Straight answers to the questions Cincinnati business owners ask most — from what a bookkeeper costs and how they differ from an accountant to 1099s, QuickBooks, and getting caught up.
Straight answers for when you're deciding whether you need help.
It depends on how much is going on in your books — mainly how many transactions you have each month, how many bank and credit card accounts need reconciling, whether you have payroll, and whether your books need catch-up work first.
Most of my clients pay a flat monthly rate, so there are no surprise bills. Catch-up work is quoted separately as a one-time project. The fastest way to get a real number is a free consultation — I'll look at what you have and give you a quote.
A bookkeeper keeps your financial records accurate day to day: recording transactions, reconciling accounts, managing invoices and bills, and producing your monthly reports. An accountant or CPA uses those records to prepare tax returns, plan tax strategy, and handle audits or attestations.
Most small businesses need both, but not equally. You need clean books every month; you may only need your CPA a few times a year. Good bookkeeping makes your CPA's work faster — which usually makes it cheaper.
A bookkeeper gets your numbers ready for taxes; a tax preparer, enrolled agent, or CPA files the returns. I focus on keeping your books accurate all year and work directly with your tax preparer at tax time — answering their questions and providing whatever reports they need.
Usually sooner than people think. Common signs: you're spending more than a few hours a month on your books, you're behind on reconciling accounts, you don't know your actual profit, you're mixing personal and business money, or tax time is stressful every year.
Adding payroll or hiring contractors are also good moments to bring in help. More on this in 5 Signs You Need a Bookkeeper.
Ask what software they use and whether they're certified in it, what's included in their monthly fee, how they'll communicate with you, how they handle catch-up work, and how they work with your CPA or tax preparer.
I walk through all of this in What to Expect When Hiring a Bookkeeper.
What changed for 2026, and what to do before January.
Yes — and it's a big one. For payments you make in 2026, you only need to send a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC to someone you paid $2,000 or more during the year. For 2025 payments, the threshold was still $600. Starting in 2027, the $2,000 figure will be adjusted for inflation each year.
The forms for 2026 payments are due to contractors and the IRS by February 1, 2027 (January 31 falls on a Sunday). The best time to collect W-9s is before you pay someone, not in January. See my 1099 & year-end preparation service for help.
Start in November, not January. The short version: reconcile every bank and credit card account through December, collect any missing W-9s, review who crosses the 1099 threshold, clean up old unpaid invoices and bills, and get your numbers to your tax preparer early so there are no surprises.
When your books are reconciled and organized, handing everything to your tax preparer takes minutes instead of weeks.
I recommend six years. The IRS's general window is three years, but some situations allow a longer look-back, and Ohio's rules ask businesses to keep records for six years after the end of the tax year.
Keep bank and credit card statements, receipts, invoices, payroll records, 1099s, and copies of every tax return. If everything lives in QuickBooks Online with receipts attached, you're most of the way there.
QuickBooks Online is what I recommend and specialize in — I'm a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. But I can work with other platforms too. If you're not on QuickBooks yet, I can help you get set up and migrated.
There's no such thing as "too far behind." Whether it's a few months or a few years, I offer catch-up bookkeeping to get everything organized and current. No judgment — just a clear path forward.
Monthly bookkeeping includes transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliation, and financial reporting. You'll receive organized records and regular updates so you always know where your business stands. See the full breakdown on the monthly bookkeeping page.
Absolutely. At tax time, I'll make sure your records are organized and ready to hand off to your CPA or tax preparer. I can work directly with them to answer any questions and provide whatever reports they need.
Yes. I'm based in Cincinnati and serve clients throughout the area — including Mason, Colerain Township, Monfort Heights, White Oak, Green Township, and Cheviot. I also work with clients remotely across the country. Everything can be done digitally: QuickBooks Online, bank feeds, and regular video or phone check-ins.
I work primarily with small businesses and sole proprietors. Whether you're just getting started or you've been in business for years, if you need reliable bookkeeping support, I can help.
Just book a free consultation or give me a call at (513) 954-9689. We'll have a quick conversation about your business, and I'll let you know exactly how I can help. No pressure, no obligation.
This page is general information for small business owners in the Cincinnati area, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation. Neat Books provides bookkeeping, not tax preparation — for tax filing questions, please talk with your CPA or tax preparer.
Book a free consultation and let's talk about your business.
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