Creative & digital
MTD software for social media managers.
Stay on top of the content calendar and your cashbook.
Client shoots, scheduling tools and monthly account retainers generate a steady flow of small transactions. Avona helps freelance social managers keep that spending organised alongside the work they deliver.
- Who it is for
- Social media managers 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.
Multiple management retainers and campaign fees all contribute to gross turnover. Client ad spend and reimbursed purchases need checking rather than automatically treating them as outside your income.
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 social-media management.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your social-media management, shared purchases and a monthly social-media retainer.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £650 for your social-media management £110 spent on scheduling and design software | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for scheduling and design software. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £650 as the sale and the £110 cost separately. The £540 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for assets licensed for a client campaign; £20 for assets for a personal account | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify assets licensed for a client campaign separately from assets for a personal account. | 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 monthly service payment An agreement covering a defined service period | Bring the bank payment into Avona and retain the agreement for a monthly social-media retainer. Check which month or service period the receipt covers. | Repeated descriptions can represent legitimate payments for different periods. Check the agreement before treating one as a duplicate, and keep one-off project fees or extra work separately identifiable. |
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 social media managers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Scheduling software
Design subscriptions
Business phone usage
Campaign props
Eligible client-site travel
Content storage services
One thing to watch
A work phone can still have private use
Separate personal use from the business portion of the bill. Keep client campaign purchases identifiable so your own shopping does not slip into expense categories.
HMRC: allowable business expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your social-media management.
Review retainers and recurring software charges, attach campaign receipts and keep a clear record of any client reimbursements.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for scheduling and design software. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish assets licensed for a client campaign from assets for a personal account.
How document capture works →Reconcile your social-media management payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a monthly social-media retainer 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 social-media management income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a monthly social-media retainer ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from social media managers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers social media managers 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 handle a client's advertising budget?
Keep the agreement and advertising statements so client funds and your management fee can be identified. Confirm the correct treatment rather than assuming every transfer is your fee.
How do I record a monthly social-media retainer?
Example: £300 monthly service payment (an agreement covering a defined service period). Repeated descriptions can represent legitimate payments for different periods. Check the agreement before treating one as a duplicate, and keep one-off project fees or extra work separately identifiable.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
A work phone can still have private use. Separate personal use from the business portion of the bill. Keep client campaign purchases identifiable so your own shopping does not slip into expense categories.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your social-media management income records and evidence of scheduling and design software 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
Keep your social media business records on schedule.
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.