Frequently Asked Questions

 

About Me

I am a small business, like most of my clients. I have over 15 years of small business
bookkeeping experience and over 5 years of tax preparation experience. My goal is to help you
focus on what you do best by taking the stress of small business bookkeeping off your
shoulders. I keep up with the rules and regulations so that you don’t have to.

Qualifications

I’ve been handling bookkeeping for small businesses for over 15 years, and working with a CPA
on tax preparation for over 5 years (I still work with a CPA to ensure my clients have the best
advice possible). I am a member of AIPB (American Association of Independent Bookkeepers)
and NBA (National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers) as well as a Quickbooks
Proadvisor. I handle accounts for individuals, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses.

Why should I use an independent bookkeeper instead of hiring an employee?

If you need someone to help you pay bills, collect payments, make deposits, communicate with
outside firms, AND make your bookkeeping entries, run reports, and handle payroll, you may be
better served hiring an employee to perform these tasks.
On the other hand, finding an experienced bookkeeper to work full time for a small business is
both difficult and expensive. The skills involved – bookkeeping, software, reporting
income/taxes and working with CPAs – can be difficult to train if you don’t have bookkeeping
experience yourself. Even if you do have the experience to train an employee, having an
independent bookkeeper perform a “monthly checkup” may provide additional supervision and
peace of mind.
Most small business owners excel in their fields. Businesses fail not because of their lack of
expertise, but because the act of operating their business requires them to put aside what they
do best in order to handle the administration of the company itself. One way to alleviate this is
by hiring an independent bookkeeper to handle some of the administration work.
I love working with small business owners to help streamline their administrative tasks to take
that constant nagging weight off their shoulders. I often feel the nagging pull of unanswered
emails and unfiled payments. Don’t you?

How much will this cost?

Please visit my Pricing page for a general idea. For a more specific quote, please CONTACT ME
(contact form link here).
Why flat pricing? Because no one likes surprises, and it allows you to budget in advance. We
will revisit pricing on a regular basis and I will discuss changes with you BEFORE your next bill.
Sometimes we won’t know exactly what you need until we start getting into the work, and we’ll
discuss as we go – but you already have an idea of the cost before you make a commitment.

 

Do I need to buy software?

I’ve decided to work exclusively with Quickbooks Online. If you have a specific software
package you want to use, we can discuss it but I will probably refer you to a different service
provider. Quickbooks has become the industry standard, and their desktop version can be
cumbersome for exchanging data. You may purchase the subscription yourself, or I can include
the cost in your monthly fee (generally between $20-$50 depending on the version that is right
for you).
If you choose to have me process your payroll, we will discuss which provider is right for you,
but I work primarily with Quickbooks and Patriot.

Do I need a CPA?

If you have a CPA that you have been working with and have a comfortable relationship, I will
provide them whatever standard reports they need for your taxes and other audit and financial
statement needs. Most CPAs aren’t interested in doing bookkeeping work, but will be thrilled
that their reports arrive on time and in a format they are accustomed to.
If you prepare your own tax returns, I can provide those reports to you. If you would like me to
prepare your taxes, I am an IRS Enrolled Agent, but I work under the auspices of a CPA. If you
need representation with the IRS or other tax authority, I will recommend him (or you may use
your own CPA) and those services will be billed separately. Working with tax agencies requires
its own field of expertise, and I believe in using the correct expert for this task.

Do I have to sign a contract?

We will both sign a Client Engagement which outlines the services you have chosen and the
responsibilities we have agreed to. You will be billed for services at the beginning of each
month, and may terminate at any time.

Will there be additional charges?

My goal is for us to agree on a flat rate that covers most contingencies. If we agree to add or
remove services, or if my software pricing changes, this amount will change, but never without
prior discussion.

Potential additional expenses:
Postage (packages of receipts/data, bills, paychecks, W2s)
Travel expenses for onsite work (other than occasional meetings)
Additional software expense
Additional working time caused by delays or incomplete data

Will hiring you affect my control over my business decisions?

You will always have the ability to access your bookkeeping software to run reports or track
sales and expenses. I am handling the day to day recordkeeping, but you will always have
control of your accounts and cash flow.