What It Looks Like to Work With Us

If you’re considering working with us and wondering what this actually looks like in real life (not just in a vague “we do your books” way), here’s what it looks like to be a client.

Onboarding: The Getting-Set-Up Phase

Yes — there’s onboarding.

There’s no way around it. But we make it as simple and painless as possible.

Once you sign on, here’s what happens:

  • We set you up in our secure client portal

  • We send a short checklist of what we need from you

  • There may or may not be a small piece of actual snail mail involved (we like a little delight where we can add it)

Typically, we’ll ask for things like:

  • Recent bank and credit card statements

  • Your business’s legal structure (sole proprietor, LLC, S Corp, etc.)

  • Access to your QuickBooks or Xero account

That’s it. No 47-step scavenger hunt.

Our goal during onboarding is simple:

Get everything organized, clean, and ready so your monthly work runs smoothly with as little effort on your part as possible.

What Happens Each Month

Once you're up and running, the rhythm becomes very consistent.

Step 1: We Do Our Thing

Throughout the month, your bookkeeper logs into your accounting software and reviews every single transaction.

Yes, every. single. one.

Even if we’ve created rules like “Categorize every Zoom expense as software,” we still review for accuracy. Automation is helpful. It is not infallible.

We:

  • Categorize income and expenses

  • Reconcile bank and credit card accounts

  • Look for inconsistencies or unusual activity

  • Flag anything that doesn’t make sense

If something needs clarification (looking at you, Amazon and Target), we make a note of it so we can include it in your monthly review.

No guessing. No assumptions.

Step 2: We Send One Monthly List of Questions

Rather than emailing you throughout the month, we batch everything together.

In the first few days of each new month, we:

  • Add any transaction questions to your portal (Ex: “There’s an unusual deposit to your checking account, what is it for?”)

  • Request any necessary statements or documents

  • Send you one email letting you know your monthly review is ready

That way, you’re not getting bookkeeping pings all month long.

You get a clear, organized list — once.

And as we work together longer, this list usually gets shorter.

We learn your vendors.
We learn your patterns.
We learn that “Julius Pepperwood LLC” is actually a course you’re paying for in installments.

But some things (*tips hat to Amazon again) will always require your input. There’s just no way for us to know whether the purchase was office supplies or temporary tattoos for the bat mitzvah celebrations you plan.

Our goal is to make responding easy and efficient. Most clients spend just a few minutes answering questions each month, and the more smoothly and promptly you respond, the smoother your books close. We’ll always do our part, and when you do yours, everything runs beautifully.

Step 3: Reports Are Delivered

Once we have what we need from you, we finalize your books and deliver your financial reports.

You’ll receive:

  • Profit & Loss

  • Balance Sheet

  • Any additional reports relevant to your business

We upload everything to your portal — and attach the reports directly to the email so you don’t have to log in unless you want to.

All past reports stay in your portal, so if you accidentally save the PDF under “Vacation Plans – Archive,” you can always retrieve another copy.

What It Feels Like to Be a Client

Here’s what most clients experience after the first month or two:

  • Fewer “I should really log into QuickBooks…” thoughts

  • No more end-of-year scramble

  • Clear, organized financial records

  • Confidence that nothing is quietly spiraling

  • A clean set of numbers you can actually use to make decisions

You’re not wondering if your books are “probably fine.”

You know they’re handled.

What We Don’t Do

To set expectations clearly:

We don’t:

  • Replace your CPA (though we partner with some great ones, if you’re in need of one!)

  • Monitor your bank account daily

  • Provide real-time bookkeeping

We operate on a monthly cycle, which keeps things accurate, steady, and financially accessible.

What We Do Care About

We care about:

  • Accuracy

  • Clean records

  • Timely reports

  • Clear communication

  • A working relationship that feels calm, warm, and, dare we say it, even pleasant!

It’s consistent, professional bookkeeping done well — so you can focus on running your business.

If you’re deciding whether this kind of steady, done-for-you support is right for you, this should give you a clear picture of how it works.

And if you have specific questions about your situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out.