Construction & trades
MTD software for fencing contractors.
Strong boundaries. Clear business records.
A fencing job can mean timber-yard runs, machinery hire and a van full of receipts. Avona helps keep the financial side organised while you concentrate on getting the line and levels right.
- Who it is for
- Fencing contractors 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.
Panels, posts and concrete billed as part of a fencing job are part of the money your business brings in. The material spend is a separate part of working out your profit.
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 boundary-fence installation.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your boundary-fence installation, shared purchases and an auger-hire deposit.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £1,250 for your boundary-fence installation £490 spent on panels, posts and concrete | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for panels, posts and concrete. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £1,250 as the sale and the £490 cost separately. The £760 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for posts for a customer's fence; £20 for panels for your own garden | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify posts for a customer's fence separately from panels for your own garden. | 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. |
| £150 paid to the hire company £50 hire charge and £100 refundable security deposit | Keep the agreement for an auger-hire deposit, the payment receipt and the return statement. Review the later £100 repayment alongside the initial debit. | The £50 hire charge and the refundable £100 security deposit have different purposes. Keep them distinguishable; the deposit returned is not a new customer 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 fencing contractors. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Fence panels and posts
Post concrete
Auger hire
Saw blades and fixings
Business vehicle costs
Commercial waste charges
One thing to watch
Keep hired equipment evidence
A hire payment may combine a usage charge with a refundable deposit. Retain the hire agreement and return statement so you can distinguish the actual cost from money later returned.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your boundary-fence installation.
Upload the timber invoice before leaving the yard and match hire charges and refunds when the equipment goes back.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for panels, posts and concrete. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish posts for a customer's fence from panels for your own garden.
How document capture works →Reconcile your boundary-fence installation payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for an auger-hire deposit 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 boundary-fence installation income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for an auger-hire deposit ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from fencing contractors.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers fencing contractors 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.
How do I separate a hire deposit from a hire charge?
Keep the hire agreement and return statement. The refundable security amount is different from the charge for using the equipment, even if both leave your bank together.
How do I record an auger-hire deposit?
Example: £150 paid to the hire company (£50 hire charge and £100 refundable security deposit). The £50 hire charge and the refundable £100 security deposit have different purposes. Keep them distinguishable; the deposit returned is not a new customer sale.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Keep hired equipment evidence. A hire payment may combine a usage charge with a refundable deposit. Retain the hire agreement and return statement so you can distinguish the actual cost from money later returned.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your boundary-fence installation income records and evidence of panels, posts and concrete 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
Build a better routine for your fencing books.
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.