FAQs
Common Questions Business Owners Ask
Services & Process Questions
Bookkeeping gives you a clear, accurate picture of your finances—something every business owner needs in order to grow, stay compliant, and make smart decisions. Without it, it’s hard to know how much you’re really spending, earning, or if you’re making a profit at all. Proper bookkeeping helps you track cash flow, prepare for tax season, stay audit-ready, and confidently manage your business without flying blind.
A bookkeeper handles the day-to-day financial transactions of your business—things like categorizing income and expenses, reconciling bank statements, capturing receipts, and generating monthly reports. An accountant usually focuses on big-picture financial strategy, compliance, and tax filing. In short: a bookkeeper keeps your books up to date and accurate so that accountants (or CPAs) can do their job more efficiently when it’s time for tax prep or business planning.
Accounting software like QuickBooks Online is powerful—but only if it’s used correctly. Many business owners set it up and assume it’ll do the work for them. But without regular oversight, transactions can get miscategorized, reports become unreliable, and tax prep turns into a nightmare. A professional bookkeeper ensures your software is set up properly, maintained regularly, and reviewed monthly—so your data is not just there, but accurate and useful.
If you’re spending hours trying to manage your books, feeling unsure about your numbers, or avoiding looking at your finances altogether—it’s time. Whether you’re just starting out or growing quickly, a bookkeeper can take that mental load off your plate and help you stay focused on running your business. If you’re behind on your books, doing them manually, or using spreadsheets—it’s not too early. In fact, that’s the perfect time to bring in a pro.
I specialize in helping small businesses, solopreneurs, and startups—particularly service-based businesses, freelancers, local retailers, and ecommerce shops. Whether you’re just getting started or managing a growing operation, my services are designed to scale with you. If you’re using (or willing to use) QuickBooks Online, we can work together.
Absolutely. One of my most-requested services is catch-up bookkeeping for businesses that have fallen behind—whether it’s a few months or a few years. I also offer cleanup services if your books are current but disorganized or inaccurate. There’s no judgment—just solutions. I’ll help you get everything in order so you can move forward with clarity and peace of mind.
I can go back as far as you need, depending on your goals. Some clients just need the current year cleaned up for tax purposes, while others want historical records cleaned up for financial clarity or loan applications. Whether it’s 3 months or 3 years, I’ll assess your situation during our consultation and let you know what’s feasible.
Both. I offer ongoing monthly support through my service plans (Simple Start and Essentials), but I also provide one-time project-based services like catch-up or cleanup bookkeeping. These are great if you just need to get organized before handing things off to a CPA or want to start fresh with accurate books.
I bring a blend of real-world experience and formal education to every client relationship. I’m a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a trained bookkeeper, which means I know the ins and outs of the platform and can help you use it to its fullest potential.
👉 View My ProAdvisor Profile
I also hold a Bachelor’s, MBA, and Doctorate (DBA) in Business Administration, and I’ve worked with small and medium-sized businesses for over 15 years. I understand not just the numbers—but the business decisions behind them.
What sets Driven Bookkeeping apart is personal service, clear communication, and a focus on making sure you understand your financials—not just that they’re organized. Every client gets monthly video check-ins, timely support, and a bookkeeping experience that feels supportive, not stressful.
Driven Bookkeeping offers full-service remote bookkeeping tailored to small business needs. I offer monthly bookkeeping plans, QuickBooks Online setup, catch-up bookkeeping, cleanup projects, and annual 1099 filings. My services include recordkeeping, bank and credit card reconciliations, financial reporting, receipt capture, and even payroll and sales tax filings (for California-based businesses). Whether you need ongoing support or a one-time cleanup, I’ve got you covered.
I offer two main monthly plans:
- Simple Start Plan (starting at $290/month): Ideal for startups and lower-volume businesses. It includes monthly recordkeeping, reconciliations, reports, up to 5 bank accounts, unlimited transactions, receipt capture, 30-min monthly video check-ins, 1099 filings, annual financial reports, and unlimited email support (48-hour response).
- Essentials Plan (starting at $450/month): Best for growing or more complex businesses. It includes everything in Simple Start, plus weekly recordkeeping, unlimited accounts, payroll with QuickBooks, accounts payable/receivable support, cash flow management, California sales tax filings, priority support (24-hour response), and longer (45-min) monthly check-ins.
I also offer one-time project-based services for cleanup or catch-up bookkeeping.
It depends on your business size, transaction volume, and how hands-on you want to be. If you have fewer than five accounts, a manageable number of monthly transactions, and no payroll or sales tax needs, the Simple Start Plan is likely a great fit. If your business has more moving parts—like payroll, multiple accounts, or regular invoicing/receiving—you’ll benefit more from the Essentials Plan. Not sure which to choose? We’ll figure it out together during your free consultation.
The free consultation is a 30-minute video call where we’ll talk about your business, your current bookkeeping setup, and your goals. I’ll ask a few questions to understand your needs and walk you through how I work. If you’re behind or struggling with your books, I can provide insights right away and let you know what the next steps would look like. It’s zero pressure and designed to help you decide if we’re the right fit for each other.
- Catch-up bookkeeping is for when your books haven’t been touched for months (or longer). I’ll recreate and organize your financial records for the missing period.
- Cleanup bookkeeping is for books that are current, but messy or inaccurate. This could include miscategorized transactions, unreconciled accounts, or errors in your chart of accounts. In both cases, I work with your existing QuickBooks Online file or set one up for you.
