10 Best Umbrella Companies UK

Umbrella companies serve as employers for independent contractors, managing payroll, tax, and compliance. Umbrella company contractors receive payment through the company’s payroll, with deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions. They also provide employee benefits like holiday pay sick pay, paternity pay, and maternity pay. This ensures smooth processing of payments and compliance with HMRC regulations.

An umbrella company acts as a middleman between contractors and end clients, eliminating the need for a limited company. It provides tax relief, employee benefits, and handles invoicing on behalf of contractors. Contractor becomes employee of the umbrella company.

Contractors submit their timesheets to the umbrella company, which invoices the client for their work. The company then pays the contractors, deducting taxes and handling national insurance contributions. Contractors receive pay slips from the umbrella company.

Choosing the appropriate umbrella company ensures adherence to UK tax laws and affects the contractor's take-home pay and benefits. It also provides transparency, trust, and personalized solutions, while preventing tax avoidance schemes. The right choice can make a significant difference in a contractor's financial responsibilities and benefits. When choosing an umbrella company, consider their experience and background checks. Check insurance cover, including public liability. Ensure compliance with FCSA and professional passport accreditation.

When considering umbrella companies, it's important to compare tax compliance, reputation, and customer service. The top umbrella companies in the UK offer various services with different umbrella company fees. Contractors and freelancers must compare the benefits and drawbacks before making the final decision.

1. Parasol Group
2. PayStream
3. Workwell
4. Giant group
5. Umbrella.co.uk
6. SG Umbrella
7. Brookson One
8. Sapphire
9. Danbro
10. Fore:Two Umbrella

1. Parasol Group

• £29.75 weekly fee
• FCSA accredited – fully compliant umbrella company
• Worked with 100000 contractors and 3000 recruitment agencies
• £20m insurance cover
• No hidden costs
• Same day faster payments
• Dedicated support team
• Work place pension via NEST
• Employee benefits - maternity and paternity pay, sick pay, paid annual leave
• 4300 Trustpilot reviews - 4.6 stars

2. PayStream

• £27 weekly fee
• FCSA accredited umbrella company
• APSCo trusted partner
• Dedicated Relationship Manager
• Sick pay and paternity/maternity pay
• Holiday pay and workplace pension
• £20m insurance cover
• Tax relief on allowable expenses
• Voted the UK's Best Umbrella Company
• 2600+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.7 stars

3. Workwell

• Accredited by the FCSA
• Simple set-up - register and begin working within minutes
• 24/7 personal accident insurance up to £500 per week
• Easily switch between umbrella and your own limited company, depending on your IR35 status
• pension scheme, holiday pay, sick pay, and maternity/paternity and adoption leave
• public liability, employers’ liability, and professional indemnity insurance
• IR35 Advice
• Real-time payment notifications
• 1700+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.5 stars

4. Giant group

• Weekly margin from £22
• FCSA accredited
• APSCo trusted partner
• Payment text alerts
• Same day faster payments
• Daily payrolls
• 24/7 access to a mobile 1st portal
• Auto enrolment pension
• holiday, sick, maternity & paternity leaves
• £30 million insurance package
• 1300+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.8 stars

5. Umbrella.co.uk

• FCSA accredited
• APSCo trusted partner
• Served over 100,000 contractors
• Easy registration in minutes
• 24/7 online portal and mobile app
• No joining and leaving costs, or other hidden fees
• Claim tax relief on mileage expenses
• Workplace pension or salary sacrifice
• SMS notification of payment
• 700+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.6 stars

6. SG Umbrella

• FCSA Accredited – highest standards of compliance
• advice on IR35 and tax
• Direct line to named contact
• Fixed margin, no minimum contract
• No hidden costs - everything included, even pensions
• no joining or exit fees
• Half price for the first 3 months
• Holiday Pay, Sick Pay, Maternity Pay and Paternity Pay
• 60+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.9 stars

7. Brookson One

• Founding members of the FCSA
• Setup in as little as 24 hours
• Comprehensive insurance package
• Support 6 days a week
• Same-day payments along with SMS notifications
• No hidden set up costs or exit fees
• Sick pay, holiday pay, workplace pension and maternity leave
• Flex solution to switch easily between Limited and Umbrella
• Claim tax relief on allowable expenses subject to SDC tests
• 2300+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.3 stars

