What does a bookkeeper actually do for my business?
A bookkeeper keeps your financial records accurate, organized, and current every month. That means categorizing every transaction, reconciling your bank accounts, and producing the financial reports your business runs on — profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. At COGS we handle all of it so you always know exactly where your business stands financially.
Why do I need clean books if I already have an accountant?
Your accountant files your taxes. Your bookkeeper keeps the records your accountant needs to do that job. If your books are messy your accountant charges more, misses deductions, and scrambles to piece together a year of transactions in a few weeks. Clean monthly books mean lower CPA fees, fewer surprises, and a smoother tax season every year.
Can I get an SBA loan without clean financial records?
No. An SBA 7(a) loan requires profit and loss statements, a balance sheet, three years of tax returns, and projected financials. A business line of credit requires the same. Equipment financing requires documented revenue and expenses. Every capital door requires clean books to open it. If your financials are not in order the bank says no — not because your business isn’t good enough, but because you can’t prove it. COGS keeps you loan-ready before you ever need the loan.
How is COGS different from hiring an in-house bookkeeper?
An in-house bookkeeper is a full-time employee with salary, benefits, payroll taxes, and HR overhead. COGS is a flat monthly rate with no hiring, no managing, and no risk. You get professional bookkeeping at a fraction of the cost, handled remotely, with reports delivered every month without you having to ask.
What is flat-rate bookkeeping and how does the pricing work?
We charge per transaction rather than by the hour. Level 1 starts at $3 per transaction with a $300 monthly minimum — that covers monthly reconciliation, financial reporting, QuickBooks management, and email support. Level 2 adds accounts receivable and accounts payable management for $4 per transaction plus $100 per month for each AR and AP service. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. You always know what you’re paying.
What is a cleanup engagement and do I need one?
If your books have not been maintained — or were never set up properly — a cleanup engagement gets your historical records organized before we move into ongoing monthly service. Cleanup is quoted per engagement based on how many months need to be corrected and is billed upfront. Once cleanup is complete you transition directly into your monthly service level.
Do I need QuickBooks before I can get started?
We work in QuickBooks Online. If you already have it we connect to your existing account. If you do not have it we will help you get set up. QuickBooks Online is the industry standard for small business bookkeeping and gives you real-time access to your financial data at any time.
How does remote bookkeeping work — do you need access to my accounts?
Yes — and this is standard practice in the industry. We connect securely to your QuickBooks account and your bank feeds. We never have the ability to move money or make transactions. We read your financial data, categorize it, reconcile it, and produce your reports. Everything is documented and you retain full control of all your accounts at all times.
How long does onboarding take?
Most clients are fully onboarded within one to two weeks. We gather your QuickBooks access, review your chart of accounts, connect your bank feeds, and establish your reporting schedule. We guide you through every step — there is nothing complicated on your end.
What financial reports will I receive every month?
Every client receives a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement delivered monthly. Level 2 clients also receive accounts receivable and accounts payable aging reports. All reports are delivered in plain English — not accountant jargon — so you can actually use them to make decisions.
What size business is COGS right for?
We work with small businesses at every stage — from solo practitioners and startups to established businesses with multiple employees and complex transaction volumes. Our flat-rate pricing scales with your transaction volume so you only pay for what your business actually generates.
How do I get started?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation. We review your current situation, determine the right service level for your business, and walk you through exactly what onboarding looks like. No obligation, no pressure, no commitment required.