FAQ · Bookkeeping questions answered
Questions about small business bookkeeping.
Clear answers for Norfolk business owners on how monthly bookkeeping works, how we protect your banking access and what happens if your books are more than a year behind.
My books are over a year behind. Can you still help?
Yes, and please do not feel embarrassed: catch-up projects make up nearly half of our new client starts. Whether you have a shoebox of bank PDFs or a QuickBooks file full of uncategorised entries, we run a quick diagnostic back to your last filed tax return, quote one flat cleanup fee and bring every month current.
How do you access bank statements without control over our money?
Most business banks offer a read-only accountant or view-only user role, alongside encrypted read-only bank feeds in QuickBooks and Xero. That lets us fetch statements and check images without any ability to start wires, transfers or withdrawals.
Should my business use QuickBooks Online or Xero?
Both are strong when configured properly. QuickBooks Online has the widest network of U.S. tax CPAs, payroll integrations and industry apps, so it is our default for most domestic businesses. Xero handles multi-currency cleanly and offers unlimited users, which suits some agencies and e-commerce teams. We support both.
What do you need from me each month?
Very little. Around the 4th business day, once routine activity is reconciled, we send one consolidated list of unfamiliar charges or check numbers, typically five to ten items that take under ten minutes to answer. Then we finalise and send your monthly reports.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper and a tax CPA?
They are complementary partners. Your bookkeeper keeps clean, reconciled records every month so you have accurate P&L, Balance Sheet and cash-flow visibility. Your CPA uses those books to plan tax strategy and prepare and sign your income tax returns, without charging CPA rates to categorise coffee receipts.
How is monthly bookkeeping pricing calculated?
Monthly plans are flat rates based on objective complexity: the number of bank, card and loan accounts to reconcile, average monthly transaction volume, the number of merchant clearing channels such as Stripe or Shopify, and whether payroll journals or payables support are included.
Who owns our QuickBooks or Xero file if we part ways?
You always own your accounting data and software subscription. Even when we set up a new file for you, you are listed as Primary Admin from day one. We never hold client ledgers hostage.
Can you separate personal expenses put on a business card?
Yes. Dedicated business accounts are best, but occasional mixed swipes happen. Rather than burying them in business expenses, we code accidental personal charges transparently to Owner’s Draw or Shareholder Distribution so your business expenses stay clean.
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