FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What bookkeeping services does FFB Bookkeeping provide?

FFB Bookkeeping Services provides monthly bookkeeping, QuickBooks setup and optimization, catch-up and cleanup bookkeeping, bank and credit card reconciliations, transaction categorization, financial reporting, and CPA-ready record preparation. We can also assist with accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll reconciliation, cash-flow reporting, budgeting, and other financial workflows based on your business’s needs. Our goal is to give you accurate, organized financial records and a dependable process for maintaining them.

Who does FFB Bookkeeping work with?

FFB Bookkeeping works with small and midsize businesses throughout Fresno, Clovis, California’s Central Valley, and remotely across California. Our clients include contractors, property managers, real estate professionals, home-care providers, transportation companies, restaurants and caterers, professional-service firms, and other owner-operated businesses. We are especially helpful for growing companies that have outgrown do-it-yourself bookkeeping or need more support than a basic bookkeeping service can provide.

How much do bookkeeping services cost?

Bookkeeping costs depend on the number of bank and credit card accounts, monthly transaction volume, payroll activity, reporting requirements, condition of the existing records, and complexity of the business. Cleanup projects are generally priced separately from recurring monthly bookkeeping. FFB begins by reviewing your current financial records and discussing your needs. We then provide a clear scope of work and customized pricing, so you understand what is included before services begin.

What is included in a QuickBooks cleanup?

A QuickBooks cleanup may include correcting transaction classifications, reconciling bank and credit card accounts, identifying duplicate or missing entries, reviewing opening balances, reorganizing the chart of accounts, correcting uncategorized transactions, and examining accounts receivable and accounts payable. We also review the balance sheet and profit-and-loss statement for unusual or unsupported balances. The objective is to create accurate, organized records that can support tax preparation, financing applications, financial reporting, and better business decisions.

Can FFB help if my bookkeeping is several months or years behind?

Yes. FFB Bookkeeping provides catch-up and cleanup services for businesses that are several months or multiple years behind. We begin by identifying the accounts, statements, reports, and supporting documents required for each period. The records are then organized, reconciled, and reviewed in a structured sequence. The completion timeframe depends on the number of accounts, transaction volume, missing information, and condition of the existing books. After the cleanup, we can establish a monthly bookkeeping process to help prevent the records from falling behind again.

What records will I need to provide?

The records required usually include bank statements, credit card statements, loan statements, payroll reports, sales reports, merchant-processing statements, invoices, receipts, and information regarding significant purchases or deposits. Depending on the business, we may also need prior tax returns, accounts receivable reports, accounts payable reports, sales-tax filings, financing documents, and access to QuickBooks or another accounting platform. FFB provides a customized document checklist so you know exactly what is needed and how to submit it securely.

How often should bank and credit card accounts be reconciled?

Business bank and credit card accounts should generally be reconciled every month. Monthly reconciliation confirms that the accounting records agree with the financial institution’s statements and helps identify missing transactions, duplicate entries, incorrect classifications, unauthorized charges, and outstanding items. Allowing reconciliations to accumulate can make errors more difficult and expensive to correct. FFB includes regular reconciliations as an essential part of maintaining accurate and dependable financial records.

What does it mean for bookkeeping records to be CPA-ready?

CPA-ready books are complete, reconciled, supported, and organized so that a CPA or tax professional can efficiently prepare the business’s tax return or provide financial advice. Bank and credit card accounts should be reconciled, major balance-sheet accounts should be reviewed, income and expenses should be properly classified, and unusual transactions should have supporting documentation. CPA-ready records can reduce unnecessary questions, last-minute corrections, and additional accounting fees during tax season.

Does FFB work directly with my CPA or tax professional?

Yes. With your authorization, FFB can coordinate directly with your CPA or tax professional to answer bookkeeping questions, provide requested reports, explain account activity, and complete necessary year-end adjustments. Our role is to maintain accurate financial records and make the tax-preparation process as organized as possible. Tax returns and tax-specific advice should be handled by the appropriately qualified tax professional unless those services are specifically included in your separate engagement.

What is the difference between a bookkeeper, controller, and CFO?

A bookkeeper records transactions, reconciles accounts, and maintains accurate financial records. A controller oversees the accounting process, strengthens internal controls, manages the monthly closing process, and ensures financial reports are reliable. A CFO uses financial information to guide cash flow, budgeting, forecasting, financing, profitability, and major business decisions. FFB can provide support beyond basic transaction entry by helping business owners understand their financial reports and improve the systems behind their numbers.

Does FFB offer remote and on-site bookkeeping?

Yes. FFB provides remote bookkeeping throughout California and on-site support when appropriate in Fresno, Clovis, and surrounding Central Valley communities. Remote services use secure cloud-based platforms and electronic document-sharing systems to maintain records and communicate efficiently. On-site support may be helpful when a business has paper records, complicated workflows, multiple employees handling financial information, or systems that need to be reviewed in person. The service model can be customized to fit your operations.

Can FFB assist property managers and real estate businesses?

Yes. FFB works with property-management companies, real estate professionals, investors, and businesses using platforms such as QuickBooks and Buildium. Services may include bank and credit card reconciliations, property-related income and expense tracking, owner and tenant transaction review, deposit classification, financial reporting, and coordination between property-management and accounting systems. Because every portfolio is structured differently, we begin by reviewing the properties, accounts, entities, and reporting responsibilities involved.

Can FFB help contractors with job costing?

Yes. Accurate job costing helps contractors understand whether individual projects are profitable. FFB can help organize income and expenses by customer, project, job, or cost category and review the treatment of labor, materials, subcontractors, equipment, and overhead. We can also help improve the chart of accounts and financial-reporting structure so management can compare project revenue with the costs required to produce it. The exact system depends on the contractor’s industry, billing process, payroll setup, and reporting needs.

How does bookkeeping coordinate with payroll?

Payroll and bookkeeping must agree so that wages, employer taxes, employee deductions, benefit expenses, payroll liabilities, and payroll withdrawals are recorded correctly. FFB can review payroll reports, reconcile payroll activity to the bank account and general ledger, investigate discrepancies, and ensure payroll expenses are reflected accurately in the financial statements. Coordinating these systems helps prevent duplicate expenses, incorrect liabilities, and differences between payroll records, quarterly filings, and the company’s books.

How do I know when my business needs professional bookkeeping help?

Common warning signs include unreconciled accounts, missing financial statements, unexplained balances, inconsistent transaction categories, overdue bookkeeping, payroll discrepancies, or difficulty preparing information for a CPA, lender, or tax agency. You may also need help if you are making business decisions based mainly on the bank balance because you do not trust your financial reports. Professional support is especially valuable when the business is growing and the owner no longer has enough time to maintain accurate records.