(who’d rather have root canal than do their books)
If you were confident that your books were done right, ready for tax season (last year was a sh*t show and that ain’t happening again) and done by a professional you trust and who answers all your questions…
… wouldn’t you want to hand the books over to them?
OR, would you rather keep on…
You can stop worrying, get a good night’s sleep and be confident that your books are done right.
There’s one thing I know about you:
You’re an established coach, consultant or creative—or one that’s just beyond the startup stage—you’re going great and hitting it out of the park like Vladdy Jr during the Home Run Derby…
…but bookkeeping and accounting isn’t your thing.
That’s OK. It’s mine.
I’ve always had a knack for numbers, systems and getting things organized.
My clients tell me that I:
I work with coaches, consultants and creatives (like copywriters, artists and makers) who would rather have root canal (without pain killers) than do their books.
I’m the guy to call when you absolutely, positively hate doing the books.
(The one thing that I don’t do? Taxes.)
How can a bowtie-wearing, fountain pen-wielding CPA help you with your business?
You’ll have a system in place instead of a messy stack of paper overflowing your desk (and you won’t wonder why you haven’t seen the cat in weeks). No more guessing about where to begin!
Tax time will be a breeze for you and your tax accountant. A win-win for everyone!
Don’t worry about a call from CRA—and if they do call, we’ve got it covered. Your books are done right. And we’ll deal with it together.
I’ll make it fun, for the both of us.
I don’t offer a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all solution (you’re not a cookie, after all). Your needs are unique and I offer your a choice of three customizable packages to create a fixed price bundle of services that’s just right for you.
This is the top of the line package with all the bells and whistles. It’s for you if just want to let the magic happen, while getting the maximum amount of information and support.
This is for you if you want a “Done by You and Me” approach. You want a system where you do your part and I do the rest, and know that everything is in the right place. You’ll have the total confidence and clarity about your books.
This package is for you if you want to do as much of the work as you can on your own, and have a second set of eyes to review and provide some basic advice. You’ll have a pro at your back helping you out and holding you accountable.
*plus HST (of course)
Reconciling your books to your bank account balance is the first step to ensuring that your numbers are accurate and complete. It means there are no missing or unexplained transactions, your sales figures are correct and all your expenses and deductions are accounted for!
You’ll have a day that’s regularly scheduled just for you on a quarterly basis so you’ll always know when I’m working on your books.
The Full and Premium packages add an upgrade to monthly updates.
You need to keep track of your major, long term assets (stuff that you own) so that they can be properly depreciated (and you get the maximum tax benefit). I’ll create the appropriate reports for your accountant and we’ll keep track of all of those assets (when you buy them and if you get rid of them).
You need to know what you spent and where you spent it. I’ll enter your expenses into the correct categories (or “accounts” as we accountants call them!) so you’ll be able to see where your money went and be able to make more informed decisions.
Managing your costs is vital. I’ll work with you to identify the most critical costs in your business (and they’re different for everyone), and I’ll keep a close eye on them. If something changes—I’ll let you know and we’ll discuss it. Having a second set of eyes on those important items never hurts!
If you’re registered for GST/HST, you need to file returns. I’ll make your life easier by completing and filing the returns with CRA. If you’re an annual filer, I’ll calculate and remind you about your quarterly installments.
What if you have questions about your bookkeeping?
With the Premium and Full packages, you get unlimited email and telephone support—including, if needed, a Zoom call where I can take over remote control of your screen and step you through what needs to be done for your future reference.
What if you have some general business questions?
You don’t have feel like the meter is ticking anytime you contact me—because it isn’t!
We’ll meet on a regular basis to discuss the meaning of your financials and other management issues, compare your progress, and discuss any plans for the future.
Looking at your numbers once a year is like always driving your car in reverse, and steering by looking in the mirrors—you’ll get to where you’re going, but slowly and painfully—and probably late. Let’s get proactive and move forward! confidently.
We’re a hot match if you’re:
And you must, must, must have a great sense of humour because, well, that’s absolutely required when working with me.
Book your 30-minute Shmooze and Coffee in the calendar below. Pick the day and time that fits your schedule.
No charge. No obligation.
(so nu? What are you waiting for?)
No. I will send you an engagement letter with the agreed services and pricing—but once we get going, if it’s not working for you, you may cancel in writing with 30 days notice.
Yes, I’m really a CPA and a member of CPA Ontario. (I can show you my certifcate in a Zoom call if you really want.)
You can read all about why I don’t do taxes here in this blog post
TLDR version? I never got bitten by the “tax bug”; taxes bore me to tears. And I never wanted to spend three months of life every year not seeing my family.
I run away from doing taxes like there’s a horde of ravening zombies on my tail.
If you already have someone doing your taxes, I’m more than happy to collaborate with them. And if you don’t, I can introduce you to a couple of really good people.
My fee is a flat monthly or quarterly amount. We will discuss your specific needs and service requirements and tailor an appropriate package and price for you.
See the packages section of this page for current starting prices.
I use pre-approved payments from most financial institutions (aka PAPs or PADs), directly withdrawn from your business bank account on the first of the month (or quarter).
We’re a hot match if you’re:
Yes, I’m a solo practioner.
No, practically never. My practice is now 99% virtual and on-line using Quickbooks Online. (Seriously. I almost never get out of the sunniest basement in Thornhill. At least for work. Unless it’s the sunniest dining room in Thornhill). We will figure out the best system for us to supply the necessary documents virtually and be as paperless as possible.
Yes, I can. We can do a Quick Diagnostic Review together during a Zoom call. Depending on what we find, I may recommend a full (paid) Diagnostic Review.
Last time I checked (October 2021—because someone did ask at a networking event): 17
And I get most of mine from The Bowtie Club (no affiliate link). Fun fact: so did the prop department at the original NCIS TV show; I spotted Ducky wearing one of “my” bowties.
And, yes…
Want to know what the QuickDiagnostic looks at? Here’s just a few of the items:
We hop on the telephone for a 45-minute, complimentary, no-obligation “Getting to Know You” consultation. I’ll ask you a whole bunch of questions to evaluate where you are now, where you want to go, and what you expect to get out of us working together. And yes, you’ll also have time to ask me questions.
If we do decide that we’re a good fit, we’ll schedule the next step. If we’re not a good fit (now) that’s OK. (It happens—better to figure that out now!)