General
What types of businesses do you work with?
We primarily serve small and mid-sized businesses (typically under $10 million in annual revenue) across a variety of industries. For example, our clients include professional service firms and trades/contracting businesses, as well as technology startups and SaaS companies. We focus on individuals and small businesses and tailor our approach to each client’s needs, so whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a growing company with a team, we can adapt our services to fit you.
Why should I outsource my accounting or hire Bleumont Group instead of doing it myself?
Outsourcing your accounting lets you tap into expertise and save time. Many business owners benefit from having a professional accountant to ensure compliance with tax laws, maximize deductions, handle payroll accurately, and avoid costly penalties. By letting experts manage your bookkeeping and taxes, you can focus on running your business while knowing your financial records are accurate and up-to-date. In short, we help you make smarter financial decisions and prevent errors that could hurt your business.
How are your services priced? Do you charge by the hour or a fixed fee?
We typically use a fixed-fee pricing model rather than hourly billing. After an initial assessment of your needs, we’ll quote a flat monthly rate that covers the agreed-upon services. This way, you get predictable costs with no surprises or hidden charges. If work is needed outside the original scope, we discuss it with you first and agree on a fair fee before proceeding. Our goal is to provide high value for a reasonable, transparent price.
Can you work with my existing bookkeeper or accounting software like QuickBooks?
Absolutely. If you already have an in-house bookkeeper, we’re happy to work alongside them and provide guidance – essentially serving as an extra set of eyes to ensure your books are accurate. We can also step in to cover critical tasks if your bookkeeper is unavailable or leaves unexpectedly, so your accounting never misses a beat. In addition, we are very familiar with QuickBooks (we even have Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors on our team) and other accounting software, so we can work within your existing system or help you set up and optimize it for your business. Whether you maintain your books in-house or on the cloud, we’ll adapt to your workflow.
Will you meet with me to review my financials and answer questions?
Yes – we believe in proactive communication. We can schedule periodic meetings (for example, monthly or quarterly) to go over your financial statements, explain what the numbers mean, and provide advice based on the results. Most small business owners aren’t financial experts, so we take the time to highlight key metrics and trends in your business and suggest improvements. You are also welcome to reach out to us anytime with questions; we don’t nickel-and-dime for phone calls or emails. Our goal is to be a trusted partner in your success, so we’re here to help you make informed decisions whenever you need guidance.
How do I get started with your services?
Getting started is easy – just contact us to schedule an initial call or consultation. We offer a free initial consultation where we discuss your business’s needs and answer any questions you have. During this meeting (by phone or in person), we’ll learn about your situation and what services you’re interested in. After that, we’ll provide a tailored proposal or quote for a service plan that fits your business. Once you approve, we handle the onboarding process (such as gathering necessary documents and setting up access to your accounting systems) and get to work right away.
How do you protect my data?
Protecting your data is a top priority for us. We use strong security measures like encryption and secure access controls to safeguard your personal and financial information. All client data is stored on protected servers with restricted access, and our team is trained in strict confidentiality practices. We also utilize secure methods for exchanging files (for example, through an encrypted portal or password-protected documents) instead of regular email, to ensure sensitive information stays private. In short, we treat your confidential information as if it were our own – with care, security, and discretion – and we’re always happy to explain our safeguards if you have any questions so you can feel confident your data is safe.
What does onboarding look like—and how long does it take?
Our onboarding process is straightforward and efficient. We begin with a kickoff meeting (or call) to learn about your business and set up any necessary access to your financial accounts or software. From there, we’ll collect any required documents and configure our systems to work seamlessly with your operations. This process typically moves quickly – in many cases we can have you fully onboarded within a week or two (sometimes just a few days, depending on complexity). We keep you informed at each step, so nothing feels uncertain. The goal is a smooth transition: we handle the heavy lifting up front so you can start seeing value from our services as soon as possible.
How will you keep me informed of tax-law changes?
We stay on top of tax law changes year-round so you don’t have to. If new tax legislation passes or a rule changes that affects you, we’ll let you know promptly and explain in plain language what it means for your situation. We often send out brief updates or newsletters about major tax changes, and we’ll also bring up any important updates during your regular meetings or check-ins. Our team continuously monitors the tax landscape, so you can be confident that any significant change will be on our radar. The bottom line is, you won’t be caught off guard by changes in tax laws – we’ll proactively keep you informed and adjust your tax strategy as needed.
Do you offer a client portal or dashboard?
Yes – we offer a secure online client portal (i.e., Google Drive) to make it easy for you to stay connected with your finances. Through our portal (which acts as your personal financial dashboard), you can safely upload documents, download reports, and review your financial information anytime. It’s encrypted and password-protected, so your data remains private. Many clients appreciate having 24/7 access to their bookkeeping and tax documents all in one place. Of course, you can always call or email us if you prefer a more personal touch, but the portal is a handy option for checking in on your numbers and sharing information at your convenience.
