That’s such a great question, and if you’re even asking it, chances are... you’re closer than you think.
Here are a few signs it might be time to bring in a bookkeeper:
You’re falling behind If reconciling your accounts keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list — or you haven’t touched your books in months — it’s a sign you’ve outgrown DIY mode.
You’re unsure if your numbers are accurate If you’re not 100% confident your income, expenses, or tax categories are correct, it can lead to costly mistakes later. A bookkeeper gives you peace of mind that your books are clean and compliant.
Tax season is a nightmare If you dread tax time or scramble to pull things together for your accountant, a bookkeeper can make that process smooth, predictable, and stress-free.
Your business is growing (or changing) Whether you’re adding team members, launching new services, or just seeing more transactions — you need better financial visibility to make smart decisions. That’s where a bookkeeper helps you scale with confidence.
You want to focus on what you do best If bookkeeping is draining your energy or keeping you from serving your clients and growing your business, it’s time to outsource and get that time back.
✨ Bottom line: You don’t have to be “big enough” to deserve support. You just have to be ready to stop carrying the mental load alone.
Absolutely — and I want you to know you’re not alone.
Many business owners feel shame or hesitation about reaching out when things aren’t perfectly organized. The truth is: bookkeepers expect to see messy books. That’s what we’re here for!
This is a no-judgment zone. I’ve helped clients who haven’t touched their books in a year, have unopened tax notices, or didn’t know what bookkeeping even meant when we started. You don’t have to clean things up before asking for help — I meet you exactly where you are and work alongside you to get everything in order.
If you're behind, overwhelmed, or not even sure what’s missing — that’s the perfect time to reach out. You deserve support, not shame.
This is one of the most common questions I get — and it’s an important one.
The cost of bookkeeping depends on a few things: how many transactions you have each month, what systems you use (like QuickBooks), and whether your books need cleanup or just ongoing maintenance.
Most of my clients are small business owners or solo entrepreneurs, so I offer pricing that reflects realistic needs at your stage of business — no bloated packages or one-size-fits-all pricing.
Now here’s the real question: What is it costing you to not have a bookkeeper?
DIY bookkeeping often leads to:
Missed deductions or overpaid taxes
Hours spent trying to fix small mistakes
Decision-making based on incomplete or inaccurate data
Hiring a bookkeeper gives you time back, financial clarity, and peace of mind. And for most business owners — that’s worth far more than the monthly fee.
This is a really common source of confusion, so let’s break it down simply:
✅ A bookkeeper tracks and categorizes your daily transactions, keeps your financial records organized, reconciles your accounts, and provides ongoing insight into your business finances. You’ll work with a bookkeeper throughout the year.
✅ An accountant or CPA often handles high-level financial strategy and files your taxes. You may only talk to your accountant during tax season — and they usually expect your books to already be clean - That’s where a bookkeeper like me comes in — to make sure your books are accurate, organized, and ready.
Most business owners need both. Bookkeepers maintain your financial foundation, while accountants use that information to file taxes and advise on long-term planning. If your accountant is doing your books too, they’re likely charging premium rates for something a bookkeeper could do more affordably and consistently.
Not always — but in most cases, yes.
QuickBooks Online (QBO) is one of the most widely used and efficient bookkeeping platforms out there, especially for small business owners. If you're not already using it, your bookkeeper may recommend setting up an account so they can manage your books more accurately and efficiently.
Here’s what that could look like:
If you’re brand new to bookkeeping, I can help you choose the right QBO plan and walk you through setting it up.
If you’re already using spreadsheets or another tool, we can discuss whether switching makes sense.
If you want to share access with your accountant later, QBO makes it super simple.
The goal is always to make bookkeeping easier for you Let’s talk about it and see what’s best for your needs and budget.
Yes — and I make the transition as simple and stress-free as possible.
If you’ve been managing your business finances with paper files, spreadsheets, or handwritten logs, it can feel overwhelming to make the switch to bookkeeping software. But moving to a system like QuickBooks Online can save you hours of manual work, reduce errors, and make tax season way easier.
