Who We Work With at Patrick Accounting (and Who We Don’t)

Are you exhausted from trying to manage your business finances? Do you know you need help, but it feels like finding the right accounting partner is like searching for a needle in a haystack?

Maybe you've worked with accountants before, but something just didn't click. They didn't understand your business, they weren't responsive, or they simply weren't invested in your success.

At Patrick Accounting, we believe transparency is key to a successful relationship. That's why we're pulling back the curtain to share exactly who we work best with—and who might find a better fit elsewhere. Because when expectations align from day one, everyone wins.

By the end of this article, you'll have a good idea whether Patrick Accounting is the right financial partner for your business based on your revenue, mindset, and more.

Business Revenue Requirements for Patrick Accounting Clients

Before diving into how we work, the first thing to consider is whether your business’s revenue aligns with the clients we serve best.

Not every business is at the right stage for our services. While we'd love to help everyone, we know our approach delivers the most value to businesses at specific revenue levels. We set these revenue ranges because we want every client to see ROI from day one.

Why businesses with under $500K in revenue might not be the best fit for Patrick Accounting

If you're a startup or very small business with revenue under $500,000 annually, you might not be ready for our services yet. It's not that we don't want to help, but at this stage, our services likely won't deliver the ROI you need.

When you're just starting out, you often need to wear many hats, including that of a bookkeeper. The investment in a full-service accounting firm might not make financial sense yet, and we want to be good stewards of your resources.

Our sweet spot: $500K to $10M businesses

Our services shine brightest for businesses with annual revenue between $500,000 and $10 million. At this level, you're dealing with enough financial complexity that outsourcing your accounting provides genuine value. You're also likely at a point where your time is better spent growing your business rather than managing the books.

In this revenue range, we can help you:

• Create systems that scale with your growth
• Provide strategic financial advice that improves profitability
• Implement tax strategies that save you money
• Deliver insights that help you make better business decisions

Why very large businesses with internal accounting teams might want to look elsewhere

On the flip side, if your business has grown to the point where you have a full internal accounting department—complete with controllers and CFOs—our services might be redundant. When you reach this scale (usually well beyond $10M in revenue), it often makes more financial sense to bring everything in-house.

There are exceptions to this rule, though, especially for businesses with multiple locations or franchises. For example, we work with several restaurant groups that have 10-15 locations, each doing about $2 million in annual revenue. These businesses still benefit from our expertise.

Why We Work With Businesses That Want to Grow and Improve

Of course, financials are just part of this picture. The mindset of a business owner can be just as important in determining whether we're a good match. We work best with business owners who have a specific mindset—one focused on growth and continuous improvement.

Why you're a good fit for Patrick Accounting if you're looking to improve your business

The most successful partnerships we've built are with clients who are passionate about their businesses and committed to making them better. They're not just looking for someone to file their taxes; they're looking for a partner who can help them identify opportunities, solve problems, and build a more profitable business.

When you genuinely care about improving your business, our team gets excited about helping you achieve those goals.

The importance of being open to change and new processes

How you've always done things isn't necessarily the best way to do them. Our proven systems have helped hundreds of businesses thrive, but success requires openness to new processes.

"But my previous accountant did it this way..."

We hear this often, and we always try to understand what you valued about that approach. We might deliver the same result, but how we get there could be different. This flexibility allows us to provide the most efficient and effective service possible.

How a growth mindset leads to better results for our clients

When you're open to new ideas and committed to improvement, we can help you achieve things you might not have thought possible. This doesn't mean dramatic overnight changes, but small incremental improvements that compound over time.

Whether you want to grow revenue, improve profitability, reduce your hours, or take more vacation, we can help you get there—but only if you're willing to evolve.

Why a Healthy Respect for Compliance Makes You a Good Fit for Patrick Accounting

With growth comes the responsibility to handle finances the right way. Our approach to taxes is straightforward: we help you pay what you legally owe—not a penny more, not a penny less.

What we mean by "a healthy fear of the IRS"

By "a healthy fear of the IRS," we mean clients who respect compliance and accuracy.

This means:

• You want to pay your fair share of taxes—but not more than necessary.
• You understand that following tax laws is non-negotiable.
• You value accurate reporting more than aggressive positions that might cross the line.

Why we focus on legal tax strategies rather than aggressive positions

We're committed to helping you minimize your tax burden through every legal means available. We'll explore deductions, credits, timing strategies, and entity structures that can legitimately reduce what you owe.