What’s included in my flat fee—and what’s considered out of scope?
Your flat fee covers all the services we’ve agreed upon in your plan, so there are no hidden charges or surprise add-ons. We make sure to outline exactly what’s included from the start – typically your ongoing bookkeeping, standard financial reports, routine advice and consultations, and any tax preparation or filings we’ve built into your package. In essence, everything we promise to do on a regular basis is covered by that one fixed price. If something comes up that falls outside of that scope – for example, a special project, an additional tax filing, or an in-depth analysis that wasn’t initially planned – we’ll discuss it with you first. We’ll explain why the extra work is outside the original agreement and give you a clear quote for it, then proceed only if you approve. Our goal is complete transparency – you’ll always know what you’re paying for, and any out-of-scope services are identified and agreed upon in advance to avoid surprises.
Bookkeeping & Recordkeeping
What kind of financial records do I need to keep for my business, and for how long?
It’s important to keep all documents that reflect your income and expenses. This includes things like sales receipts, vendor invoices, bank and credit card statements, canceled checks, payroll records, and past tax returns. These records should be maintained in an organized way (physical or digital) because they support the figures on your financial statements and tax returns. As a general rule, you’ll want to hold on to business records for about 3–7 years. The IRS typically can audit returns for at least three years (and sometimes longer for certain issues), so saving records for up to seven years is a good practice in case you ever need to substantiate a deduction or address a question. Good recordkeeping not only keeps you prepared for taxes or audits, but it also helps you monitor your business’s health throughout the year.
What does your bookkeeping or recordkeeping service include?
Our bookkeeping service is comprehensive – essentially, we handle the day-to-day financial record maintenance for you. Key tasks we take care of include:
- General Ledger & Transactions: Maintaining your general ledger and recording all daily transactions (sales, purchases, expenses, payments, etc.) so that every financial event in your business is properly documented. We ensure each entry is categorized correctly and your books stay organized.
- Account Reconciliation: Regularly reconciling your bank accounts and credit card statements to make sure the balances in your books match the actual funds. This catches any discrepancies early and guarantees accuracy in your financial records.
- Financial Statements: Preparing your financial statements – typically a Profit & Loss (income statement), Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement – on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis as needed. We compile these reports and can analyze them for you, so you always have a clear picture of your business’s financial health.
- Accounts Payable & Receivable: Managing your bills and invoices. On the payables side, we track what you owe vendors and ensure bills get paid on time (to avoid late fees). On the receivables side, we generate customer invoices, send statements, and follow up on overdue payments to keep your cash flow steady.
In short, we handle all the crucial bookkeeping functions – from transaction entry and account maintenance to producing reports – to keep your records accurate and up-to-date. This relieves you of the paperwork burden and ensures nothing falls through the cracks financially.
My bookkeeping is behind and disorganized – can you help clean it up?
Absolutely. It’s not uncommon for busy business owners to fall behind on bookkeeping, and we’re here to help without judgment. We offer catch-up and clean-up services to get your books back on track. This means we will gather your past financial data (bank statements, receipts, etc.), organize and enter any missing transactions, reconcile all accounts for the past periods, and correct any errors or mis-categorizations. By the end of the process, you’ll have a clean set of books that accurately reflect your historical finances. Having up-to-date books will give you confidence in your numbers and ensure you’re ready for tax time or any financial decisions. We work efficiently to bring months (or even years) of backlogged bookkeeping up to date as quickly as possible. If your books are a “mess,” don’t worry – we’ve seen it before and know how to fix it.
How often will my books be updated and financial reports prepared?
We update your books on a regular, ongoing basis. In most cases, we perform bookkeeping tasks weekly or monthly. For example, we typically reconcile bank and credit card accounts every month and record transactions continuously or at least monthly. This means your financial records are never far out of date. We usually provide financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, etc.) on a monthly basis, so you can review your results each month. If you prefer quarterly reviews or need certain reports more frequently, we can adjust to that as well. The goal is to keep you informed with timely information – you won’t be left waiting until year-end to see how your business is doing. By checking in monthly, you can spot trends or issues early and make informed decisions throughout the year. We’re flexible on reporting frequency based on what works best for you, but at minimum you can expect a monthly update on your finances.
Payroll
What do your payroll services include?
