Frequently Asked, Confidently Answered

Transparent, structured, and built to support your growth - here’s what you need to know.

General

Q: What services do you offer?

We specialize in Financial Cleanup & Restoration for established small businesses whose financial records are inaccurate, incomplete, behind, unreconciled, or no longer reliable for decision-making.

Our work focuses on diagnosing the condition of your books, identifying errors or gaps, cleaning up past records, restoring accuracy, and helping your business move forward with stronger financial clarity.

Ongoing accounting, financial management, or operational support may be recommended after the cleanup and restoration process, but cleanup comes first when the records are not reliable.

Q: Who are your services best suited for?

Our cleanup and restoration services are best suited for established small businesses generating approximately $500,000 or more in annual revenue, or businesses with complex financial activity that requires accurate records, reconciliations, and documentation.

We are a strong fit for businesses that have grown, but whose financial records, processes, or reporting have not kept up with the business.

Q: Do you work with startups or very small businesses?

Our cleanup and restoration services are best suited for established small businesses generating approximately $500K+ annually or businesses generating $300K+ with complex financial activity that requires accurate records, reconciliations, and documentation.

Startups and very small businesses may be better served through our future business resources, educational tools, or foundational support materials. For businesses earning less than $100,000, we are developing resources through Be The Driver to provide early-stage business guidance and support.

Q: What industries do you specialize in?

We primarily work with service-based businesses and professional service providers that need accurate records, clean reporting, and stronger financial structure.

We also create content and financial education for law firms because legal practices often require careful documentation around client funds, settlement activity, case costs, operating activity, and trust-related transactions.

Q: What makes your firm different from other bookkeepers or accountants?

We do not simply enter transactions or maintain books that are already broken.

Our focus is on diagnosing, cleaning, and restoring financial records so the business owner can trust the numbers again. We look beyond basic bookkeeping to identify what is missing, what is inaccurate, what does not reconcile, and what needs to be corrected before the business moves forward with ongoing accounting or financial management.

Q: Can I book a free consultation?

Consultations are not required for every inquiry.

The first step is to complete the cleanup assessment or inquiry form so we can understand your situation. If your answers provide enough information, we may direct you to the diagnostic engagement process. If clarification is needed, we may schedule a short consultation before moving forward.

Consultations are for fit and clarity only. No analysis, advisory services, or recommendations are provided during the call.

Q: Do you work virtually or in person?

We are a fully virtual firm. Client communication, onboarding, document collection, diagnostic assessments, and services are handled online. This allows us to work efficiently with businesses regardless of location.

Q: Do you offer one-time services or only monthly services?

Our cleanup and restoration work is usually project-based. After the cleanup or restoration process is complete, ongoing accounting, reporting, financial management, or operational support may be recommended under a separate engagement if appropriate.

Financial Cleanup & Restoration

Q: What is Financial Cleanup & Restoration?
Financial Cleanup & Restoration is the process of reviewing, correcting, reconciling, and organizing financial records so the business can rely on its numbers again. This may include reviewing prior activity, correcting inaccurate entries, identifying missing information, reconciling accounts, cleaning up the chart of accounts, reviewing balances, and preparing the records for better reporting and decision-making.

Q: How do I know if my books need cleanup?

Your books may need cleanup if:

Bank or credit card balances do not match
Accounts have not been reconciled
Reports do not make sense
Old errors keep rolling forward
Income or expenses are misclassified
Personal and business activity are mixed
Loan, payroll, sales tax, or liability accounts are unclear
You do not trust your financial reports

If the numbers create confusion instead of clarity, cleanup may be needed.

Q: Are up-to-date books the same as accurate books?

No. Books can be up to date and still be inaccurate. “Up to date” usually means transactions have been entered. “Accurate” means the records have been reviewed, reconciled, classified properly, and supported by documentation. That is why review and restoration matter.

Q: What does your cleanup service include?
The final cleanup scope depends on the condition of the records. Cleanup may include:

Reviewing prior financial activity
Reconciling bank, credit card, loan, and other accounts
Correcting inaccurate or duplicate entries
Reviewing uncategorized or misclassified transactions
Cleaning up the chart of accounts
Reviewing opening balances and account balances
Identifying missing documentation
Preparing cleaner reports for decision-making

A final cleanup scope is determined after the diagnostic assessment.

Q: Do you provide tax preparation?
No. We do not provide tax preparation as part of cleanup and restoration services. Our work focuses on financial record accuracy, cleanup, reconciliation, reporting, and business financial clarity. Clean records may support tax preparation, but tax filing should be handled by a qualified tax preparer or tax professional.

