tax and legal problems.
If you work with staff or subcontractors
Once you're paying other people, a proper business account makes it much easier to track payments, manage invoices and keep clean records for HMRC.
Businesses that use ANNA
Business owners love ANNA, from our clever tools to the human touch that makes running your business feel so easy.
Just started my catering business and Anna banking makes it so simple! Easy step by step navigation and a great booking tool too.
sophie
Trustpilot, 12 March 2022
I have just become a self employed Home Carer, and ANNA has been brilliant, and helped me set up a business Account, and invoicing was simple.
Mrs Clair Maggs
Trustpilot, 9 February 2023
Just started my catering business and Anna banking makes it so simple! Easy step by step navigation and a great booking tool too.
sophie
Trustpilot, 12 March 2022
I have just become a self employed Home Carer, and ANNA has been brilliant, and helped me set up a business Account, and invoicing was simple.
Mrs Clair Maggs
Trustpilot, 9 February 2023
Just started my catering business and Anna banking makes it so simple! Easy step by step navigation and a great booking tool too.
sophie
Trustpilot, 12 March 2022
I have just become a self employed Home Carer, and ANNA has been brilliant, and helped me set up a business Account, and invoicing was simple.
Mrs Clair Maggs
Trustpilot, 9 February 2023
I am self-employed, and have looked up and tried a couple of business bank accounts. I didn't like them but didn't want the hassle to switch. But I'm glad I switched to Anna. The invoicing function is great.
Melody
Trustpilot, 28 July 2025
I registered as a sole trader in 2021 and chose ANNA as my business banking. I'm on a pay as you go package, so my fees depend on how much I work each month. I love how flexible it is!
Tanesia Jones
Trustpilot, 6 June 2023
I am self-employed, and have looked up and tried a couple of business bank accounts. I didn't like them but didn't want the hassle to switch. But I'm glad I switched to Anna. The invoicing function is great.
Melody
Trustpilot, 28 July 2025
I registered as a sole trader in 2021 and chose ANNA as my business banking. I'm on a pay as you go package, so my fees depend on how much I work each month. I love how flexible it is!
Tanesia Jones
Trustpilot, 6 June 2023
I am self-employed, and have looked up and tried a couple of business bank accounts. I didn't like them but didn't want the hassle to switch. But I'm glad I switched to Anna. The invoicing function is great.
Melody
Trustpilot, 28 July 2025
I registered as a sole trader in 2021 and chose ANNA as my business banking. I'm on a pay as you go package, so my fees depend on how much I work each month. I love how flexible it is!
Tanesia Jones
Trustpilot, 6 June 2023
How ANNA business account compares
Key features for catering businesses, side by side.
| Account | Monthly fee | Payroll | Accounting | Payment link | FSCS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNA | From £0 | YesNative | Built-in | Yes | Yes |
| Tide | From £0 | Yes | BasicBuilt-in | Yes | Yes |
| Starling | £0 | YesNative | via Xero + Quickbooks | No | Yes |
| Monzo Business | From £0 | Yes | via Xero | Yes | Yes |
| Barclays | £8.50/mo | No | No | No | Yes |
Fees and features correct at time of writing. Always check provider websites for the latest details.
Common questions from catering businesses
No – sole traders aren't legally required to keep business and personal money separate. But HMRC expects clear records of business income and expenses, and mixing them with personal transactions makes that much harder. A free ANNA account solves this with almost no effort.
Once your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period. Once registered, you'll file quarterly under Making Tax Digital (MTD). With ANNA's +Taxes add-on, every VAT return is calculated automatically so that you can submit it directly to HMRC.
Yes – if you are a sole trader, ANNA Auto Accountant will categorise your income and expenses throughout the year, and calculate your MTD Self Assessment automatically so that you can file it in a tap directly with HMRC when it's due. A few clicks, not a few weeks of panic.
Under 10 minutes – you'll need a smartphone, some ID, and your basic business details. Your ANNA business expense card arrives in 2–3 days. Our Cardiff-based team is available 24/7 if anything needs a hand.
Ingredients for client jobs, packaging, kitchen equipment, commercial kitchen hire, branded uniforms, mileage to venues and suppliers, and staff costs are all allowable. ANNA's AI receipt scanner captures and categorises each expense automatically, so nothing slips through the net.
Just message ANNA with what you're invoicing for and your customer's details, and we'll create a professional invoice in a tap. Every invoice includes a payment QR code, so your customer can scan it and pay you straight away. And if they're late, we'll chase the payment for you.
Yes – the Business plan includes up to 5 expense cards, each with individual spending limits you set. The Big Business plan has unlimited cards. Useful when staff need to pick up ingredients or supplies before an event without handing over your main card.
Yes – ANNA Auto Accountant prepares your Corporation tax so that you can file it directly with HMRC.
Get your admin sorted in one place
Open an ANNA business account in under 10 minutes. No branch visit, no credit check. Free to start.
Accounts for other business types
ANNA works across all kinds of small businesses – not just catering. See how it fits yours.