GamesIndustry.biz partners with Crunch.co.uk to bring new accounting service to gaming freelancers

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GamesIndustry.biz, the news and community site for the global videogames industry has partnered with Crunch.co.uk, the UK’s first combined online accounting system and accountancy practice designed specifically for freelancers and contractors.

The deal will see Crunch.co.uk being introduced to the gaming community via GamesIndustry.biz and online forums. Crunch.co.uk enables users to manage their entire accounts, invoicing, expenses and returns on a secure and user-friendly website, with the benefit of having an accountant at the end of the phone. Online entrepreneurs Paul Birch, co-founder of Bebo, and Chairman of Skype Michael van Swaaij are investors in the company.

The partnership comes in the wake of the Budget, which promises an investment of £457million in the UK gaming industry, as well as tax relief, to stimulate the creation of 3,500 new jobs in this sector over the next five years.

“The gaming industry is arguably one of the most vibrant and creative sectors,” said Darren Fell, founder of Crunch.co.uk. “Our fully automated and stylishly designed online service makes accounting simple and the time-saving benefits are huge - freeing games developers and others in the industry to focus on what they’re good at.”

Phil Elliott, Managing Editor of GamesIndustry.biz added: “This award-winning online service will be beneficial to our substantial freelance community. It’s practical and well-designed, specifically with freelancers’ needs in mind.”

Over 1.4million people work as freelancers or contractors in the UK* but tax experts recognise that the current HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) system can be time consuming, confusing and costly to navigate for the self-employed.

Users of Crunch.co.uk pay a fixed monthly fee, and all annual company returns such as PAYE, Corporation Tax and VAT are included in the price.