Bookkeeping is the process of recording and organizing your business's financial transactions every month. Income, expenses, payroll, invoices — it all needs to be tracked. If you own a small business and aren't keeping clean books, you're flying blind at tax time and missing deductions you can't prove. Most small businesses in Columbia need it.

Monthly. Reconciling once a year might seem like less work, but it creates a mess at tax time and makes it nearly impossible to catch errors or spot trends in your business. Monthly bookkeeping keeps your finances clean and gives you an accurate picture of your business throughout the year.

Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of transactions. Accounting takes that data and turns it into financial statements, tax filings, and analysis. Think of bookkeeping as gathering the ingredients and accounting as cooking the meal. Our Client Accounting Services cover both.

Yes. We work with small business owners who are months or even years behind on their books. It's not a situation to be embarrassed about. Getting caught up sets you up for clean tax filings and a clear picture of your business finances going forward.

At minimum, a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet. A cash flow statement is also important, especially if your business has variable income. These three documents tell you whether your business is profitable, what you own and owe, and whether you have enough cash to keep the lights on.

A CPA is a licensed professional who can advise on business structure, help you plan your tax strategy throughout the year, represent you in front of the IRS, and analyze your financial statements. A standard tax preparer is typically limited to filing your return once a year. For a small business, the difference is significant.

It depends on your income level, how you pay yourself, and your long-term goals. An S-Corp can save some business owners money on self-employment taxes once they reach a certain income threshold, but it also comes with more administrative requirements. This is exactly the kind of question we help clients work through. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

It depends on your business structure. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs take owner's draws. S-Corp owners pay themselves a reasonable salary and can take additional distributions. Getting this wrong can create tax problems. We help small business owners in Columbia set up their compensation in a way that's both legal and tax-efficient.

Common deductible expenses include office rent, utilities, equipment, software, business meals at 50%, marketing costs, vehicle use, professional services, and employee wages. The key is keeping records. Without documentation, deductions are hard to defend if the IRS asks questions.

Ideally, before you launch. Getting the right business structure, bookkeeping system, and tax strategy in place from the start saves a lot of headaches later. If you're already running a business without a CPA, the best time to start is now. The longer you wait, the more you're likely paying in taxes you didn't have to.

Don't ignore it. IRS notices can range from simple clarification requests to serious issues like audits or collections. Read it carefully and understand what they're asking for. If you're unsure what to do, contact a CPA before responding. Kyle handles IRS correspondence on behalf of clients and can represent you directly.

Yes. As a CPA, Kyle is authorized to represent clients before the IRS. If you've been selected for an audit, having a CPA in your corner makes a real difference. We know what auditors look for, what documentation is needed, and how to respond in a way that protects your interests.

You still need to file your return on time. Failing to file and failing to pay are two separate penalties. Filing on time stops the harsher of the two from adding up. The IRS has several options for people who can't pay in full, including payment plans and offers in compromise. We can help you figure out the best path forward.

Common triggers include unusually high deductions relative to your income, math errors on your return, large charitable contributions, home office deductions, and significant business losses year over year. Self-employed individuals and cash-based businesses also tend to get more scrutiny. Working with a CPA reduces the chance of errors that invite a second look.

Generally, the IRS has three years from the date you filed to audit your return. That extends to six years if you underreported income by more than 25%. There's no time limit if you never filed or committed fraud. Keeping your tax records for at least seven years is a safe rule of thumb.

You fill out the contact form and share a little about your situation. Kyle gets back to you directly to schedule a free consultation. From there, he'll put together a plan based on your specific needs, whether that's tax prep, bookkeeping, advisory services, or a combination of all three.

You work directly with Kyle. There are no junior staff members or handoff processes here. Every client deals with Kyle personally, from the first conversation through the filing of your return or the delivery of your financial statements. That's intentional. It's how he's run this firm for over 7 years.

We offer tax preparation and tax planning for individuals and businesses, monthly bookkeeping and client accounting services, business advisory and consulting, and IRS representation. We also handle forensic accounting for situations that require a closer look at financial records.

Yes. Before any work begins or any fees are discussed, we offer a free consultation to understand your situation. This gives you a chance to ask questions and get a feel for whether it's a good fit, and it gives us a chance to understand what you need before putting a plan together.

Watch out for CPAs who guarantee a specific refund amount before seeing your records, charge fees based on a percentage of your refund, or ask you to sign a blank return. Also pay attention to whether you'll actually talk to the CPA or always get routed to staff. With Kyle, you always talk to Kyle.