Whether you’re trying to figure out if I’m the right fit or just have a general bookkeeping question, this page is a good place to start. I’ve split it into two sections: one on what it’s like to work with me, and one covering bookkeeping basics that come up a lot, including a few specific to nonprofits and e-commerce. If you don’t see your question answered here, reach out and I’ll get back to you directly.
Working With Me
What industries or business types do you work with?
I specialize in small nonprofits and e-commerce/retail businesses, though I work with small businesses across the DMV region and nationally. My background spans manufacturing, nonprofit, service, biotech, education, and HOA accounting, so I bring more range than a typical bookkeeper coming straight out of a certification course.
Do you offer payroll services?
I don’t process payroll directly, but I coordinate with third-party payroll providers to keep your books accurate and in sync with payroll activity.
Do you prepare or file taxes?
No, I don’t offer tax preparation or advisory services. I’m happy to work alongside your CPA or tax preparer and keep your books ready for them at tax time.
What’s the difference between catch-up and clean-up bookkeeping, and do I need one?
Catch-up is for books that are behind and need to be brought current, if you haven’t kept up in a while. Clean-up is for books that exist but have errors, miscategorized transactions, or structural issues that need correcting. Both are scoped and quoted separately from ongoing monthly service, since the amount of work varies so much from one business to the next.
How do I get started?
Once we agree on scope, I’ll need access to your accounts and any relevant files before work begins. The engagement timeline starts once that access is granted, not before. For catch-up or clean-up projects specifically, I require 50% payment upfront and 50% upon delivery.
How does billing work for ongoing service?
Monthly retainers are billed on the 1st via autopay. That amount holds steady even if your transaction volume dips below your tier in a given month, since the work itself is task-based rather than strictly transaction-counted.
What if my needs don’t fit neatly into a standard package?
Some situations, high transaction volume, multiple entities, or complex inventory needs, fall outside standard tiers. I quote those individually after a short discovery conversation so the scope actually matches the work.
Bookkeeping Basics
What’s the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day work, recording transactions, reconciling accounts, keeping your financial records accurate and current. Accounting takes that data and interprets it, think tax strategy, financial analysis, big-picture decisions. Put another way, a bookkeeper builds the foundation and an accountant uses it to plan. Most small businesses need solid bookkeeping first, and that’s where I come in.
How often should I be reconciling my accounts?
Monthly, at minimum. Reconciling means matching your books against your actual bank and credit card statements to catch errors, duplicate charges, or missed transactions before they snowball. I do this for every client every month as part of standard service. Waiting longer than that usually means more time untangling things later, and more room for something to slip through unnoticed.
What’s the difference between cash and accrual accounting, and how do I know which one I need?
Cash basis records income and expenses when money actually changes hands. Accrual basis records them when they’re earned or incurred, regardless of when the cash moves. In plain terms, cash basis tells you what’s in the bank right now, and accrual basis tells you the fuller financial picture including what you’re owed and what you owe. Smaller, simpler operations often do fine on cash basis. Nonprofits, businesses with inventory, or anyone extending credit usually need accrual to get an accurate picture.
Do I need separate bank accounts for my business?
Yes, and this one’s non-negotiable in my book. Mixing business and personal transactions makes your books harder to maintain, muddies your tax picture, and can create real legal exposure if you’re an LLC or corporation. A dedicated business checking account, and a separate credit card if you can manage it, saves everyone a headache down the line, including you at tax time.
What financial reports should I actually be looking at every month?
At minimum, your Profit & Loss statement and Balance Sheet. The P&L shows what you earned and spent over the month, the Balance Sheet shows what you own and owe at a point in time. Together they tell you whether you’re actually profitable and whether your business is financially healthy, which aren’t always the same answer. I include both in every monthly package along with a health review that flags anything that looks off.
How is nonprofit bookkeeping different from small business bookkeeping?
Nonprofits have to track and report on more than just profit and loss. Revenue often comes with restrictions attached, grants, donor-designated gifts, program funding, and the books need to reflect those restrictions clearly. There’s also functional expense reporting, breaking out costs by program services, management, and fundraising, which feeds directly into the Form 990. It’s a different lens on the same core discipline, and it’s the piece a lot of general bookkeepers haven’t had to work with.
What is fund accounting, and does my nonprofit need it?
Fund accounting is a method that tracks money based on its restrictions and intended use rather than just tracking overall profit. If your nonprofit receives grants, restricted donations, or program-specific funding, you likely need it to stay compliant and to give your board and funders an accurate picture of where money is and isn’t available to spend. Even smaller nonprofits benefit from setting this up early, since retrofitting it later is a bigger lift than starting with it in place.
Do I need to collect sales tax if I sell on Etsy or Shopify?
It depends on the state and the platform. Many marketplaces, Etsy included, handle sales tax collection and remittance automatically under marketplace facilitator laws. But if you sell through your own website or a platform that doesn’t handle this for you, you may be responsible for registering and remitting sales tax yourself. It’s worth confirming your specific setup rather than assuming you’re covered, since the rules vary by state and by platform.
How should I track inventory and cost of goods sold for an online store?
You’ll want a system that updates in real time as items sell, either perpetual inventory tracking through your accounting software or a connected e-commerce platform. Cost of goods sold, what it actually cost you to produce or acquire what you sold, needs to be tracked accurately to know your real profit margin, not just your revenue. A lot of new e-commerce sellers look profitable on paper until COGS is properly accounted for, and that’s usually where the surprise shows up.
Still have a question? I’m happy to help.