Patrick Accounting Service Tiers Compared: Core vs. Advanced vs. Ultimate

Are you struggling to figure out what level of accounting support your business actually needs?

Maybe you're tired of guessing whether you're setting aside enough for taxes, or wondering why your cash feels tight even though revenue looks strong.

Do you just need your books closed each month, or do you need weekly updates, help managing bills, and strategic planning to grow?

Most business owners we talk to aren’t sure what they really need, or if they’re overpaying for services that don’t match their stage of growth.

At Patrick Accounting, we’ve helped hundreds of business owners with these same questions.

That’s why we’ve structured our services into three distinct accounting packages: Core, Advanced, and Ultimate.

In this article, you'll get:

• A clear breakdown of what’s included in each package
• The 3 key factors that determine which tier fits your business
• A decision-making framework to choose the right support level based on your current situation

How to Decide Which Patrick Accounting Package Fits Your Business

Choosing the right accounting package isn't about picking the most expensive option or assuming "more is better." It's about honestly assessing where you are right now.

Factor #1: Your Stage of Business Growth Impacts Your Accounting Needs

Your stage of growth determines how much financial visibility and support you need.

Are you running a single-location business focused on getting your foundation solid? Or are you managing multiple locations and planning your next phase of expansion? Your stage of growth directly impacts the level of financial visibility and strategic guidance you need.

Factor #2: The More Internal Support You Have, the Less You May Need from Us

The less internal support you have, the more help you’ll need from us.

Do you have people on your team who can handle bill payments, invoice customers, and manage day-to-day financial operations? Or are you doing everything yourself and need someone to take more tasks off your plate? The amount of internal bandwidth you have matters.

Factor #3: Deciding Between Basic Bookkeeping and Strategic Financial Guidance

Some businesses just want clean books, while others need proactive financial leadership.

Some business owners just want clean books and peace of mind that taxes are handled correctly. Others need weekly forecasting, custom KPIs, and quarterly planning sessions to guide major decisions. Both are valid. They just require different service levels.

Now that you understand the three factors that influence your needs, let’s break down what’s included in each of our three service tiers: Core, Advanced, and Ultimate.

Core Package: Bookkeeping and Tax Compliance for Foundational Support

The Core package is designed for business owners who want peace of mind with clean books, no surprise tax bills, and support that ensures everything is filed correctly and on time.

What's Included in the Core Package

We handle your monthly bookkeeping, tax prep, and ongoing compliance so you’re never surprised by financial obligations.

With Core, we take care of everything related to closing your books each month. That includes:

• Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliations so your financial records are accurate and up-to-date
• Business tax return preparation (federal and state) with no surprises
• Sales tax compliance, plus liquor tax if applicable
• Annual forms and filings like 1099s, gross receipts tax, tangible personal property, and your annual report
• Ongoing tax planning so you always know how much to set aside and aren't blindsided come April
• Regular check-in meetings as needed (within scope)—if you have a question or need to talk something through, it’s included in your fixed monthly fee

Throughout the year, we’ll meet periodically to talk through how you’re managing cash, what business decisions you’re facing, and how your financial systems are supporting your goals. This aligns with our client journey framework: moving you from financial confusion to financial confidence and giving your business the opportunity to thrive.

What You'll Still Handle Yourself

You’ll still manage your daily financial tasks like bill pay, invoicing, and receiving payments.

While Core gives you clean books and compliance, you or your team are still responsible for the day-to-day operations:

• Paying your bills
• Invoicing your customers
• Receiving payments and making deposits

If you use a point-of-sale system, we’ll make sure it integrates into your accounting platform. If not, we’ll work with you to get clean data exports so we can still maintain accurate records.

Is the Core Package Right for You?

Core is best for owners who want peace of mind and clean books, without needing weekly involvement or forecasting.

