Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a CPA?

I, Michael, am not a CPA, though I do partner with many CPA's and refer my clients to them when needed, while CPA's often refer me to help their clients clean up their books and put together or gather documentation that they need to complete their annual audits.

What is the difference between you, a bookkeeper, and a CPA?

The primary function of most CPA's is to provide assurance services. This means that a CPA will provide year end audits that attest to the accuracy, integrity, and reasonableness of a company's financial statements. 

Bookkeepers provide a monthly service to reconcile the transactions on a monthly basis to ensure all current revenues and expenses are accounted for, and are able to provide a monthly income statement.

Our background allows us to provide a service that is superior to that of a bookkeepers. We will minimize the amount of work a CPA would have to complete at year end. We are able to complete the role of a bookkeeper while also maintaining balance sheet accounts, depreciation schedules, accrual based accounting, and any necessary amortization. We are also able to review financial statements for trends to determine any misstatements, recognize potential fraud, and recognize cash flow discrepancies.

How do I know if I need bookkeeping, accounting, or which services exactly for my business?

I will meet with you and provide a consultation of your business. I have a number of questions to ask you about your business and your current practices around bookkeeping and accounting. From there, I will make a few recommendations for you based on what I know and what I know a successful business needs.

How much do your services cost?

We offer fair and affordable pricing to our clients. The pricing will vary by client based on size and specific needs, but below you will find our basic information for perspective.

Hourly Rate - starting at $50 per hour

Some clients prefer to pay by the hour and job. They attempt to manage their bookkeeping and accounting themselves and call on me as needed to correct mistakes, reconcile, create balance sheets, etc. For this I charge $35 per hour, and we discuss and agree on the estimated length of time to complete the task prior to beginning.

Additionally, hourly rates are used for clients that need my assistance for clean up prior to preparing and filing taxes with their CPA.

Monthly Bookkeeping Services - Starting at $199

Our $199 monthly bookkeeping package includes:

Expense and income recording
Up to 2 bank reconciliations
Trial balance clean-up and reconciliation
One city sales tax preparation and filing
Financial statement preparation (Profit and Loss Statement, Statement of Cash Flow, Balance Sheet)

Up to 2 Hours of accounting training or consulting

**Price does not include QuickBooks monthly service fee**

The price will adjust from this package based on the size of business which could change based the number of bank accounts and sales tax prep/filing, and/or adding services such as:

Payroll processing
Payroll tax filing
Tax consulting
Lender Reporting
Budgeting
Forecasting
Prior period financial review and cleanup

Is there a contract?

No, we do not require a contract. We do however ask that each client sign the monthly service agreement which states the work to be completed for the agreed upon price per month, and the expectations for work completion and invoice payment dates.

Do I have to use QuickBooks or other accounting software?

There are dozens of accounting softwares available, and while we prefer that companies use an online based accounting system it is not mandatory. Accounting was completed using nothing more than paper and pencil for decades, it is just not the most efficient way to keep highly accurate books. 

Will you be working in our office? Or do we have to come to your office? 

Fortunately, most of the work I can do alone in my office virtually thanks to the various means of file sharing. Questions can be managed via email or phone, or we may choose to meet in person. We will also meet to review the financial performance of the business  and ensure that you have a full understanding of the work that has been provided and discuss the analysis of the financial documents and potential suggestions for change to increase the overall financial well being of the business, as needed. This meeting can also occur either in person or over the phone. 

What is small business consulting?

A shoe salesman knows the art of selling shoes. A web designer knows how to build incredible websites. An insurance salesman knows how to protect the client financially. I don't know anything about these products. My product is business. My consulting services can help any of these businesses with the tools needed to create long term financial stability. This could include -

  • Corporation formation

  • Business plan writing

  • Lending advisory

  • Tax planning

  • Budgeting

  • Cash flow forecasting

  • Market analysis