Are you a small business owner feeling overwhelmed by your finances? Many small business owners face the same challenges and wonder if professional accounting services are worth the investment. The big question on your mind is likely, “How much is this going to cost?”
At Patrick Accounting, we understand that every dollar counts. We aim to simplify your financial complexities so you can focus on what you do best—running your business. In this article, we'll cover:
- the costs associated with Patrick Accounting
- the factors that impact these costs
- how to get the most value for your money
What is the Average Monthly Cost for Patrick Accounting Clients?
At Patrick Accounting, we offer a wide range of services including accounting, tax preparation, payroll management, financial planning, and advisory services.
Our typical client pays around $750 to $800 per month for our Core accounting and tax services.
If you include payroll services, the cost averages around $1,000 per month.
Our starting fees are $650 per month, and for more complex needs, prices can range up to $2,500 - $3,000 per month for one entity.
What Determines the Price of Accounting Services?
When it comes to pricing accounting services, several factors come into play. We price our overall fee on the complexity of your books, the volume of transactions, and the technology you use are all important. We consider these factors to give you a fair price for our services.
Volume of Transactions
One of the largest factors in determining your monthly investment is the volume of business transactions you have per month.
The number of bank accounts, loans, checks, debits, and credit card transactions you have each month can impact the cost.
Complexity of Books
The other large factor in determining your monthly investment is how complex your books are.
Some common complexities to consider include business locations, sales tax, and the number of bank accounts.
At Patrick Accounting, a number of factors go into determining our actual pricing, such as:
- How detailed are your accounts?
- Do you have many different accounts?
- Do you manage inventory?
- Do you have multiple locations?
- How many states are you operating in?
- Do you file sales tax across multiple locations or states?
Technology
The type of accounting software and technology you use can impact the price. We work with clients that use either QuickBooks Online or Restaurant365. You may incur different costs based on integration and management requirements.
If you are a QuickBooks Online client you have to consider some factors such as:
- Classes
- Consolidations
- Multi-entity management
- Are you handling restricted cash accounts (common for nonprofits)
- Profitability tracking
This is common with multi-unit restaurants, physicians, or professional service practices that track multiple offices.
If you are a Restaurant365 client:
- How the software integrates with your point of sale
- How many vendors you're directly integrating with
- Do you need detailed financial reports for multi-unit operations?
- What other workflows or technologies are a part of your processes?
- Are you integrating time and labor data?
- Is your payroll integrated?
Initial Setup and Onboarding Fees
When you start working with Patrick Accounting, there is a collaborative onboarding process designed to align our services with your business needs.
We call these Initial Strategy Sessions.
Purpose of Initial Strategy Sessions
- Documentation: We document your goals, current financial processes, and any specific requirements you have. This includes understanding your current practices and identifying areas for improvement.
- System Setup: We ensure that all necessary systems and software (like QuickBooks Online or Restaurant 365) are properly set up and integrated.
- Initial Review: We review your last three tax returns to identify any risks or opportunities and ensure your financial records are accurate.
Onboarding Fees
At Patrick Accounting, our price varies for everyone since it’s based on our monthly accounting fee.
For our Core services, the one-time investment is typically twice your monthly accounting fee.
Onboarding fee = (Monthly fee x 2)
Understanding Onboarding Fees and Back Work
One-time fees cover initial setup and any back work needed to bring your books up to date.
When you become our client, we assess the current state of your books and determine what it will take to get everything current.
This includes establishing and realigning your chart of accounts reviewing past tax returns and ensuring all transactions are accurately reflected.
We include a fee for any unfiled previous years’ tax returns. If you haven't filed last year’s tax return, for example, this will be part of our back work assessment and priced accordingly.
This one-time investment covers:
- Initial Strategy Sessions: A series of meetings to establish and document your financial processes.
- System Setup and Integration: We make sure all connections and integrations with software like QuickBooks are correct.
- Chart of Accounts Realignment: Adjusting your chart of accounts to align with your business needs.
- Review of Past Tax Returns: Assessing your past tax returns for any potential issues or opportunities.
Breakdown of Monthly Core Services
Transaction Posting and Adjustments
We post, modify, and adjust transactions in your books.
Reconciliations
We reconcile your bank accounts, loans, and credit cards.
Depreciation Updates
We update your depreciation information monthly.
Financial Statements
We provide a set of financial statements, including:
- health report
- executive summary
- key performance indicators
- balance sheet
- income statement
- trend analysis
Tax Returns
We prepare your sales tax, liquor tax (if applicable), and business entity federal and state income tax returns.
We also handle your annual report filings and 1099s.
1099s are charged outside of the monthly fee with a clear price of $150 for the first 1099, and $10 for each additional 1099.
Advisory Services
We include regular phone calls, emails, and meetings as needed to discuss your financial statements, tax questions, and other concerns.
We will also have scheduled meetings to review your financial progress and discuss any tax planning opportunities. Our aim is to help you make informed decisions throughout the year and avoid any surprises come tax season.
As part of our monthly service, we offer exclusive access to our Patrick Academy. Through the Academy, we hold monthly office hours on a variety of topics such as running your business better, understanding your financials and taxes, and how to be more profitable.
How to Keep Your Fees Lower
While we do not offer any discounts, we guarantee that our work is at the level you would expect.
Your fee is based on volume and complexity, so by creating simple processes and reducing commingling of expenses, you can help keep your fees lower.
Want to Build a Better Business?
Investing in quality accounting services can save you time, reduce stress, and help you run a more profitable business. Knowing the costs and benefits will help you make the best decision for your business.
At Patrick Accounting, we’re all about transparency because we know surprise fees aren’t fun for anyone. If you’re ready to chat with our team, schedule a 45-minute call to see if we’re the right fit for you.
Not quite ready to meet? That’s totally ok! Check out our guide on Who’s a Good Fit for Patrick Accounting to see if our services align with what you need.