It’s a great fit if you're:

• A first-time accounting outsourcer who's been doing books yourself or with a part-time bookkeeper, and you're ready for professional support
• A single-location business with straightforward operations
• Focused on peace of mind and compliance rather than needing weekly strategic visibility
• A business owner who has team members (or personal bandwidth) to handle operational financial tasks like bill pay and invoicing
• Generating between $500K-$2M in annual revenue (generally speaking)

Examples of ideal Core clients:

• Independent restaurant with one location
• Single-location medical, dental, or wellness office
• Professional services firm (e.g., architect, consultant, contractor)
• Franchise owner with 1-2 locations
• Small local retail shop, storefront, or boutique business

With Core, you gain clarity and control of your financial foundation, so you can grow with confidence.

Advanced Package: Weekly Accounting Support and Cash Flow Management for Growth-Minded Businesses

The Advanced package is for business owners who need more than clean books and tax filing. You need real-time cash flow insight and tighter control over financial operations.

What's Included in the Advanced Package

You get everything from Core, plus weekly cash visibility, vendor payment management, and KPI tracking tailored to your business.

Here’s what’s added on top of Core services:

• Weekly cash flow updates so you always know your current financial position
• Accounts payable management, where we organize vendor bills, track payment deadlines, and provide an app for you to approve payments
• Category-based AP tracking so you know exactly where your money is going (e.g., protein costs, beverage costs, direct purchases) so you can understand spending patterns
• Receipt and expense management using tools like Dext, where you just snap a picture of your receipt, and we'll categorize it properly and track it for you
• Custom KPI reporting with industry-specific benchmarks to highlight where you’re doing well and where you can improve

Because we’re involved weekly, we can provide more accurate reporting and stronger insights, especially for high-volume or cost-sensitive businesses like restaurants, franchisees, and multi-location operators.

Is the Advanced Package Right for You?

Advanced is for owners who want tighter financial control, better cash insight, and operational support without hiring a full in-house team.

This package makes sense if you:

• Manage a high volume of bills and vendors that need organized management
• Need someone to organize and manage your accounts payable and payment process
• Want better visibility into category-level spending so you can make more informed decisions
• Lack internal team support to manage detailed financial tasks
• Are a growth-minded owner who needs weekly cash visibility to drive decision-making

The Advanced package is part of your evolution toward full financial clarity, offering tighter systems without jumping straight into CFO-level services. It's a natural part of our overall client journey and your path to tax confidence, growth, profitability, and better systems and processes.

Optional Add-Ons For Advanced Clients

If you need more data to drive your decisions, these upgrades are available:

• Premium financial reporting packages with more detailed dashboards
• 13-week rolling cash flow forecasting to help plan large purchases or expansions
• Weekly flash reports for quick-glance performance updates

These are only available at the Advanced tier or above, because we’re already touching your data weekly and have the detail needed to support them.

Advanced gives you operational control and financial insight, without adding internal complexity.

Ultimate Package: Strategic Financial Leadership Without a Full-Time CFO

The Ultimate package is our top-tier package designed for business owners who are making big moves, like opening new locations, planning acquisitions, or finally getting serious about long-term profitability. It offers controller- and CFO-level guidance, without the C-Suite salary.

What's Included in the Ultimate Package

You get everything from Core and Advanced, plus the strategic partnership and forecasting tools needed to guide major financial decisions.

Everything in Core and Advanced, plus:

• Weekly flash reports for quick visibility into financial performance
• Premium financial reporting, including cash flow statements, budget vs. actuals analysis, and customized KPIs (using both financial and non-financial metrics)
• 13-week rolling cash flow forecasting to plan growth, purchases, expansions, or hiring
• Quarterly business strategy sessions focused on strategic planning and growth, not just operational check-ins, but real strategic conversations about your next moves
• Budget creation and management support to keep you on track and stay aligned with financial goals
• Customized KPI development and ongoing refreshes as your business evolves
• IRS notice response and audit representation included in your monthly fee (this is typically a costly add-on elsewhere)
• Profit First implementation available as an add-on for owners who want to adopt this cash management methodology

This tier gives you a level of strategic leadership that most businesses don’t access without hiring internally.