Here’s what the process looks like:
We’ll start by reviewing your current system — whether it’s binders, folders, or files — and identify what needs to be entered into QuickBooks.
I’ll help you choose the right QuickBooks Online plan based on your business needs and budget.
I’ll walk you through setup and guide the initial migration of your financial information into the software — clean, organized, and ready to go.
If you’d like, I can continue with monthly support or teach you how to manage the basics yourself.
You don’t need to figure it all out alone — this is exactly what I’m here for.
Adding me as your bookkeeper allows me to securely view your books, provide a proper quote, and offer accurate bookkeeping support.
Here's how you can add me:
Log into your QuickBooks Online account
Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right
Choose "Manage Users"
Select the "Accounting Firms" tab
Click "Invite", then enter my email address
Click "Save" or "Send Invite"
Once I accept the invitation, I’ll be able to review your file and let you know exactly what services or cleanup your books may need.
📹 Need a visual walkthrough? Watch this official Youtube video from QuickBooks:
At Hinds Bookkeeping, we make it simple and secure for you to share your financial documents with us.
We use Google Drive, a user-friendly and cloud-based system that most people are already familiar with. You’ll be given access to a private, shared folder where you can easily upload your receipts, bank statements, invoices, contracts, or anything else we need to keep your books accurate and up to date.
✅ What makes Google Drive a great option:
Easy to use — drag and drop files from your phone or computer.
No special software needed — just a Gmail or Google account.
Secure and private — only you and your bookkeeper can access your folder.
Organized — your folder will include sections for receipts, invoices, bank statements, and more.
Anytime access — upload files 24/7 from anywhere with internet access.
If you prefer another method or already use platforms like Dropbox or OneDrive, just let us know — we’re flexible!
💡 Once you become a client, we’ll walk you through how to upload your files step by step. It’s quick, secure, and saves time for both of us!
Great question — because clean books aren’t just about being “done,” they’re about being right.
Here are a few red flags that your books might not be as accurate as you think:
Your bank balances in QuickBooks don’t match your actual bank account
You have uncategorized transactions or a lot of “ask my accountant” labels
You’re not confident your income and expenses are in the right categories
Your reports (like Profit & Loss) don’t seem to reflect reality
If this sounds familiar, don’t panic — it’s fixable. An experienced bookkeeper can review your file, clean up inconsistencies, and help you build a process that works going forward.
Think of it like a financial checkup. You wouldn’t ignore your health — and your business books deserve the same attention.
No, you don’t have to switch — but it depends on how you want to work with your bookkeeper and what kind of support you’re looking for.
QuickBooks Desktop (QBD) is still a powerful tool, but it’s limited when it comes to remote access and collaboration. Because QBD is installed locally on your computer, your bookkeeper can only work on your books if you send files back and forth or give remote access to your device — which can be time-consuming or inconvenient.
QuickBooks Online (QBO), on the other hand:
Allows secure, real-time access for both you and your bookkeeper
Syncs with your bank and payment processors automatically
Works from anywhere — no more waiting to send updated files
If you're planning to work with a virtual bookkeeper (like me!), switching to QBO can make the process smoother and save you time in the long run — I’m happy to talk through the options with you and help you decide what’s best for your business.
Yes — I can absolutely help you get your records organized and ready for your CPA. Even if you’re not using bookkeeping software like QuickBooks, I can work with paper statements, receipts, and other financial documents.
That said, reviewing and organizing everything manually takes more time and care — especially if things haven’t been categorized yet or are stored in different formats (like bank PDFs, printed invoices, or handwritten logs). Because of that, the pricing will depend on how much information needs to be sorted, entered, and prepared.
Here’s how we can move forward:
I’ll start with a discovery call to learn more about how your documents are stored and what your CPA will need.
Then I’ll provide a quote based on the volume of paperwork and the time required.
If you'd like to switch to a digital system afterward, I can also guide you through setting up QuickBooks or another simple tool to save time in the future.
You don’t need to have a perfect system in place — that’s exactly what I’m here to help with.
Great question — and it's smart to start thinking about your bookkeeping as a regular part of your business budget, just like software, taxes, or marketing.
