General FAQs

 

Do you offer one-time or a-la-carte services?
No, our packages are built for ongoing, monthly or quarterly support. That consistency is what lets us actually keep your books accurate and catch things early, rather than reacting once a year.

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Do you prepare individual personal tax returns?
Our focus is on business and nonprofit clients. We generally don't take on standalone individual tax returns. For clients on one of our ongoing packages who own a pass-through entity (S Corp, partnership, or LLC taxed as such), we may include their personal income tax return in that engagement.  Depending on the complexity of the return (significant outside income, multiple entities, foreign reporting), this may be evaluated separately. We're happy to discuss early in the engagement.

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What's included in a package?
It depends on what you need. Every package is built around some combination of bookkeeping, accounting, and tax, with the frequency (monthly or quarterly) and level of support tailored to you. There's no fixed menu.

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How do meetings work since you're virtual?
All meetings are held by phone or video (Zoom or Microsoft Teams), and we use cloud-based accounting systems so you can access your financials from anywhere.

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How do I access my Client Portal?
Use the Client Portal link in the top navigation to log in, upload documents, sign forms, and send secure messages.

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How do I pay the IRS or my state taxes online?
Use the Pay the IRS Online and Pay Your State Taxes buttons on the Resources page to go directly to the right payment tool for your situation.

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How do I get started?
Fill out our quick form under "Start the Conversation" below. If it looks like a good fit, one of our team members will reach out to schedule a call.

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Accounting FAQs

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What's the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
Bookkeeping is keeping your day-to-day financial records accurate and current. Accounting takes that data further, turning it into reports and insights that actually help you understand your business and make decisions.

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Do you use cash or accrual accounting?
We work primarily in accrual accounting, since it gives a more accurate picture of your financial position, though the right approach depends on your specific situation, which we'll talk through with you.

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How often will I get financial reports?
Monthly or quarterly, depending on your package, plus organized, ready-to-use financials at year-end.

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Can you help me actually understand my financials, not just receive them?
Yes, that's a core part of what we do. Reports aren't useful if they just sit in your inbox, so we want you to understand the story behind your numbers.

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What accounting software do you use?
We work with QuickBooks Online so everything stays accessible to you anytime, from anywhere.

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Can you help with budgeting and cash flow forecasting?
Yes, this is part of our accounting services, helping you see ahead, not just look back.

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Do you provide support during a financial audit?
Yes, we can help prepare your financial statements and documentation ahead of time, and support you in responding to auditor requests.

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Tax FAQs

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Do you handle both federal and state filings?
Yes, income tax and sales/excise tax filings are both part of what we manage for clients.

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Is tax planning included, or is it just filing?
Both. We offer proactive tax planning sessions to help you understand upcoming liabilities and opportunities to reduce them, not just file once a year.

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What are estimated taxes?
If you're not having taxes withheld from a regular paycheck, which is common for business owners, the IRS and most states expect you to pay tax in installments throughout the year rather than one lump sum at filing time. We help you calculate and plan for these payments so there are no penalties for underpaying.

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What's the difference between the sales tax and income tax work you do?
Income tax relates to your business's overall earnings; sales/excise tax relates to transactions and applies differently depending on your state and industry. We manage both as part of your package.

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What are the different types of taxes my business might owe?
It varies by business, and state, but the most common ones are: federal and state income tax (tax on your profit), sales/excise tax (tax collected on certain sales or transactions), payroll tax (tax on wages if you have employees), and property tax (tax on real estate or business property you own). We can help you understand which of these actually apply to your situation.

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How do you help nonprofits with Form 990?
We prepare and file your annual Form 990 (and applicable state returns), plus offer planning sessions so your board understands what's ahead before deadlines hit.

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When should I start talking to you about tax planning?
Before the end of the year. Planning conversations work best well before filing deadlines, so there's actually time to act on what we find.

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What if I'm already behind on filings?
Let's talk. Part of what we do is helping clients get caught up and put a system in place so it doesn't happen again.

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