8. Sapphire

• Fully FCSA accredited umbrella company
• sick pay and maternity/paternity pay
• £25m insurance cover
• same day payments
• 24/7 online portal to submit timesheets
• claim expenses
• 24/7 private online GP service
• access to qualified councillors to support mental health and wellbeing
• 2200+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.9 stars

9. Danbro

• £27/Weekly margin fees deducted from your gross pay
• Same day payments
• Trusted by over 7,500 contractors
• Private medical care*
• Claim legitimate expenses
• Danbro Rewards
• Holiday pay, sick pay & maternity/paternity pay
• Private pension scheme
• Public Liability, Professional Indemnity & Employers’ Liability Insurance
• Online portal & timesheet submissions
• Dedicated employee support team
• No set-up costs, no exit costs, no tie-in period
• 500+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.7 stars

10. Fore:Two Umbrella

• FCFA accredited
• £35M insurance cover including the option for personal accident cover
• Statutory payments such as SSP, Maternity & Paternity Pay
• offset legitimate business expenses
• Get paid on time
• Salary Sacrifice Pension
• holiday pay - how and when you want it
• 500+ Trustpilot reviews - 4.8 stars

Umbrella Companies Feature Comparison

1. Research and Shortlist: Identify and shortlist umbrella companies based on initial research and above list of umbrella companies.
2. Compare Rates and Services: Evaluate the shortlisted companies, comparing their rates and services.
3. Request KID (Key Information Document): Request a Key Information Document (KID) from each umbrella company for detailed insights.
4. Read Reviews and Seek Feedback: Explore reviews of the umbrella companies and seek feedback from friends, colleagues, and recruiters.
5. Thoroughly Review Terms and Conditions: Review the terms and conditions of the chosen umbrella company thoroughly.
6. Complete Paperwork: Fulfill the necessary paperwork, including contracts and service agreements.
7. Inform Recruitment Agency or End-Client: Notify your recruitment agency or end-client about your finalized choice of umbrella company.
8. Submit Necessary Documents: Submit all required documents to the chosen umbrella company for the registration process.

How can You Find Umbrella Company Reviews?

To find umbrella company reviews, consider checking platforms like Trustpilot and Google. These platforms host user-generated feedback, providing insights into the experiences of individuals who have utilized umbrella company services. Browse through the reviews, positive aspects, and potential concerns to make an informed decision.

Below listed are FCSA accredited umbrella companies that have been tested for compliance with the FCSA Codes. Explore the whole list of all FCSA accredited firms for more details.

• Advance
• Amaze
• Azebra
• Black Diamond
• Bright Sky Contracting
• Brookson One
• Carrington
• Champion Contractors
• Churchill Knight Umbrella
• Clarity
• Clipper Contracting Group
• Contractor Umbrella
• Crest Plus
• CWC Solutions
• Danbro
• Dasa Umbrella
• DNS
• Eden Group
• Exact Payroll
• Exchequer Solutions
• Fair Pay Services
• Focused
• Fore Two Group
• Generate
• Giant
• Global Challenge
• Granite BPO
• Husp
• iConsult
• ICS
• Key
• Liquid Friday
• Mango Pay
• Mortimer Childe
• My Pay
• Nasa
• No Worries
• NumberMill
• NWM
• Oasis Umbrella
• Orange Genie
• Orbital
• Parasol
• PayMe
• Payments Pro
• Paystream
• Pendragon Consultancy
• Sapphire
• SD Payroll Services
• SG Umbrella
• Smartwork
• SSC Services
• Sterling
• The Indigo Group
• Trafalgar
• Umbrella Company UK
• Umbrella.co.uk
• Umbrellaphant
• We Contract
• Workr
• Workwell

List of Professional Passport Approved Umbrella Companies

Professional Passport acts as a self-regulatory body, doing an outstanding job in promoting compliance among temporary worker supply chains. It conducts audits for contractor service providers. Check this list of professional passport approved umbrella companies to know more.

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Choosing the right umbrella company is crucial for contractors looking for a smooth and stress-free experience. With the market flooded with unlimited options, it is essential to consider factors such as reputation, compliance, customer service, and fees while making a decision. Above listed each of the top 10 umbrella companies UK brings its unique strengths to the table.  Whether you prioritize competitive rates, personalized support, or advanced technology platforms, there is an option for everyone. Evaluate your specific requirements, consider the services offered by each company, and make an informed decision to enhance your contracting journey. As you embark on this decision-making process, consider the invaluable guidance of contractor accountants to your support team.