Frequently Asked Questions

In simple terms, I keep track of all the money flowing in and out of your business. That means logging every transaction in QuickBooks Online, making sure your bank accounts match your records, and pulling together reports so you can see exactly how your business is doing financially.

I handle the financial record-keeping that eats up your evenings and weekends. Specifically, I sort and categorize every transaction, match up your bank and credit card statements with QuickBooks Online, keep tabs on what customers owe you and what you owe vendors, and deliver your Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet each month so you always know where things stand.

I keep your day-to-day financial records organized and accurate in QuickBooks Online. Your CPA or accountant takes those clean records and handles tax filings, tax strategy, and bigger-picture financial advice. Think of it this way: I build the foundation, and your accountant builds the house on top of it.

It comes down to three things: get it right, keep it consistent, and don't let it pile up. Every transaction needs to land in the correct category, be recorded the same way each time, and get entered before it becomes a mystery. When those three things happen, your financial reports actually mean something.

It's an accounting system where every transaction touches two accounts. One gets a debit and the other gets a credit. This is what keeps everything balanced and makes it possible to spot errors. The good news is QuickBooks Online handles this automatically behind the scenes, so you don't need to think about it.

Every transaction has two sides. Debits add to your asset and expense accounts, while credits add to your liability, equity, and revenue accounts. They always have to balance out. I know it sounds backwards at first, but that's completely normal, and it's honestly one of the main reasons people hire a bookkeeper.

The balance sheet equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) is basically a health check for your books. If those numbers don't add up, something's wrong somewhere in your records. It's one of the first things I look at, and regular reconciliations are how I make sure it stays balanced.

With cash basis, you record income when you actually receive payment and expenses when you write the check. Accrual basis records them when they're earned or owed, even if the money hasn't moved yet. Most of my clients start on cash basis because it's simpler. If your business is growing and you need a clearer picture of what's really happening financially, I can help you decide if switching to accrual makes sense.

Absolutely. Your CPA needs clean, organized records to do their job well. If they're spending hours sorting through a year of uncategorized transactions, you're paying CPA rates for data entry, and that gets expensive fast. I keep your books current all year so your CPA can focus on what they do best: taxes and strategy.

No, and I'm upfront about that. I don't file taxes, give tax advice, or do audits. What I do is make sure your financial records are accurate and organized so your CPA doesn't have to start from scratch every spring. I work directly with your CPA or tax preparer to make sure the handoff is smooth.

With a solo bookkeeper like me, you always work with the same person, someone who actually knows your business, remembers your questions from last month, and cares about getting it right. A larger firm might have more people on staff, but you often lose that personal connection. With Pretty Smart Bookkeeping, you get real expertise with a personal touch.

Location doesn't matter at all. Everything I do happens in QuickBooks Online and over Zoom, so it works the same whether you're here in Excelsior or on the other side of the country. I have clients around the Lake Minnetonka area that I see in person sometimes, and plenty of clients in other states that I've never met face-to-face. The quality of work is identical.

It depends on how many transactions you have and how complex your books are. My plans start at $250/month and go up from there, with no long-term contracts locking you in. Check out my pricing page for the full breakdown of what's included at each level.

Because the hours you spend wrestling with QuickBooks are hours you're not spending on your actual business. Outsourcing your books to someone who does this every day means fewer errors, less stress, and real financial reports you can use to make smart decisions, all without hiring a full-time employee.

Yes! I set up sales tax in QuickBooks so it's tracked correctly on every transaction, and I make sure you have the reports you need when it's time to file. I don't file the actual sales tax returns (that's usually your CPA's territory), but I make sure the numbers are right and ready to go.

I don't run payroll directly, but I help with the setup and ongoing coordination. Whether you're using QuickBooks Payroll or another platform, I make sure it's configured correctly, keep an eye on compliance deadlines, and troubleshoot when something goes sideways. Check out my payroll support page for more details.

Totally up to you. Some of my clients like to send their own invoices because they want to control the timing and messaging, and I take care of tracking payments and following up on what's outstanding. Others hand off invoicing entirely and I manage the whole process. Either way works. We'll figure out what makes the most sense for how you run your business.

Accounts receivable (AR for short) is money that customers owe you for work you've already done or products you've already delivered. I track it in QuickBooks Online so you always know who owes you, how much, and how long it's been since you invoiced them. No more guessing or digging through emails.

Accounts payable (AP) is the flip side: it's money you owe to your vendors and suppliers. I keep it organized so your bills get paid on time, you dodge late fees, and you maintain solid relationships with the people you rely on to run your business.

In my experience, yes. I regularly spot duplicate charges, catch expenses filed in the wrong category (which can mean missed deductions), and flag subscriptions clients forgot they were paying for. On top of that, clean books mean your CPA spends less time sorting through your records, which means a smaller tax prep bill. Most clients end up saving more than what they pay me.

Everything I do with your books feeds directly into your tax return. When expenses are categorized correctly, you capture every deduction you're entitled to. When your records are accurate and organized, your CPA works faster, your tax bill is lower, and you sleep better knowing the IRS isn't going to have questions.

One hundred percent. When your books are up to date, you can look at last month's numbers and actually learn from them: where the money went, what's coming in, and whether you can afford to hire, invest, or expand. You can't make smart financial decisions if you're guessing at your numbers. I give you the real ones.