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Keep the books in Coconut. Run the work in Locbase.

Coconut describes itself as self-employed accounting software, designed for sole traders and landlords. Its website says it is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital, and that some plans submit a Self Assessment return. Locbase does a different job: it keeps each session, its invoice, the payment and your paperwork in one place on your phone, ready to hand over at the end of the year.

Using the two side by side

1. Log the session. Add it to Locbase with the place, the hours and your rate. It takes about thirty seconds, or add a whole week in one go.
2. Send the invoice. If you invoice the workplace yourself, Locbase turns the session, or a run of them, into a PDF with your details on it and emails it.
3. See it paid. Mark the session paid when the money lands. Anything overdue is flagged, with a reminder ready to send.
4. Keep the rest in order. Add mileage and expenses to the session, and keep registration, DBS, indemnity and right to work in one checklist for the next time you are asked.
5. Hand over the year. At the end of the tax year, Locbase exports your sessions, income and expenses in one file, for your accountant or to work from in Coconut.

Locbase and Coconut are separate products from separate companies. They are not linked or partnered, and nothing passes between them automatically.

One record, from the session to the tax year

Many locums will want both. Locbase is where the working week is recorded and invoiced. At the end of the tax year, Locbase exports your sessions, income and expenses in one file for your accountant or your accounting software.

Example: One session, start to finish

• Friday: You work a session and log it in Locbase on the way home.
• Friday evening: The invoice goes to the workplace from Locbase, as a PDF.
• Two weeks later: The money arrives and you mark it paid.
• End of the tax year: Your sessions, income and expenses leave Locbase in one file, for your accountant or for Coconut.

A made-up session to show which tool does which part.

What Coconut is for

• Coconut is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital and can submit a Self Assessment return on some plans.
• If you run a limited company or are VAT registered, you will need accounting software or an accountant as well.

Questions

Does Locbase replace Coconut?

No. Locbase does the day to day admin of locum work: logging sessions, invoicing and tracking payment. Accounts and tax returns stay with Coconut or your accountant.

Does Locbase connect to Coconut?

No. The two are separate products from separate companies and are not linked. Locbase exports your sessions, income and expenses for the tax year in one file, for you or your accountant to work from.

Do I need accounting software as a locum?

It depends on how you work. If you run a limited company, are VAT registered or come under Making Tax Digital, you will need software that can file with HMRC, or an accountant who uses it. Locbase keeps the day to day record that either one works from.

What does Locbase cost?

£14.99 a month or £119 a year, after a 1 month free trial. There is one plan and it has every feature in it.

Read next

• Making Tax Digital for locums
• Self Assessment for locums
• Sole trader or limited company
• Locbase alongside FreeAgent
• Locbase alongside QuickBooks
• Locbase alongside Xero
• Locbase alongside Sage

Try Locbase free for 1 month. Then £14.99 a month or £119 a year.

Details about Coconut were taken from getcoconut.com on 13 October 2026 and may have changed since. Locbase is an independent product: it has no partnership or arrangement with Coconut and is not endorsed by it.