The bookkeeping app for handymen
Do your books from the van, out loud. Say what you did and VanBooks writes the invoice, logs the costs and miles, and keeps your tax figure up to date.
“Put up shelves and fixed a door for Mrs Taylor, £120. Brackets and screws, £14. Six miles.”
Made for the way handymen work
Lots of small jobs, done in seconds
Say each job in the van and the invoice, cost and miles are drafted for you.
A diary for the week
Book jobs in, text customers to confirm, and invoice them when they're done.
Paid by bank transfer
Invoices go by WhatsApp with your bank details, and you see when they've been opened.
Know what to put aside
After every payment, VanBooks tells you how much to keep back for tax.
Also in VanBooks
- Making Tax Digital quarterly updates and VAT returns
- How much to put aside after every payment, and when to pay HMRC
- Mileage worked out from postcodes, 45p and 25p a mile
- A private link for your accountant, or their own sign-in
Questions handymen ask
What can a handyman claim?
Materials and fixings used on jobs, tools, van costs or mileage, workwear, trade insurance, phone and software, and advertising such as flyers and listings.
Does Making Tax Digital apply to me as a handyman?
It depends on your turnover (money in before costs), not profit. It starts in April 2026 if you took over £50,000, April 2027 over £30,000 and April 2028 over £20,000. VanBooks keeps the digital records and sends the quarterly updates.
Can I claim for my van?
Yes. Either claim 45p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p after, or the actual costs (fuel, insurance, repairs and the van itself), but not both for the same van. VanBooks works out either and warns you if you mix them.
Guides for handymen
- How to invoice as a sole trader: what an invoice must include
- What can tradespeople claim as expenses?
- Charging customers for materials: markup, VAT and recharges
- How much tax should I put aside when I'm self-employed?
- Making Tax Digital for sole traders: what changes and when
First month free, then £9 a month
No card needed to start. Cancel any time.
Free tools: tax calculator · mileage calculator · Does MTD apply to me?