FAQ
The questions owners actually ask.
General questions are answered here. Questions about a particular service are answered on that service's page, so there is one current answer to each.
Working with us
Before you get in touch.
- What kind of businesses do you work with?
- Self-employed people and owner-led businesses — sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, S corporations and growing small businesses — plus individuals, families and nonprofits.
- Do I need to be local to work with you?
- The office is in North Easton and you're welcome in it, but the work runs fine remotely too. Whether we're the right fit depends on your business rather than the distance — ask, and we'll give you a straight answer for your situation.
- Can you take over from my current accountant?
- Yes. We'll need the prior-year returns and access to the existing books; the handover is usually more straightforward than people expect.
- How do I send documents securely?
- Not through the website. Once we're working together we'll share a secure route — please don't email tax returns, Social Security numbers or bank details.
By service
Questions about a specific service.
Each service page answers the questions people ask about it. Pick the service and the question; the link opens the answer.
Bookkeeping
- What's the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?
- My books are months behind. Can you still take this on?
- What does 'closing the month' actually mean?
- Will I still be able to see my own books?
- How often will I hear from you?
- What if I only need a cleanup and not ongoing work?
- Do I have to change accounting software to work with you?
- What if my books have never been reconciled?
- Will you tell me if something looks wrong during the year?
- How much of my time will this take?
Business Tax Preparation & Planning
- What's the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?
- Do you handle both my business and personal returns?
- Can you tell me what I'll save?
- When should planning happen?
- What do you need from me to start?
- When is the right time to have a planning conversation?
- Can you tell me how much I will save?
- Do you handle both the business return and my personal one?
- What do you need from me to start?
Payroll Support
- Why do S-corp owners need payroll at all?
- Can you fix payroll filings that were done wrong?
- Does payroll have to be in scope if you do my books?
- Do you run payroll, or do I?
- We already use a payroll platform. Does that change anything?
- What happens if a payroll notice arrives?
- We are about to make our first hire. When should we talk to you?
- Can you tell me whether someone should be an employee or a contractor?
- Is payroll included with bookkeeping?
- What if we only pay one person — the owner?
Small Business Advisory
- How is this different from just having an accountant?
- What happened to Virtual CFO?
- Do I need my books with you to get advisory?
- What do I actually receive?
- How is this different from just having good bookkeeping?
- How often should these conversations happen?
- Will you produce forecasts and budgets?
- Do I need to be a certain size for this to be worthwhile?
- What if I only want this occasionally?
Individual Tax Preparation
- What should I bring to a tax appointment?
- Can you file my business and personal returns together?
- Can you get me a bigger refund than last year?
- What if I need an extension?
- Can you prepare my personal return if you do not do my business books?
- How should I send you documents?
- I have not filed for a previous year. Can you help?
- Do you handle returns for people who are not business clients?
- What happens if something is missing when you start?
- Will you explain the return before I sign it?
- How far in advance should I get in touch?
Tax Resolution
- Where do I start?
- Can you make the IRS settle for less than I owe?
- The amount they are demanding is not right.
- I have not filed for several periods. Is that a problem?
- Do you handle Massachusetts as well as federal?
- Can you speak to the IRS for me?
- How quickly do I need to move?
- Will this cost more than the tax?
- Is it too late if I already ignored several letters?
Catch-Up Bookkeeping & Cleanup
- How far behind is too far behind?
- Will I be penalized for filing late?
- Do I have to sign up for monthly work afterwards?
- What if some records are just gone?
- How long does a catch-up take?
- What if I do not have all the statements?
- Will this fix an unfiled return?
- Do I need to keep going monthly afterwards?
- Should I tidy things up before contacting you?
- Is it embarrassing? Do you see this often?
- Can you work with whatever software I already have?
- What if the previous bookkeeper did some of it wrong?
Still unsure
Most answers here depend on facts we would need to know.
These cover what applies broadly. What applies to your business depends on how it is set up — which is a short conversation rather than an article.
Still unsure
Ask us the one that isn't here.
Most questions depend on specifics we would need to know before answering properly. Tell us your situation and we will give you a real answer rather than a general one.
Please don't send Social Security numbers or tax documents through this form.