Our payroll services cover the entire payroll process from start to finish. This includes calculating each employee’s gross wages and overtime based on their hours or salary, withholding the appropriate taxes (federal, state, local income taxes) and other deductions (like Social Security, Medicare, health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, etc.), and then issuing net paycheck payments (we can facilitate direct deposit or prepare checks). We handle all the required payroll tax filings as well – for example, filing quarterly IRS Form 941 and annual Form 940, state payroll returns, and any other necessary tax forms – and we ensure that tax deposits are made on time. At year-end, we also prepare and issue W-2 forms to your employees and 1099 forms to any independent contractors, as required. In summary, you won’t have to worry about payroll calculations or paperwork at all: we make sure your employees/contractors are paid accurately and on time, and all the behind-the-scenes reporting to the tax authorities is taken care of for you.
Do I need payroll services if I only have a few employees or use only contractors?
If you have even one employee, you have payroll obligations – you must withhold taxes, pay employer payroll taxes, and file the appropriate returns. Handling this manually can be very tricky; even small errors in calculating withholdings or due dates can lead to penalties. That’s why having a payroll service is beneficial even for a very small team. We’ll make sure each pay cycle is handled correctly and all forms are filed on schedule, so you stay in compliance. If your business uses independent contractors exclusively (and no W-2 employees), you don’t run a traditional payroll with tax withholding – contractors are generally paid gross and handle their own taxes. In that case, you might not need a full payroll service for regular paychecks, but you still need to keep records of what you pay them and issue 1099 forms at year-end. We can assist with tracking contractor payments and filing the required 1099s. Just as importantly, we can help you determine whether a worker should be classified as an employee or a contractor. Misclassifying an employee as a 1099 contractor (to avoid payroll) is a common mistake that can lead to serious IRS penalties. We’ll ensure your workers are properly classified and that all required filings (whether payroll or 1099) are completed accurately.
What’s the difference between an employee (W-2) and a contractor (1099)?
The key difference lies in the relationship and tax treatment. Employees are individuals who work under your direction and control as part of your business. If someone is an employee, you put them on your payroll: you withhold income taxes and the employee’s share of Social Security/Medicare from their pay, you (the employer) also pay payroll taxes, and you may offer benefits. Employees receive a Form W-2 each year showing their wages and tax withholdings. Contractors, on the other hand, are independent workers or firms you hire for specific work. You typically pay a contractor’s invoices or fees without withholding any taxes – they are responsible for paying their own taxes (self-employment tax, income tax, etc.). Contractors receive a Form 1099-NEC at year-end if you paid them \$600 or more, which reports the total you paid them (but no taxes withheld). Generally, contractors have more freedom in how they perform their work, whereas employees follow your policies/schedule. It’s very important to classify workers correctly. If someone should be an employee but is treated as a contractor, the IRS or state can charge back payroll taxes and penalties. We can help you review your worker arrangements to ensure each person is properly categorized.
Tax Planning & Preparation
What is tax planning, and why does my business need it?
Tax planning is the proactive process of organizing your financial affairs throughout the year in order to minimize your tax liability legally. Instead of just calculating your taxes after the year is over, we work with you in advance to take advantage of every deduction, credit, and strategy available. This can include choosing the optimal time to make certain purchases or income transactions, selecting the best depreciation methods, deciding on a tax-efficient business structure, and utilizing applicable credits or retirement plans to reduce taxes. Good tax planning not only helps ensure you’re in full compliance with the law, but also enables you to maximize your deductions and optimize your financial standing – in other words, you keep more of your hard-earned money in the business. By planning ahead, you can avoid nasty surprises at tax time and have a clear strategy for how to handle taxes as your business grows. In summary, tax planning is about being proactive and smart with your finances before the tax return is due, whereas tax preparation is the act of filing the returns. Both are important, but planning is what often yields tax savings and peace of mind year-round.
Will you also prepare and file my business’s tax returns?
Yes. We handle full tax return preparation and filing for businesses. This includes preparing all required federal, state, and local tax returns for your company. For example, if you operate as a corporation or partnership, we will prepare the corporate income tax return (such as Form 1120 or 1120S for an S-Corp, or Form 1065 for a partnership/LLC) or the Schedule C for a sole proprietorship. We also take care of any related filings like state business tax returns and local tax forms, if applicable. Additionally, we can handle your business’s other tax compliance needs – such as sales and use tax returns, payroll tax filings, and any industry-specific taxes – so that all your obligations are covered by one provider. We file returns electronically when possible and make sure they’re submitted on time to avoid penalties. Essentially, you can count on us to compile your financial information at year-end, prepare accurate tax returns, review them with you, and file them with the IRS and state authorities. It’s a turnkey service – we manage the whole process, and you’ll receive copies of all filed returns for your records.
Can you handle my personal tax return as well as my business taxes?
