Domestic & pet services
MTD software for chimney sweeps.
Sweep the chimney. Clear the receipt pile.
A busy sweeping round can mean cash at one property and a transfer from the next. Avona helps chimney sweeps bring those payments and equipment costs into a regular bookkeeping routine.
- Who it is for
- Chimney sweeps working as sole traders, managing their own business records and MTD for Income Tax updates.
- Available now
- Digital records, bank feeds, statement imports, transaction categorisation and quarterly self-employment updates. Pro adds customer invoicing, VAT accounting and reporting.
- Monthly price
- From £15/month for Lite. Pro is £20/month.
- Free trial
- Full access for 7 days. No credit card required.
- Annual-return limitations
- Quarterly updates do not replace your annual tax return. HMRC lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development. Check the listing and confirm support for your income sources before relying on Avona for your annual return.
Making Tax Digital
It’s what comes in.
Before costs go out.
The day’s bank deposits may not include every cash payment you collected. Keep a record of completed jobs and how each customer paid, including any additional services sold.
Understand Making Tax Digital →When does MTD apply?
Combined qualifying self-employment and property income, before expenses:
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25
- From 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26
- From 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27
- From 6 April 2028
Eligibility and exemptions matter. These are income thresholds, not tax-free allowances.
Check HMRC’s eligibility guidance ↗From the work to your records
Clear records for your chimney-sweeping appointments.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your chimney-sweeping appointments, shared purchases and cash collected after chimney-sweeping visits.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £360 for your chimney-sweeping appointments £65 spent on brush replacements and protective supplies | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for brush replacements and protective supplies. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £360 as the sale and the £65 cost separately. The £295 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for dust sheets for customer visits; £20 for cleaning supplies for your own home | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify dust sheets for customer visits separately from cleaning supplies for your own home. | Only the eligible £80 business portion belongs in business costs. Exclude the £20 personal purchase, and check that importing both the bank transaction and the receipt has not counted the spending twice. |
| £300 cash takings; £40 spent £260 left to bank after a business purchase | Record cash collected after chimney-sweeping visits and retain the receipt for the £40 of business supplies. Reconcile the cash movement with the later bank deposit. | The £260 bank deposit is not the full income. Keep £300 of takings and the £40 purchase separately recorded, and treat banking that same cash as a transfer rather than another sale. |
Keep supporting documents alongside your figures, review business use and apply your accounting method consistently. HMRC: keeping business records ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for chimney sweeps. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Brushes and rods
Soot-vacuum servicing
Dust sheets
Protective masks
Business travel
Business liability insurance
One thing to watch
Cash spent on supplies is still a customer receipt
If you use a customer’s cash to buy replacement brushes before banking it, record both the original income and the purchase. The smaller bank deposit does not tell the full story.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your chimney-sweeping appointments.
Log each customer payment, capture equipment receipts and check the cash total against your appointment records.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for brush replacements and protective supplies. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish dust sheets for customer visits from cleaning supplies for your own home.
How document capture works →Reconcile your chimney-sweeping appointments payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for cash collected after chimney-sweeping visits available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
How bank review works →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your chimney-sweeping appointments income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for cash collected after chimney-sweeping visits ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from chimney sweeps.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers chimney sweeps working as sole traders. Your start date depends on combined qualifying self-employment and property income before expenses, and any exemptions. Employment and limited-company work have different reporting arrangements.
What if I buy new brushes with the day's cash takings?
Keep a record of the customer income and a separate receipt for the brushes. The cash eventually deposited is lower than the original takings and should not replace them.
How do I record cash collected after chimney-sweeping visits?
Example: £300 cash takings; £40 spent (£260 left to bank after a business purchase). The £260 bank deposit is not the full income. Keep £300 of takings and the £40 purchase separately recorded, and treat banking that same cash as a transfer rather than another sale.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Cash spent on supplies is still a customer receipt. If you use a customer’s cash to buy replacement brushes before banking it, record both the original income and the purchase. The smaller bank deposit does not tell the full story.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your chimney-sweeping appointments income records and evidence of brush replacements and protective supplies into Avona using supported spreadsheet uploads. Check dates, categories, personal spending and duplicates against the original documents before you approve the records.
Do quarterly updates complete my annual tax return?
No. You still need the annual tax return and any relevant adjustments or other income. HMRC currently lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development for Avona. Confirm support for your own income sources and circumstances before relying on Avona for the annual return.
Built for the way you earn
Clear the way for simpler sweeping accounts.
Choosing Avona
Your questions, answered.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. You can create customer invoices with Avona Pro.
What if I am VAT-registered?
Full VAT accounting is available with Avona Pro, so you can manage your VAT-registered business with Avona.
Can my accountant review my records?
Yes. You can connect your Avona account to your bookkeeper or accountant so they can review your records.
Can I use my phone on site?
Yes. Every feature has a mobile-friendly version, so you can manage your accounts from your phone while you are on the move.
Can I keep using my personal bank account?
Yes. Avona supports Open Banking connections and PDF bank statement uploads. You can clearly separate personal and business transactions to keep your business records organised.