MORE QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT ANSWERS.
Still have questions? I get it.
Hiring a bookkeeper for the first time can feel like a big step. There are a lot of questions, a few unknowns, and maybe even some things you're not sure you should be asking.
That's exactly why I've put together answers to some of the most common questions I hear from small business owners.
FAQs
What does a bookkeeper actually do for a small business?
A bookkeeper handles the day-to-day financial organization of your business so your numbers are accurate, up to date, and easy to understand. This includes categorizing transactions, reconciling bank and credit card accounts, and preparing monthly financial reports.
At Oak and Ledger, we work inside QuickBooks Online as the central system while you continue running your business using your existing tools for invoicing, payments, and operations. Bookkeeping gives you clarity around cash flow, profitability, and trends so you can make informed decisions throughout the year, not just at tax time.
How do I know if I am ready to hire a bookkeeper?
If managing your books is taking up too much of your time, if you're not 100% confident in your numbers, or if you dread doing it every month, you're probably more than ready. A bookkeeper gives you time back and peace of mind. You focus on growing the business, allowing us handle the numbers.
When does it make sense to hire a virtual bookkeeper instead of an in-house bookkeeper?
A virtual bookkeeper makes sense when you want expert financial management without the cost of a full-time hire. If your business doesn’t need someone in the office every day, you’re looking for someone part-time, or you value flexibility and cloud-based systems, a virtual bookkeeper is the better fit. You’ll still get accurate, timely reports and professional support… just without payroll taxes, benefits, or extra overhead.
How does it work?
Everything is handled virtually for your convenience. Once you’re onboarded, we connect your accounts securely through QuickBooks Online and begin reviewing transactions each week. You’ll receive consistent updates, monthly financial reports, and ongoing communication through email. Oak and Ledger keeps your books accurate and up to date so you can stay focused on running your business.
How do you price?
I believe in transparent pricing, which is why you'll find my starting prices for monthly, quarterly, and catch-up bookkeeping on my Bookkeeping Services page.
Your final quote is personalized based on your business's structure and activity level. Factors include the number of bank accounts, transaction volume, payroll, 1099s, POS systems, and any special reporting needs, such as classes, jobs, or projects.
If your books aren't current within the last three months, I'll also provide a separate quote for catch-up bookkeeping.
To create an accurate proposal, we'll schedule a call to discuss how your business operates and where your books stand today. With an NDA in place, I typically review three months of bank statements to verify transaction volume.
If you'd prefer not to share statements, that's okay too! We can move forward with a detailed call, and your initial pricing will be guaranteed for three months while we confirm the actual workload.
Want an idea of what to expect? View my starting prices and bookkeeping services.
What if my books are behind or non-existent?
You are not alone. Many business owners come to Oak and Ledger after months or even years of transactions have gone unrecorded. Catching up your books simply means organizing past transactions, categorizing income and expenses correctly, and reconciling your accounts so your financial records are accurate and complete.
We offer Catch-Up and Clean-Up bookkeeping to bring everything up to date. Once your books are organized, you will have reliable financial reports that help you understand how your business is performing and prepare for tax filing.
Instead of scrambling at tax time, this process gives you a clear financial foundation moving forward. From there, we can also discuss ongoing bookkeeping support so your records stay organized and your financial data becomes a tool you can use to make better decisions and grow your business.
If I already have a CPA doing my bookkeeping, then why would I need you?
That’s great! Some CPAs do offer bookkeeping, but depending on their workload, it may not be as hands-on or consistent throughout the year. And to be completely honest with you, most CPAs don’t want to do it and offload the bookkeeping to other employees or contractors… while you pay the CPA price tag. At Oak and Ledger, bookkeeping is our primary focus.
We provide monthly, accurate financials with clear communication, timely reports, and a streamlined system designed to keep your books in top shape all year… not just at tax time. We’re also happy to collaborate with your CPA to make sure they have exactly what they need when tax season comes around.
Do I need to use QuickBooks Online?
Not necessarily! QuickBooks Online is our preferred platform for monthly bookkeeping, but we're open to working with other cloud-based accounting systems. I have experience with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Oracle NetSuite, so I'm comfortable navigating different accounting platforms.
At the end of the day, accounting principles don't change from one software to another. It's simply a matter of learning the platform and understanding how your business uses it.
If you're already using another system, let's talk! I'm happy to explore whether it's a good fit for us to work together.
Do you work with external platforms like Jobber, Shopify, Square, Etsy, or Squarespace?
Yes. Many of our clients run their businesses using external platforms for invoicing, payments, scheduling, or online sales. We regularly work alongside tools such as Jobber, Shopify, Square, Etsy, and Squarespace, and so much more!
QuickBooks Online remains the central system for your accounting, while these platforms feed into it either through direct integrations or a structured manual workflow. During onboarding, we review how each system is being used, confirm that data is flowing correctly, and clean up any issues caused by improper or duplicate syncing.
Not every platform should be fully integrated, and connecting everything automatically can sometimes create more problems than it solves. We take a thoughtful, intentional approach to ensure your books stay accurate, your revenue is properly recorded, and your financial reports actually reflect how your business operates.
If you are using a platform not listed here, we will review it during onboarding and determine the best way to incorporate it into your bookkeeping system.
Will you file my taxes?
No, we don’t file taxes, but we do prepare your books so your CPA has everything they need. We’ll even coordinate directly with them if needed. If you don’t have a tax pro, we can connect you with someone we trust.