FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
What customers should know about BB Taxes & Notary pricing Quick headline facts • Starting prices (examples — final cost depends on complexity): Individual returns from $150–$285, Small Business returns from $315+, Bookkeeping packages starting $185/month. Back years: $285 for the first year, $190 each additional year. • First consultation is free (brief review to scope the job and give a firm estimate). What’s included in a base price • Basic preparation and e-file of federal return (simple schedules included). • Standard bookkeeping monthly package: monthly reconciliation, basic P&L & balance sheet, one monthly advisory call (if included in that package). • A clear engagement letter and final invoice. Common add-ons & why they cost extra • Catch-up / Clean-up fees — if we inherit years of unorganized records or need to reconstruct ledgers. (This is more work than a normal tax prep and is billed separately.) • Complex forms — multi-state returns, K-1s, S-corps, rental schedules, amended returns, or heavy IRS correspondence. • Prior-year filings — first back year is higher (time to gather, reconcile, and re-file). • Rush service — expedited turnaround for urgent deadlines. • Notary fees — for documents that need notarization (flat fee per signature). • Payment processing fee — card payments may carry a small convenience fee; ACH/cash/check options available. Discounts & specials (examples you can offer) • Bundle discount — tax + bookkeeping packaged at a reduced rate. • Multi-return / family discount — reduced fee for filing multiple family members at once. • Referral credit — both referrer and referred client get a credit on their next service. • Seasonal / early-book discount — lower rate for appointments booked before busy season. (Choose which you want to offer — offering 1–3 simple discounts keeps things easy.) Payment & terms • Payment is due at completion unless a payment plan or retainer is agreed. • Bookkeeping typically requires a small retainer or first-month payment to get started. • We offer payment plans for larger projects; ask during your consult. • Late cancellation / no-show policy: appointments canceled within 24–48 hours may incur a fee (keeps our schedule fair). • Invoices past due may incur a small monthly late fee (e.g., 1–1.5% per month). How you’ll get the final price • We’ll review documents during the free consult and give a firm quote. The engagement letter lists exact deliverables and fees so there are no surprises. What I see cause the biggest surprises (real talk) • Clients who bring shoeboxes of mixed receipts often need clean-up time; that’s where costs climb. Getting digital docs organized up front saves time — and your wallet.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Step 1 — Quick chat (free) You book a short, no-cost consult (15–30 min). We’ll talk goals, timeline, and the top items I need to see. I’ll give you a ballpark and explain next steps. Step 2 — Intake & estimate After the call I’ll send: • A secure intake form (business details, access info, preferences) • A written estimate and engagement letter that spells out services, price, and deliverables. Sign the engagement to confirm — this protects both of us and makes expectations clear. Step 3 — Document collection Upload documents via the secure client portal (or drop off if local). Typical documents I ask for: • Last 1–3 years’ tax returns (if available) • Bank & credit card statements (12–36 months depending on scope) • Invoices & receipts, payroll reports, merchant/point-of-sale reports • Business formation docs, EIN, and login invites (QuickBooks Online or other accounting platforms) Tip: scanning and grouping receipts by month saves money on cleanup time. Step 4 — Retainer & access For bookkeeping I usually ask for the first month’s payment or a small retainer to begin. For tax-only work we typically invoice at completion unless we agree otherwise. You’ll send accountant access/invite to QuickBooks (I’ll give exact steps). Step 5 — Onboarding & setup I’ll: • Accept access and review your system • Set up or clean the Chart of Accounts and bank feeds • Triage high-priority items (uncategorized transactions, missing deposits, payroll issues) If a cleanup is needed, I’ll provide a scope (what I’ll fix) and timeline before beginning. Step 6 — Work phase I complete the agreed work (cleanup, month-end closing, tax prep). During this phase you’ll get regular progress updates (weekly during cleanup; monthly bookkeeping updates thereafter). If I find anything that changes the scope, I’ll tell you and share a revised quote. Step 7 — Review meeting When the work is ready I’ll schedule a review (phone, Zoom, or in-person). We’ll go through the financials, key findings, tax outcomes, and next-step recommendations. This meeting is where we turn numbers into action (tax planning, payroll setup, bookkeeping cadence). Step 8 — Delivery & filing For tax returns: I’ll prepare and e-file (or provide final printable copies if you prefer paper). For bookkeeping: I deliver P&L, Balance Sheet, and any custom reports we agreed on. If applicable, I’ll set up quarterly tax reminders and payment schedules. Step 9 — Ongoing service or offboarding If you choose ongoing monthly bookkeeping or advisory, we’ll set a recurring schedule for reconciliations and advisory calls. If you’re finishing a one-time engagement, I’ll deliver a final package of files and transfer access back to you or your new provider with documented notes. Step 10 — Follow-up & support I’m available for questions after delivery. I’ll send summary notes from our review meeting and action items so nothing falls through the cracks.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor / QuickBooks Online Accountant (certified) Practical certification and ongoing QB training — means you know how to set up charts of accounts, clean bank feeds, and get reliable reports quickly. IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) — completed Annual IRS training that keeps tax prep knowledge current and shows a commitment to continuing education and best practices. NATP membership (National Association of Tax Professionals) Access to technical resources, updates, and professional standards — useful for complex tax situations and staying compliant. Continuing education: Intuit ProTax & QuickBooks training modules (ongoing) Regular platform- and tax-software training keeps your workflows efficient and accurate for clients using QBO and Intuit products. Contract experience with Intuit’s Small Business department Real-world experience supporting small-business workflows and tools — translates into faster problem-solving and practical tips for clients. 10+ years hands-on experience in tax preparation & bookkeeping Years of real client work across individuals, small businesses, and gig-economy clients — deep familiarity with common pitfalls and practical solutions. Notary public commission (with E&O insurance up to $100k) Notary services offered in-house with professional liability coverage — convenient and secure for clients who need notarized legal documents. Experience drafting compliance & legal documents (WISP, HIPAA alignment, entity docs) Practical experience creating things like WISPs, nonprofit/corporate filings, and other client-facing legal/compliance docs — helpful for small businesses that need tidy, compliant paperwork. Conference & industry engagement (IRS conferences, workshops) Regular attendance at industry conferences and trainings — keeps you current on rule changes, best practices, and emerging issues that affect clients.