Working with us
Getting Started as a New Business Client
Whether your books are current, behind, or were never started, the setup follows the same order: understand the business, get the records in, then settle into a rhythm.
Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated
Start with a conversation
Every engagement starts with understanding what you need. In a free consultation, in the Easley office or virtually, we talk through:
- What the business does and how money comes in: card sales, invoices, cash, payment apps
- How it is set up: sole proprietor, LLC, S corporation, partnership
- Whether there are employees or contractors
- Where the books stand today, and whether any returns are outstanding
- What you want from the numbers: a clean tax return, a loan application, a clearer view of profit
From there you get a quote for your situation before work begins. You can also request a bookkeeping quote directly.
What to gather
- Your EIN and formation documents, and details of any elections made
- A list of every bank, credit card and loan account the business uses, including any personal account that carries business activity
- Recent statements for those accounts
- Access to the existing bookkeeping file, if there is one
- The last business and personal tax returns filed
- Payroll reports and copies of any 1099s issued to contractors
- Any IRS, SCDOR or other agency letters
You do not need to organize any of it first. Upload it through the secure portal from get started or drop it off in person.
Taking over existing books
If someone else set up your books, that is routine. We review how the file was set up, correct the chart of accounts and any miscategorized history where it materially matters, reconcile from a clean starting point, and carry on from there. We work in both QuickBooks and Xero, and you do not have to start again from scratch.
If the books are behind, the catch-up bookkeeping comes first, so the current work starts from numbers you can trust. Messy books covers the common situations.
The rhythm after setup
Once the books are current, bookkeeping runs on a regular close. Monthly suits any business with employees, inventory, meaningful transaction volume or thin margins. Quarterly can be enough for a stable, low-volume business with no employees. We will tell you which you actually need rather than defaulting to the larger service.
Where the business needs it, the same setup brings in payroll, sales tax filing, or an S corporation election. At year-end, the books feed straight into the business return. Not sure which services fit? The service finder walks you through it.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start with a new bookkeeper?
Your EIN and formation documents, a list of every account the business uses, recent bank and card statements, access to any existing bookkeeping file, your last filed tax returns, and payroll or 1099 records if you have them. You do not need to tidy any of it first. Organizing the records is part of the work, not a precondition for it.
Can a new bookkeeper fix books someone else set up?
Yes, and it is routine. We review how the file was configured, correct the chart of accounts and any miscategorized history where it materially matters, reconcile the accounts from a clean starting point, and continue from there. Most broken books are broken through setup rather than software, so starting over from scratch is rarely necessary.
Should my bookkeeping be monthly or quarterly?
Monthly for a business with employees, inventory, meaningful transaction volume or thin margins, because problems surface while they are still easy to fix. Quarterly is genuinely adequate for a stable, low-volume business with no employees and nobody asking for figures between filings. We recommend the one you actually need after looking at the business.
Can my business work with you if it is not near Easley?
Yes. Business clients can work entirely through the secure client portal, uploading statements and records and getting questions answered there, or drop records off at the Easley office. The bookkeeping and the monthly close are the same either way, and so are the people doing the work.
Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.
Related pages
How we quote
What drives a quote, when you get it, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.
Learn moreVirtual tax preparation
The secure portal, the same preparer, and electronic signing from anywhere.
Learn moreYour first appointment
Booking, what to bring, and how the return is prepared, reviewed and filed.
Learn moreTax preparer vs. CPA
What AFSP means, who genuinely needs a CPA, and how we handle matters that do.
Learn morePart of Working With Us. Not sure which service fits? Answer a few questions.
Tell us what you need
Send a short note about your situation and we’ll come back to you with a straight answer — whether that’s a quote, a next step, or a referral if it isn’t something we handle.
Prefer to talk it through first? Book a consultation and we’ll find a time, in the Easley office or virtually.
Ready when you are. In the office or virtually.
Call (864) 781-4035 or book a consultation, in the Easley office or virtually.