DIY bookkeeping seems cheaper—until it isn’t. A professional bookkeeping expert gives you on-time closes, tax-ready records, and a clear view of cash so you can grow with confidence. At Henriquez Accounting & Tax Services, we pair disciplined monthly bookkeeping with quarterly tax planning and year-end compliance. Explore Bookkeeping, Tax Preparation, and Outsourced Controller/CFO.

Top Reasons to Hire a Pro

Accuracy & speed: reconciliations done monthly; fewer surprises at tax time.
Tax readiness: categories aligned to returns (1120S/1065/1120; 1040 Schedules C/E) and support docs attached.
Cash-flow clarity: 13-week forecasting, disciplined AR collections, and AP batching with approvals.
Scalable processes: bank rules, receipt capture, and period locks so the books don’t drift.
Lender & buyer credibility: statements and workpapers that stand up to diligence.
Time back: spend hours on sales and operations—not chasing uncoded transactions.

DIY vs. Professional (What’s the Difference?)

DIY

Unreconciled accounts and “ask my accountant” balances.
Owner draws coded as expenses; loan principal booked to income.
Missed sales/payroll/estimate deadlines → penalties.
End-of-year scramble; limited visibility into margins and cash.

Professional

Monthly close checklist, reconciliations, and locked periods.
Tax-aligned chart of accounts and documentation discipline.
Quarterly projections with vouchers; sales/payroll tax on time.
Owner dashboard with margins, runway/DSCR, DSO/DPO/DIO.

What a Bookkeeping Expert Does (Month–Quarter–Year)

Monthly

Reconcile bank, credit, and merchant processors; clear Undeposited Funds & clearing accounts.
Deliver P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, and KPI snapshot.
AR follow-up cadence; AP batching with approvals; update the 13-week cash forecast.
Sales tax filings (where applicable) and W-9 collection for contractors.

Quarterly

Estimated tax calculations and vouchers; payroll compliance checks.
Budget vs. actual review; margin analysis; pricing tune-ups.
System refinements: bank rules, user access, and close timeline.

Annually

1099-NEC/1099-MISC e-filing; fixed-asset roll-forward and depreciation.
Return tie-outs (1120S/1065/1120; 1040 Schedules C/E) and next-year planning.

Common DIY Mistakes We Fix

Mixing personal & business spend; no accountable plan for reimbursements.
Wrong entity or late S-Corp election → excess self-employment tax.
Sales tax/economic nexus ignored (especially e-commerce).
Negative A/R or A/P from misapplied payments/credits; Suspense and OBE balances.
Delivery platforms posted as net deposits instead of gross with fees/taxes/tips.

ROI Snapshot: Avoided penalties + better pricing decisions + faster closes typically outweigh the cost of a pro—especially when paired with tax planning.

KPIs We Track

Gross & operating margin trends vs. budget.
DSO/DPO/DIO and cash conversion cycle.
Runway/DSCR for cash and debt coverage.
Close timeliness: days to close (target <10 business days).

Recommended Tech Stack

Accounting: QuickBooks Online/Desktop.
AP & Spend: Bill.com or Ramp with approvals and vendor management.
Receipts: Dext/Hubdoc with retention policy.
Payments: Stripe/Square using proper Merchant Clearing treatment.
Payroll: Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, or ADP (needs-based).

Pro Tip: Turn on “Close the books” with a password after each month. It prevents drifting reconciliations and preserves audit trails.

What You’ll Get When You Work With Us

Clean, reconciled books every month and a reliable close checklist.
Quarterly projections with due dates and vouchers.
Sales/payroll tax coordination and notice handling.
Owner dashboard: margins, runway, DSO/DPO/DIO, and red-flag alerts.
Secure portal, e-sign, and responsive support.

Book a 30-Minute Consultation

FAQs

Is a professional bookkeeper different from an accountant?

Yes. Bookkeepers manage the monthly close and day-to-day coding. Accountants (EA/CPA) handle tax strategy/returns and higher-level advisory. We provide both functions in one coordinated system.

When should I stop DIY and hire?

When revenue is consistent, you’re hiring, carrying inventory, invoicing customers, or considering an S-Corp—earlier is cheaper than cleanup later.

Can you work with my existing team?

Absolutely. We can close monthly and handle tax while your internal or third-party bookkeeper codes transactions; we supply the checklist and QA.

Do you handle cleanup and catch-up?

Yes—reconciliations, reclassifications, fixed-asset setup, and sales/payroll tax corrections. We also prepare amended returns when needed.

Cash or accrual—what’s right for me?

Service-only startups often begin on cash; add accrual when you invoice, carry inventory, or need better margin insight. We can keep tax on cash (where allowed) while running accrual books for decisions.

Ready to upgrade from DIY to done-right?

We’ll implement rules, reconciliations, KPIs, and proactive tax planning so your books drive better decisions year-round. Talk to an Enrolled Agent today. Schedule Consultation

Why Hire a Professional Bookkeeping Expert?