Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions we hear from business owners considering bookkeeping help.
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About Our Services
What services does Tide & Ledger provide?
Weekly bookkeeping, managerial accounting, back-office support, and QuickBooks setup and optimization. Bookkeeping is our core service. Managerial accounting builds on top of clean books to give you profitability analysis, cash flow forecasting, and financial reporting that helps you make decisions. Back-office support covers vendor management, process cleanup, and administrative operations.
What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
Bookkeeping is recording and categorizing your financial transactions, reconciling your bank accounts, and producing accurate financial statements. Accounting is interpreting those numbers, filing taxes, and providing financial advice. We handle the bookkeeping side. Your CPA handles tax filing and tax strategy. We work alongside your CPA and deliver a clean, organized year-end package so tax season is straightforward.
Do you do tax preparation or tax filing?
Yes. While Andrew and Cassie are not CPAs, Tide & Ledger provides tax preparation and filing services through a network of trusted, vetted tax professionals. You get the convenience of a single team handling both your books and your taxes – we manage the relationship so you don’t have to coordinate between your bookkeeper and a separate CPA. If you have questions about what’s covered, ask us on your free call.
What industries do you work with?
We work with service companies, professional firms, franchise owners, and owner-operated businesses across a range of industries. Our founder Andrew Murphy has direct operational experience in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades from his time managing P&L at Apex Service Partners, so we have particularly deep knowledge of home service businesses. But our bookkeeping and financial systems work for any growing business.
Getting Started
How does the free consultation work?
Book a 30-minute call through our website or by calling (727) 205-5022. We review where your books currently stand, ask about your business and what you need, and tell you honestly whether we can help. If we are a fit, we outline what the first month looks like. If we are not the right fit, we tell you that too and point you in the right direction.
What does the first month look like?
Month one is cleanup and setup. We get into your QuickBooks, reconcile your accounts, categorize transactions, and bring everything current. If your QuickBooks needs restructuring, we do that too. By the end of month one, your books are clean and we have a system in place for weekly updates going forward.
How long does it take to get started?
Most clients are onboarded within the first week after signing. The cleanup phase depends on how far behind your books are. If you are relatively current, the setup is fast. If you have months of backlog, it takes longer, but we will give you an honest timeline during the consultation.
How We Work
Do I need to use QuickBooks?
We work in QuickBooks Online. If you are already on QuickBooks Online, we connect to your existing file. If you are on QuickBooks Desktop, we can help you migrate. If you are not using any accounting software yet, we set up QuickBooks Online for you as part of onboarding. Cassie Murphy holds Advanced QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, QuickBooks Payroll, and QuickBooks Online Accountant certifications.
How often are my books updated?
Weekly. Every week we categorize transactions, reconcile accounts, and flag anything that needs your attention. You receive a monthly financial package with your P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, delivered in a timely manner each month.
Can I meet with you in person?
Yes, for clients in Tampa Bay. We are based in Tarpon Springs, Florida and available for in-person meetings throughout Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and surrounding areas. For clients outside Tampa Bay, we typically work remotely, but are available to travel on a case by case basis. The service is identical either way.
Do you work with businesses outside Tampa Bay?
Yes. We serve clients remotely across Florida and nationwide. Bookkeeping is done through secure cloud-based tools and direct QuickBooks integrations. Geography does not affect the quality or frequency of our work.
Pricing
How much does bookkeeping cost?
Pricing depends on the size and complexity of your business: transaction volume, number of accounts, payroll needs, and the state of your current books. We give you a clear quote after the free consultation. There are no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
Do you require long-term contracts?
No. We work on a month-to-month basis. We keep clients because the work is good, not because of a contract. Most of our clients stay long-term because clean books and clear numbers are hard to give up once you have them.
