Why one team instead of three
Most small businesses end up with a bookkeeper who does not talk to the tax preparer, a tax preparer who sees the books once a year, and an owner in the middle carrying spreadsheets back and forth. Things fall through the gap. Usually in March.
Our packages put all of it in one engagement:
- The books are closed on a schedule, reconciled to the bank, and ready for tax
- Your business return and your personal return are included in every package
- Tax planning is built in, so the person looking at your numbers every month is also thinking about your tax bill
You pay one annual price, shown as a monthly equivalent, instead of three invoices.
The four packages
| Package | Best fit | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials: quarterly closes and statements, business and personal returns, annual planning meeting | Under $500K revenue | $5,500 / year |
| Foundation: monthly bookkeeping and statements by the 15th, recorded monthly review, quarterly planning | $500K to $1M | $10,000 / year |
| Controller: live monthly review, 13 week cash flow forecast, KPI reporting, annual budget | $1M to $3M | $30,000 / year |
| CFO: biweekly strategy calls, AP and AR, payroll oversight, sales tax, lender and board reporting | $3M and up | $60,000 / year |
One time onboarding runs from $500 to $3,500 depending on the package. Final pricing is confirmed after we look at your accounts, transaction volume, payroll and how clean the books are today. Full details are in the package cards above.
What a monthly close actually includes
"Bookkeeping" means different things to different firms. For us, closing a month means:
- Every bank and credit card account reconciled to the statement, not just categorized
- Transactions coded to a chart of accounts that makes sense for your business
- Payroll entries recorded properly, with liabilities tied out
- Loan balances matched to lender statements, split between principal and interest
- Vendors tracked so 1099s are ready in January instead of a scramble
- A profit and loss and balance sheet delivered on a set date, with a recorded walkthrough of what moved
If you run a contracting or trades business, job costing and retainage need their own setup. See accounting for contractors.
Switching to us
- Intro call. We learn how the business runs and which package fits.
- Diagnostic. We look at your current books, whether in QuickBooks Online, Xero or a shoebox, and tell you what shape they are in.
- Proposal. A fixed annual price and a written scope. If cleanup is needed first, it is quoted separately.
- Onboarding. We connect bank feeds, set up the chart of accounts and agree the monthly calendar.
- First close. Your first set of statements, and the walkthrough that explains them.
Behind on your books? Catch up bookkeeping starts at $250 per month of records, with a $1,500 minimum, quoted after the diagnostic.
Where our clients are
Our office is in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and most of our bookkeeping clients are small businesses in the Charlotte area, Union County and just over the South Carolina line. The work is virtual, so we also keep books for businesses in other states.
Being in the Carolinas matters in one practical way: many local businesses sell or work in both states, which means two sets of sales tax and payroll rules. We deal with that every week. More on the NC and SC dual-state issues, or see our Charlotte page.
Questions we get asked
How much does outsourced bookkeeping cost?
Our packages start at $5,500 a year (about $458 a month) for Essentials, which includes quarterly bookkeeping and both your business and personal tax returns. Foundation, with monthly bookkeeping, starts at $10,000 a year. Controller and CFO packages start at $30,000 and $60,000.
Do I need to switch accounting software?
Usually not. We work in QuickBooks Online and Xero. If your current setup is causing problems, we will tell you during the diagnostic and handle the move.
Are my tax returns really included?
Yes. Every package includes the business return and the owner's personal return, plus year round email support.
Can you help if I am months behind?
Yes. Catch up bookkeeping starts at $250 per month of records with a $1,500 minimum. We quote it after looking at your accounts, then roll you into a monthly package once you are current.