Small business accounting starts with complete records, reconciliations and useful reports. Discuss your bookkeeping, reporting and controller/CFO needs with our office. Confirm supported software, deliverables, review frequency and fees before work starts. Related: Controller/CFO .
Table of Contents
Monthly Reconciliation
Reconcile bank and credit card records against statements monthly, with unresolved items investigated.
Agreed Close Schedule
Target month-end close
Supporting Records
Receipts & workpapers on file
What to Systematize in Small Business Accounting
- Reconciliations: Banks, credit cards, loans each month
- A/R & A/P: Invoices, statements, vendor bills, 1099s
- Payroll sync: Wages, taxes, JE tie-outs
- Job/Product costing: Labor & materials by job/SKU
- Close & review: P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow
- KPIs: Gross margin, AR/AP days, burn rate
- Documentation: Bank rules, memos, receipt capture
- Tax-ready files: Workpapers for your EA/CPA
Goals to Review With Your Accountant
- Cash clarity: Accurate daily balance & weekly forecasts
- Error review: Check imported transactions and bank rules for duplicates, omissions and incorrect categories.
- True margins: Pricing with live costs & KPIs
- Tax records: Categories support review; deductions depend on eligibility, business purpose and documentation.
- Prepare financial statements and supporting schedules for the lender's stated requirements. The lender independently decides what reports and assurance are needed and whether to approve financing; bookkeeping reports do not guarantee acceptance.
- Compliance: 1099s, payroll tie-outs, sales tax
- Owner time back: Delegate with controls
- Confidence: Documentation available for review
Our Monthly Workflow for Small Businesses
- Kickoff: Connect feeds, tune chart of accounts, vendor rules
- Complete reconciliations and review before setting the closing date. Restrict access and document approved later adjustments; closing-date controls do not make prior transactions immutable.
- Reporting: P&L by class/job, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow + KPIs
- Quarterly check-ins: Estimates, payroll reviews, tax planning
Need deeper insights? Explore our Controller/CFO services.
For small business recordkeeping guidance, review IRS Publication 583 and discuss how your records support the reporting work.
Tools We Support
Tell our office which accounting, payroll, inventory and project tools you use. Confirm compatibility, subscriptions, integrations and implementation scope before granting access or starting work.
Before the consultation, list the periods needing review, the bank and credit card accounts involved, and any missing statements or outstanding questions. Bring a summary of how invoices, expenses and payroll are currently recorded. This helps identify the starting point for the work and the records needed for an agreed reporting schedule. Keep unresolved items visible so management can understand the limits of each report.
For a small business, the monthly handoff should explain what was completed and what remains open. Ask which accounts were reconciled to statements, whether customer and vendor balances need follow-up, and which unusual entries require an explanation. A report can look complete while still containing unresolved balances, so review the supporting schedules as well as the totals.
Choose reporting measures that answer a specific management question. For example, a receivables aging report can help identify invoices to follow up, while an expense comparison can highlight items that need investigation. Agree the date range and accounting basis before comparing periods. Document material changes in how transactions are categorized so the comparison remains understandable.
Set a realistic schedule for providing documents and responding to questions. Identify a backup contact when the owner is unavailable and decide how urgent items will be raised. Review the process after the first reporting cycle: missing records, unclear responsibilities and recurring corrections can show where the next cycle needs adjustment. Confirm any change in work, fees or delivery dates in the engagement before proceeding.
Related services: Bookkeeping • Tax Preparation • IRS Representation
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