Absolutely. We offer individual tax preparation services in addition to business tax services. In many cases, small business owners benefit from having the same firm handle both their business and personal returns, because the two are often interconnected. For example, if your business is a pass-through entity (like an S-Corp, partnership, or LLC), the business income flows through to your personal tax return. We have experience with individual tax filings and can prepare your Form 1040 and related schedules along with your business returns. This holistic approach allows us to do tax planning that considers both your business and personal situation together – we won’t miss the forest for the trees. Our goal is to optimize your overall tax picture. So yes, you can come to us for your business taxes, and we’ll also take care of your personal income tax return (and even returns for your spouse or other family members if needed). It’s convenient to have one trusted advisor handling all of your taxes.
What if my business gets an IRS notice or is audited? Will you help?
Definitely. We stand by our clients year-round, which means if you ever receive a tax notice or audit letter from the IRS (or a state tax agency), we will assist you through it. Our team can handle communications with the IRS on your behalf – we’ll review the notice or audit request, gather any needed documentation, and respond with the appropriate information or explanations. If it comes to an audit meeting or call, we can represent you (with proper authorization) and work directly with the auditors to resolve any issues. We have experience dealing with tax authorities and will strive to resolve the matter as efficiently and favorably as possible. Often, notices can be addressed by providing additional documentation or clarification, which we will prepare. In an audit, we’ll help ensure you are prepared and advocate for your position. The bottom line is, you won’t be left alone to deal with the IRS – we’re your advocate and will guide you every step of the way, helping to answer questions and protect your interests.
Advisory & Business Guidance
What advisory or CFO services do you offer for small businesses?
In addition to handling the books and taxes, we provide financial advisory services akin to having an on-call CFO for your business. Our advisory support can be tailored to what you need, but typically includes: Financial analysis and performance review – we dig into your financial statements to calculate key performance indicators (KPIs) and identify trends or areas for improvement in profitability or efficiency. We also assist with budgeting and forecasting, helping you project future revenues, expenses, and cash flow so you can plan ahead with confidence. Cash flow management is another focus: we’ll advise on optimizing your working capital (speeding up receivables, managing payables, controlling inventory) to ensure you always have adequate cash on hand. We can help implement or improve your financial systems and processes too – for example, selecting and setting up accounting software, introducing automation tools, or strengthening internal controls to safeguard assets. Furthermore, we offer strategic business planning guidance: we’ll work with you on high-level decisions like growth strategies, pricing models, expense management, and risk management. Think of it as having a financial coach/partner who can translate your numbers into actionable business insights. Our advisory services are there to help you not just keep the books, but truly understand them and use them to drive your business forward.
I’m planning to grow or sell my business – can you assist with major financial decisions or projects?
Yes, we have experience guiding clients through major business milestones and special projects. If you’re planning to expand or need financing, we can help you put together financial projections and budgets, and even interface with lenders or investors by preparing the reports or audits they may require. If you’re considering a merger or acquisition (buying another business or selling yours), we can support the due diligence process by analyzing financial statements, identifying any red flags, and working with your legal team on the financial aspects of the deal. We also provide valuation insights and help you understand the tax implications of a sale or purchase. For those looking at succession planning or an exit strategy, we advise on the best way to structure a transition – whether that’s selling the company, passing it to a family member, or another exit plan. This can include guidance on business valuation, tax-efficient sale structures, and preparing your financial records to maximize the value of your business to a buyer. Essentially, for any big financial decision or one-time project – be it applying for a grant or relief program, undergoing a financial audit, or evaluating a major investment – our team is ready to lend its expertise. We want to be more than just your bookkeeper; we strive to be a strategic partner you can trust when you’re making the big calls.
I’m starting a new business – can you advise on the right business structure and help set up my accounting?
Absolutely. Choosing the right entity type (for example, sole proprietorship vs. LLC vs. S-Corp vs. C-Corp) is an important first step for a new business, because each type has different filing requirements, tax treatments, and legal implications. We have extensive experience with business formations and can explain the pros and cons of each structure in light of your goals. Picking the wrong entity can be costly down the road – for instance, it might lead to higher taxes or complex compliance burdens – so it’s worth getting professional guidance up front. We’ll evaluate factors like liability protection, how you plan to take profits, whether you might seek investors, etc., and help you decide on the optimal structure for your situation. Beyond entity selection, we can assist with all the initial setup: obtaining an EIN (tax ID) from the IRS, registering with state and local agencies, setting up your accounting system (we can establish your QuickBooks or other software chart of accounts correctly from the start), and putting recordkeeping processes in place. We’ll also make sure you understand your compliance calendar – for example, when your tax filings will be due, what licenses or permits you might need, and how to pay estimated taxes if required. In short, we love working with startups and new entrepreneurs. Through our consultation and advisory, we’ll help you navigate the launch of your business so you start off on a strong financial footing, with the peace of mind that you haven’t missed any crucial steps.