Hospitality & events
MTD software for independent celebrants.
Create a meaningful ceremony. Simplify the paperwork.
Weddings, funerals and naming ceremonies each bring preparation, travel and client payments. Avona helps independent celebrants keep the financial records organised around a varied diary.
- Who it is for
- Independent celebrants 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.
A booking fee and a later balance may arrive months apart. Keep the payment history with the ceremony agreement and record income consistently under your accounting method.
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 ceremony service.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your ceremony service, shared purchases and a celebrant ceremony booking.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £650 for your ceremony service £95 spent on ceremony stationery and sound-equipment hire | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for ceremony stationery and sound-equipment hire. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £650 as the sale and the £95 cost separately. The £555 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for printing for a client's ceremony; £20 for materials for a family celebration | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify printing for a client's ceremony separately from materials for a family celebration. | 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. |
| £200 booking payment, then £600 £800 agreed total | Keep the agreement for a celebrant ceremony booking and review both customer receipts against it. Bring in the payments through your bank feed or statement import. | The two payments account for the £800 total. Do not count the full invoice again as another receipt. Use your accounting method for timing, and retain evidence of any later cancellation or refund. |
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 independent celebrants. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Business insurance
Website hosting
Ceremony stationery
Business-use sound equipment
Eligible ceremony travel
Booking software
One thing to watch
A ceremony outfit is not automatically deductible
An outfit worn only for ceremonies can still be ordinary clothing for tax purposes. Keep it distinct from eligible stationery, equipment and other business costs when reviewing expenses.
HMRC: clothing expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your ceremony service.
Upload ceremony-related receipts, record business travel and check deposits, balances and any refunds against your booking agreements.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for ceremony stationery and sound-equipment hire. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish printing for a client's ceremony from materials for a family celebration.
How document capture works →Reconcile your ceremony service payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a celebrant ceremony booking 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 ceremony service income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a celebrant ceremony booking ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from independent celebrants.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers independent celebrants 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.
Can I claim an outfit bought only for ceremonies?
An outfit can still be ordinary clothing for tax purposes even if worn only at ceremonies. Keep it separate from eligible stationery, equipment and other business purchases.
How do I record a celebrant ceremony booking?
Example: £200 booking payment, then £600 (£800 agreed total). The two payments account for the £800 total. Do not count the full invoice again as another receipt. Use your accounting method for timing, and retain evidence of any later cancellation or refund.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
A ceremony outfit is not automatically deductible. An outfit worn only for ceremonies can still be ordinary clothing for tax purposes. Keep it distinct from eligible stationery, equipment and other business costs when reviewing expenses.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your ceremony service income records and evidence of ceremony stationery and sound-equipment hire 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
Give your celebrant-business records a simpler routine.
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.