Is the Ultimate Package Right for You?

Ultimate is for owners who are making big decisions and need strategic financial insight, not just compliance.

You’ll benefit from this level of support if you:

• Operate multiple locations or franchise units and need detailed visibility, tracking, and reporting across sites
• Are considering expansion, acquisition, or capital investments
• Need regular strategic planning with a financial expert (not just monthly reports)
• Want CFO-level insight without the cost or complexity of hiring full-time
• Have internal operations covered but need help translating numbers into decisions

Ultimate gives you a financial partner, not just a service provider.

If you're asking questions like:

• "Can we afford to open three new locations next year?"
• "Which of our current sites are actually profitable?"
• "What should our strategic priorities be next quarter?"

… then Ultimate is built to help you answer them with confidence.

Why a 12-Month Commitment for Ultimate Matters

Ultimate requires a 12-month minimum commitment because we’re building custom forecasting models, implementing KPIs, and advising on quarterly growth plans. This isn’t a quick fix. It’s a structured partnership focused on long-term success.

How to Choose the Right Patrick Accounting Package for Your Business

Not every business needs weekly financial updates or strategic forecasting. That’s why we’ve created three levels of support, so you get the right help at the right time.

Here’s how to decide where you fit today:

Choose Core if you need foundational support.

Perfect for first-time outsourcers and business owners focused on clean books and tax compliance.

You’re a good fit for Core if:

• You want accurate books and on-time tax filings handled by professionals
• You (or your team) can manage daily tasks like invoicing and bill pay
• You’re not yet ready for weekly cash flow updates or detailed forecasting
• You’re focused on getting control of the basics before growing

Choose Advanced if you need better cash visibility and operational control.

Ideal for growth-minded owners who want weekly insights, better systems, and organized vendor payments.

You’ll benefit from Advanced if:

• You manage a high volume of bills or vendor payments
• You need weekly financial reports, not just monthly updates
• You want someone to manage your accounts payable process for you to approve
• You want clearer insight into spending categories and KPIs
• You’re growing, but not ready for quarterly strategic planning

Choose Ultimate if you’re making major strategic decisions.

Best for multi-location operators, franchise owners, or leaders planning acquisitions and growth.

Ultimate is the right fit if:

• You need CFO-level financial leadership without hiring in-house
• You want quarterly strategy sessions and high-level forecasting
• You’re expanding, opening new locations, or evaluating profitability
• You need detailed reporting across multiple entities or locations
• You’re ready for a 12-month partnership focused on long-term success

No matter where you start, each of these packages aligns with our overall client journey. And the goal is the same: clarity, confidence, and control over your finances.

Many of our clients begin with Core and scale up as their business grows. You’re not locked in, just supported based on where you are today.

Ready to Simplify Your Financial Life? Here’s What to Do Next.

At the end of the day, choosing an accounting package isn’t about getting more services. You want to get the right support for where your business is today.

Whether you need help cleaning up your books, managing cash flow week to week, or guiding major decisions across multiple locations, there’s a package built to fit your exact stage of growth.

Now that you’ve seen what’s included in each of our service tiers—Core, Advanced, and Ultimate—your next step is simple.

Not ready to talk just yet?

Use our Pricing Calculator to estimate your monthly investment based on your business needs.

Want to talk it through with a real person?

Schedule a discovery call with our team. We’ll walk through your current setup, ask the right questions, and help determine if you’re a fit for our services. If you are, we’ll help you identify the best-fit package.

At Patrick Accounting, we help growth-minded business owners simplify their financial and people complexities, so they can lead with clarity, make confident decisions, and run better businesses.

No matter where you're starting, we’ll help you take the right next step to give your business the opportunity to thrive.