Bookkeeping pricing can vary depending on:
How many transactions you have each month
Whether you need catch-up or cleanup work
How organized your records are right now
What systems you're using (like QuickBooks, Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
How much ongoing support you want (monthly, quarterly, or as-needed)
💡For this reason, most service-based businesses may spend anywhere from $100 to over $1K per month on professional bookkeeping, depending on complexity. Just like a mechanic needs to inspect your car to provide an accurate estimate, a bookkeeper must understand your specific situation to give a proper quote. This is why it’s not as simple as asking, 'How much do you charge for bookkeeping?' without a detailed conversation.
Catch-up or cleanup work may be billed as a one-time project fee.
If you’re early in your business and don’t have a big budget set aside yet — that’s okay. We can start with the essentials and build as you grow.
During the discovery call, I’ll ask a few simple questions about your business and books so I can give you a custom quote that’s fair, clear, and aligned with your current stage. No surprises, no pressure.
That’s a really common question, especially for new business owners—and it’s an important one. While I don’t provide tax advice, I can help you get your books organized so your CPA or tax professional has everything they need to make that call confidently.
Whether or not you need to make quarterly estimated tax payments depends on several personal and business-specific factors, like your total income, how your business is structured, and what you expect to earn this year.
📌 Pro tip: It’s always best to check in with a trusted tax professional early on so you’re not caught off guard later in the year. If you need help finding one, I’m happy to point you in the right direction.
Yes — and most new business owners are surprised by just how much they actually need. Even if you're offering services online from home, California often requires things like a business license, a seller’s permit, or a fictitious business name registration (DBA). Your location, business structure, and what you sell all affect the rules.
We’ve put together a simple guide for service-based entrepreneurs that covers the 5 most commonly missed requirements.
Check out the Start Smart checklist for California-based businesses here.
Getting this right from the beginning can save you time, stress, and surprise penalties down the road.
Possibly. In California, some digital or service-based offers are taxable — especially if they include downloads, templates, or bundled products. Even if you're not selling physical goods, you may still need a seller’s permit depending on how you bill clients.
Not sure where to start? Review the Start Smart checklist for California service providers.
If you’re using a name other than your full legal name — for example, “Bliss Coaching” instead of “Taylor Smith” — California may require you to register a DBA with your county. It’s a simple step that many service-based business owners miss at the beginning.
See California’s filing tips. This is also covered in our Start Smart checklist
As of January 1, 2024, most LLCs and corporations (even single-member ones) are required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with FinCEN. This rule affects many small business owners who aren’t aware of it.
Read about BOI requirements on FinCEN.gov
If you’ve formed an LLC, the Start Smart checklist can help clarify what else you may need.
Effective Date: January 1, 2024
Governing Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury (FinCEN)
Who Must File: Most small businesses formed as:
LLCs (even single-member)
Corporations (including S-corps)
Some other registered entities
What They Must Report:
Business name
Owner’s name, address, date of birth
Legal identification (like driver’s license or passport)
Company formation details
Filing Deadline:
Business Type: BOI Filing
Deadline: Formed BEFORE Jan 1, 2024
File by: Jan 1, 2025
Formed ON or AFTER Jan 1, 2024: File within 90 days of formation (was 30 days, recently extended)
✅ There is no fee for filing — but failure to file can result in civil penalties up to $500/day and criminal charges.
The information here is current as of 04/20/2025.
In many cases, yes. Most California cities and counties require a local business license — even if you're working from home or running a fully online business. The requirements vary based on your exact location. Some unincorporated areas of some cities do not require one depending on the kind of business you want to start. Please check with your local city or county for more details.
Use CalGold to search your city or county
You can also find this listed on our Start Smart checklist
I know this might be more information than most bookkeepers put on their websites — and that’s on purpose.
I want you to feel informed, not overwhelmed. Whether we end up working together or not, my goal is to help you understand how this all works, what kind of support you might need, and what to expect when it comes to pricing.
I believe in being upfront, approachable, and clear — so you’re never left guessing or wondering what comes next.
Both of our time is valuable, so let’s make sure we’re the right fit from the start.
Let’s take the next step — together.