Yes—but only through QuickBooks Online Payroll as part of the Essentials Plan. I’ll help manage payroll processing, employee setup, and ensure your payroll entries are properly integrated into your books. If you’re not using QBO Payroll yet, I can help you get started. If you need a more complex payroll solution, I may refer you to a specialist.
Yes. Both accounts payable (bills you need to pay) and accounts receivable (invoices owed to you) are included in the Essentials Plan. I’ll help you track your payables and receivables, make sure everything is properly categorized in QuickBooks Online, and reconcile your accounts regularly.
QuickBooks Online offers helpful tools like Bill Pay, which automates the bill payment process—and I can assist with setting that up for you. For receivables, I can set up automatic reminders for past-due invoices and provide Accounts Receivable Aging Reports on a regular basis, so you always know what’s outstanding. While I don’t personally pay bills or follow up with clients, I help you stay on top of what’s owed and what’s due—without the guesswork.
Yes—for California businesses only. If you collect sales tax and need help filing accurate reports with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), I’ve got you covered under the Essentials Plan. I do not currently file sales tax for other states, but I can help ensure those transactions are properly recorded if you’re working with another sales tax provider.
Each month, we’ll schedule a 30- to 45-minute video call (depending on your plan) to go over your financial reports. I’ll walk you through key insights like profit and loss, cash flow, trends, and any custom KPIs we’ve set up. This is also your chance to ask questions, discuss business goals, and get clarification on anything financial. These check-ins are designed to keep you informed, empowered, and on track—without feeling overwhelmed.
Tech, Access & Support Questions
I exclusively work with QuickBooks Online (QBO)—the industry standard for small business bookkeeping. It’s cloud-based, secure, and gives both of us real-time access to your financials. If you don’t already have a QBO subscription, I can set one up for you and offer ProAdvisor discounts. If you’re already using QBO, I’ll simply have you invite me as your accountant and we’ll take it from there.
Yes. Since I specialize in QuickBooks Online, all clients are required to have an active QBO subscription. It ensures efficiency, accuracy, and allows us to collaborate easily in real-time. The good news? As a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, I can offer discounted pricing and help you choose the right plan for your needs.
Absolutely. One of the key benefits of using QuickBooks Online is that you always have 24/7 access to your financial data from any device. Whether you need to check your bank balances, run a profit and loss report, or review an invoice, you’ll be able to do it anytime. I’ll also walk you through how to get the most out of your QBO dashboard.
That depends on your service plan:
- Simple Start Plan: I update your books monthly, usually within the first 7–10 business days of the month for the prior period.
- Essentials Plan: Your books are updated weekly, which is ideal if you have more transactions or need more frequent visibility into your finances.
In both plans, your financial reports are kept current and we’ll review them together in your monthly video check-in.
For receipts, I use QuickBooks Receipt Capture, which allows you to email or upload photos directly into QBO. It keeps everything organized and audit-ready. I also require read-only access to your bank and credit card accounts, so I can retrieve bank statements without bothering you every month.
If you have other documents (like vendor statements, tax letters, or past reports), you can upload them securely through a private upload form on my website. Everything is streamlined and secured to keep your bookkeeping smooth and stress-free.
Security is a top priority. All your financial data lives in QuickBooks Online, which uses industry-standard encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect your information. For document uploads, I use secure forms on my website to ensure your files stay private.
I also follow strict confidentiality standards and provide a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as part of my onboarding process. Your financials are always treated with professionalism and discretion.
That’s exactly what I’m here for. Each month, we’ll have a video check-in (30 or 45 minutes, depending on your plan), where I’ll walk you through your key financial reports like the profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. I’ll explain what the numbers mean in plain English, so you always feel confident and informed—not overwhelmed. And if questions come up between calls, you can always reach out via email.
I respond to all client emails promptly, based on your plan:
- Simple Start Plan: Within 48 business hours
- Essentials Plan: Priority support, with responses within 24 business hours
If something’s truly urgent, just flag it in your message and I’ll do my best to prioritize. I aim to make sure you feel supported and never left waiting.
Getting started is simple. It begins with a free 30-minute consultation where we’ll talk about your business, challenges, and bookkeeping goals. After that, I’ll send over an engagement letter and NDA. If you’re already using QuickBooks Online, you’ll invite me as your accountant. If not, I’ll set it up for you (with a discount if needed). I’ll also request read-only bank access and any initial documents through a secure upload form.
Once everything is in place, we’ll schedule your first monthly check-in and get your books running smoothly.
Payment is due on the 1st of each month, and I keep things simple—no long-term contracts required. My services are month-to-month, so you’re free to cancel at any time with 30 days’ written notice.
If either of us decides to end the working relationship, any outstanding invoices will be due immediately at the time of termination. You’re never locked in, and you’ll always know what to expect.
Yes, I’ll gladly collaborate with your CPA or tax preparer to make sure they have everything they need for tax season. I’ll provide accurate year-end reports and help answer any bookkeeping-related questions they may have. If you don’t already have a CPA, I’m happy to refer you to a trusted tax professional from my network.
No—I focus solely on bookkeeping. This means I don’t file income taxes, but I do handle sales tax filings in California (included in the Essentials Plan). When tax season arrives, I’ll make sure your CPA has clean, accurate records so they can file your return with confidence.
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