Domestic & pet services
MTD software for dog trainers and behaviourists.
Better habits for dogs. Better habits for your books.
Puppy classes, behavioural consultations and home visits can all pay through different channels. Avona helps independent dog trainers bring that income together with their everyday business receipts.
- Who it is for
- Dog trainers and behaviourists 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.
Class packages, individual consultations and training products you sell can each contribute to turnover. Keep the full sales figures visible before venue fees or payment charges are deducted.
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 dog-training consultations.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your dog-training consultations, shared purchases and a puppy-training course.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £360 for your dog-training consultations £75 spent on training-venue hire and treats | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for training-venue hire and treats. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £360 as the sale and the £75 cost separately. The £285 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for treats used in client classes; £20 for food for your own dog | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify treats used in client classes separately from food for your own dog. | 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. |
| £240 paid for a block of sessions Payment received before all sessions take place | Keep the booking and payment evidence for a puppy-training course. Reconcile the receipt with the bank entry and retain any later refund details. | A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid. |
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 dog trainers and behaviourists. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Training venue hire
Training treats
Clickers and demonstration leads
Business insurance
Booking software
Eligible business travel
One thing to watch
Your own dog’s costs are not all business costs
A pet appearing in demonstrations does not make every food or veterinary bill deductible. Identify spending for the training business and check mixed-use costs carefully.
HMRC: allowable business expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your dog-training consultations.
Upload class-supply receipts, reconcile package and consultation payments and review purchases shared between training work and your own pet.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for training-venue hire and treats. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish treats used in client classes from food for your own dog.
How document capture works →Reconcile your dog-training consultations payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a puppy-training course 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 dog-training consultations income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a puppy-training course ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from dog trainers and behaviourists.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers dog trainers and behaviourists 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.
Does demonstrating with my own dog make all its costs deductible?
No. Keep personal pet care separate and review any shared supplies carefully. Demonstration use does not establish that every food or veterinary bill is a business cost.
How do I record a puppy-training course?
Example: £240 paid for a block of sessions (payment received before all sessions take place). A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Your own dog’s costs are not all business costs. A pet appearing in demonstrations does not make every food or veterinary bill deductible. Identify spending for the training business and check mixed-use costs carefully.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your dog-training consultations income records and evidence of training-venue hire and treats 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
Train a simpler routine for your business records.
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.