Q: Do you guarantee that all prior records can be fully corrected?
No. Some records may have missing documents, incomplete history, unsupported transactions, or issues that cannot be fully reconstructed.

The purpose of the diagnostic assessment is to determine the condition of the records, identify what can reasonably be corrected, and recommend a cleanup or restoration path based on the information available.

Diagnostic Assessment

Q: Why do you require a diagnostic assessment?

A diagnostic assessment is required because cleanup work cannot be priced or scoped properly without first reviewing the condition of the records. The diagnostic allows us to evaluate the books, identify issues, determine complexity, and recommend the appropriate cleanup or restoration scope. This protects both the client and the firm from guessing.

Q: Why do you charge a diagnostic fee?
The diagnostic assessment allows us to evaluate the condition of your financial records before quoting cleanup or restoration work. This helps us identify what is inaccurate, incomplete, unreconciled, missing, or unclear so we can determine the appropriate next step.

The diagnostic assessment protects both the client and the firm from guessing at the scope, timeline, or fee before the records are reviewed.

Q: How much is the diagnostic fee?

The Cleanup & Restoration Diagnostic Assessment is $875. This fee covers the initial review and assessment needed to evaluate the condition of your financial records and determine the recommended cleanup or restoration scope. The diagnostic fee does not include cleanup work. After the assessment is completed, a separate cleanup proposal will be provided if additional work is recommended.

Q: Is the diagnostic fee applied to the cleanup service?

No. The diagnostic assessment is a separate professional service. It includes review, evaluation, issue identification, and a recommended cleanup or restoration scope. If you decide to move forward with cleanup services, the cleanup project will be quoted separately based on the diagnostic findings. This is cleaner than saying the fee is applied toward the service cost.

Q: What happens after the diagnostic assessment?
After the diagnostic assessment, you receive a summary of findings and a recommended cleanup or restoration scope.

If cleanup services are recommended, we provide a proposed scope, timeline, fee, and next steps. You will have time to review the proposal before deciding whether to move forward.

Q: Will I receive a report?
Yes. The diagnostic assessment may include a written summary, findings, checklist, or recommendation outline depending on the condition and complexity of the records reviewed.

The purpose is to help you understand what was found, what needs attention, and what next steps are recommended.

Payment & Billing

Q: How do I pay for the diagnostic assessment?
Diagnostic assessments are paid before the review begins.

Payment instructions are provided after the Diagnostic Engagement Agreement is signed. Once payment is received, you will receive the intake form and document request instructions.

Q: How do I pay for cleanup or restoration services?

Cleanup and restoration services are billed according to the approved proposal and service agreement. Payment terms will be provided before the cleanup work begins. Depending on the scope, payment may be required upfront, in phases, or according to an agreed project schedule.

Q: Do you offer payment plans?

Payment arrangements may be considered depending on the size and scope of the cleanup project. Any approved payment arrangement must be documented in writing before work begins.

Engagement & Onboarding

Q: How do I get started?

The process begins with the cleanup assessment or inquiry form. The general process is:

Submit the cleanup assessment or inquiry form
We review your information
If your business appears to be a fit, we send the Diagnostic Engagement Agreement
You review and sign the agreement
You pay the diagnostic fee
You complete the intake form and submit requested documents
We begin the diagnostic assessment
You receive findings and recommended next steps

Q: What documents will I need to provide?

Document requests depend on your situation, but may include:

Bank statements
Credit card statements
Loan statements
Payroll reports
Prior financial statements
Accounting software access
Chart of accounts
Prior reconciliations
Tax returns, if relevant
Supporting documentation for unusual or unclear transactions

A specific document request will be provided after the diagnostic process begins.

Q: When does the diagnostic assessment begin?

The diagnostic assessment begins after we receive:

The signed Diagnostic Engagement Agreement
Payment of the diagnostic fee
Completed intake form
Required documents or software access

If information is missing, the assessment may be delayed until the required materials are received.

Q: When do cleanup or restoration services begin?

Cleanup or restoration services begin only after the diagnostic assessment is completed, a proposal is issued, and the client approves the cleanup scope, fee, and service agreement. The diagnostic assessment does not automatically start the cleanup project.

Q: What if I do not move forward after the diagnostic assessment?
You are not required to move forward with cleanup services after the diagnostic assessment. The diagnostic assessment is a separate service that helps identify the condition of the records and the recommended next steps. If you choose not to proceed, no cleanup work will begin.

Cancellation & Termination

Q: What’s your cancellation policy?

Cancellation terms depend on the type of engagement and will be outlined in the applicable agreement.

Diagnostic assessment fees are generally non-refundable once the assessment process has begun, because time and professional review are involved.

Cleanup and restoration service cancellation terms will be included in the service agreement before work begins.