Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Straight answers about outsourced accounting, controllers, FP&A, and fractional CFOs — what they do, when you need them, and how we fit alongside your existing team.
Getting started
Getting started
How an engagement begins, what it costs, and how it grows with the business.
What does an outsourced accounting firm do?
We run some or all of your financial function from the outside — bookkeeping, month-end close, reporting, cash management, forecasting, and financial leadership. You keep control of the business; we take responsibility for the financial operations you hand us, and run them consistently every month.
How does onboarding work?
We start with a conversation, review the current state of your finances, then clean up and build the processes and reporting you need before taking over ongoing operations. You always know what we're handling and when.
See How We Work for the full approach.
What does outsourced accounting cost?
It depends on the scope of work, the current condition of your books, and the level of support you need — bookkeeping is very different from controller or CFO-level work.
Most engagements are a predictable monthly fee tied to the functions we run, so there are no surprise hourly bills. We scope it with you after a conversation about the business — no invented numbers before we understand what you actually need.
Can we start with bookkeeping and add CFO services later?
Yes — that's the point of our model. Most clients start at one level and expand as they grow. You don't have to replace providers as your financial needs get more sophisticated; the finance function grows with the business, from clean books to controller, FP&A, and fractional CFO leadership.
Services and roles
Services and roles
What each level of financial support actually does, and when a business grows into it.
What's the difference between a bookkeeper and a controller?
A bookkeeper records transactions and keeps the books current. A controller manages the whole financial operation — owning the close, reporting, cash, and controls, and the quality of the numbers — and turns accurate books into a functioning financial-management system leadership can rely on.
Learn more about controller and financial management.
When does a small business need a controller?
Usually when the books are technically fine but nobody is actively managing cash, margins, and processes — or when the owner has become the default financial manager. If you need someone responsible for the financial operation rather than just recording it, that's controller-level work.
When does a company need a fractional CFO?
When you need CFO-level thinking — strategy, forecasting, capital planning, banking relationships, and decision support — but don't yet need or want a full-time executive on payroll. A fractional CFO gives you that judgment at the level of engagement your business actually requires.
See fractional CFO.
What's the difference between accounting and FP&A?
Accounting explains what already happened. FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis) helps you understand what's likely to happen next, why performance is changing, and what to do about it — budgets, forecasts, scenarios, and profitability analysis built around decisions rather than history.
See strategic FP&A.
Working together
Working together
How we fit alongside your CPA, your existing team, and the businesses we serve.
Can you work with our existing CPA?
Yes. We regularly work alongside an existing tax CPA. We keep the books and reporting clean and coordinate with them at tax time and throughout the year. We coordinate rather than compete — a well-run finance function makes your CPA's job easier.
Can you work with our existing bookkeeper or accounting team?
Yes. We can lead an internal bookkeeper or accounting team, add supplemental capacity when they're stretched, or take ownership of specific functions like the close or reporting. We shape the engagement around the people you already have rather than replacing them by default.
Do you replace our tax accountant?
No. Tax preparation and outsourced finance are complementary roles. Your tax CPA files your returns; we keep your books and reporting clean and coordinate with them.
We do not prepare tax returns unless that service is specifically added to your engagement.
What industries do you serve?
We work with small and owner-operated businesses, contractors and skilled trades, and growing mid-market companies. Contractors and trades are a particular focus, where job profitability and cash timing matter. If you're unsure whether we're a fit, the first conversation will tell us both.
Still have a question?
The best answers come from a conversation.
Whether you need the books handled properly, better financial management, or CFO-level support, we'll help determine what your business actually needs.
No hard sell. Start with a conversation about the business.