Initial 20-Minute Partner Call
We review your current accounting setup, prior year tax returns, and current pain points. If we aren't the right fit, we tell you directly.
Article IV Engagement and fees
How we work, and what it costs
Fixed monthly and annual retainers, agreed in writing before anything starts. No hourly meter running while you ask a question. Below: the four steps of onboarding, what clients say afterwards, and the questions we get most.
Onboarding
The four steps, in order
Initial 20-Minute Partner Call
We review your current accounting setup, prior year tax returns, and current pain points. If we aren't the right fit, we tell you directly.
Fixed-Fee Scope & Agreement
No surprise billing hours. We provide a clear engagement letter outlining all monthly deliverables, tax prep dates, and fixed quarterly fees.
Onboarding & Ledger Reconciliation
We establish secure direct portal access, reconcile historical discrepancies, and align your chart of accounts with clean tax categorization.
Ongoing Advisory & Regular Reviews
Monthly closes delivered by the 10th. Quarterly planning meetings in August and November to ensure no surprises come tax filing season.
Correspondence
What business owners say
They caught a depreciation error on equipment that saved us eleven thousand dollars.
Robert Whitfield
They caught a depreciation error on equipment that saved us eleven thousand dollars. Our previous regional firm had missed it three years running.
Robert Whitfield
When we acquired our second fabrication facility, David modeled the tax structure and depreciation so our bank approved the financing in two weeks.
Elena Martinez
I never have to wonder who is preparing our returns. Sarah answers her direct line, explains our numbers clearly, and never surprises us with hidden fees.
Thomas Vance
Questions
Asked often enough to print
How do you charge for your services?
We work primarily on transparent, fixed monthly or annual engagement retainers.
How do you charge for your services?
We work primarily on transparent, fixed monthly or annual engagement retainers. You know exactly what your tax and accounting costs are with no surprise hourly bills for asking a quick question.
Will I work directly with a partner?
Yes. While our staff accountants assist with monthly ledger reconciliation, Sarah Alder or David Quinn reviews every return and joins every quarterly planning call.
How do we transfer records from our previous accountant?
We provide a secure encrypted client portal and handle document retrieval directly. Most client onboarding takes under two weeks with zero disruption to your daily operations.
Do you handle multi-state taxes?
Yes. Many of our clients operate across Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. We handle multi-state apportionment and payroll nexus compliance.
Records and privacy
What happens to your documents
Client records live in an encrypted portal, not in email attachments. We keep working papers for seven years, which is what the record retention rules ask of us, and we return or destroy the originals when an engagement ends. Nothing goes to a third party without your written instruction, and we do not sell or share client data.
If you want a copy of everything we hold on your business, ask any partner and it goes out within five business days.
Offices and document drop