However, we won't engage in questionable practices or "creative accounting" to artificially reduce your tax bill. Statements like "my accountant fixed the numbers" or "I pay what I want in sales tax" are red flags for us.

How this approach protects both you and your business

While some might see our approach as conservative, it's designed to protect your business in the long run. Aggressive tax positions might save money initially, but they can lead to audits, penalties, and interest that far exceed any short-term savings.

More importantly, we want to sleep at night knowing we've done right by our clients and maintained our integrity. Character matters in accounting, and we believe in doing things the right way.

Why Our Clients Should Be The Right Kind of Needy

Even the best tax strategies won't work without communication and collaboration. Our most successful client relationships involve a balanced communication style that we sometimes describe as "the right kind of needy."

The balance between too much and too little communication

Some clients never reach out, even when they have questions or concerns. Others call multiple times a day with routine matters that could be handled more efficiently. Neither of these extremes lead to a productive partnership.

The ideal client engages regularly but respectfully. They ask thoughtful questions about their financials, respond promptly to requests for information, and understand that not everything is an emergency.

Why collaboration is essential for a successful accounting partnership with Patrick Accounting

Accounting involves more than just crunching numbers. It's about using those numbers to make better decisions. This requires collaboration between you and our team.

We need to understand your goals, challenges, and vision to provide meaningful advice. Similarly, you need to understand our insights and recommendations to act on them effectively.

Without this collaborative approach, we're just producing reports—not driving results.

Why engaged clients who value two-way communication are essential

The most successful clients view us as partners. They share important business developments, ask for advice before making major financial decisions, and provide feedback on our services.

This engagement allows us to be proactive rather than reactive, identifying opportunities and addressing issues before they become problems.

Why Our Clients Need to Be Comfortable With Technology

Our ability to serve you well also depends on your comfort level with the technology we use. You don't have to be a tech expert, but being tech-friendly matters because it plays a crucial role in efficient accounting.

Much of our work happens digitally. We meet via Zoom, share documents electronically, and use cloud-based accounting software. This approach allows us to work efficiently and provide timely service regardless of location.

If technology makes you uncomfortable or you prefer paper-based processes, we might not be the best fit.

Our primary platforms: QuickBooks Online and Restaurant365

We primarily work with two accounting platforms:

• QuickBooks Online for most businesses
• Restaurant365 for our restaurant and hospitality clients

These platforms allow us to streamline our processes and provide consistent, high-quality service. If you're committed to using different software, we may not be the right partner for you.

How technology improves efficiency and results for our clients

Embracing technology offers convenience and leads to better outcomes. Digital tools allow us to:

• Access real-time financial data
• Automate routine tasks to reduce errors
• Provide faster turnaround on financial statements
• Create more detailed and insightful reports

When you're comfortable with technology, we can focus on analysis and strategy rather than data entry and paper shuffling.

Industries Patrick Accounting Serves Best

Finally, while we serve a variety of businesses, we’ve developed deep expertise in specific industries. Here's where our experience shines brightest:

• Restaurants & Hospitality: From single-location eateries to multi-unit franchises
• White-Collar Professionals: Doctors, dentists, optometrists, pediatricians, architects
• Auto & Mechanical Services: Auto repair shops, tire centers, and related businesses
• Skilled Trades: Electrical contractors, HVAC, plumbers, pest control
• Franchisees & Specialty Contractors
• Professional Services: Law firms, closing attorneys, tech companies
• Health & Beauty: Hair and nail salons, medical spas
• Nonprofits

Our experience in these industries allows us to provide more targeted advice and understand industry-specific challenges and opportunities.

Finding Your Perfect Accounting Partner

The right accounting relationship can transform your business. It’s a relationship that offers more than compliance or number-crunching. It means you have a trusted advisor who understands your goals and helps you achieve them.

At Patrick Accounting, we're committed to being that partner for the right businesses. Our approach combines solid accounting practices with strategic insight, all delivered through efficient systems that respect your time and resources.

Is Patrick Accounting right for you?

If you're a growth-minded business with revenue between $500K and $10 million, comfortable with technology, and looking for a collaborative accounting partner, we might be a perfect fit.

On the other hand, if you're just starting out, have very complex internal accounting needs, or prefer traditional paper-based accounting, you might be better served elsewhere.

The most important thing is finding the right match for your specific needs—because when expectations align from the beginning, everyone wins.

If you're still wondering if Patrick Accounting is the right partner for your business, read more about “Who’s a Good Fit for Patrick Accounting?” and schedule a consultation today.