Why do I need a bookkeeper?
Why not hire a CPA?
Should I hire someone part time?
How does it work?
How can I contact you?
How much do you charge?
Do I have to sign any contracts or commit to a certain amount of time?
Is my business too small for you to provide services to me?
What qualifications do you have?
Where is the rest of our brain?

Why do I need a bookkeeper?

Just as you are an expert in your personal business; we are experts in what we do. We take the load off of you, so you can focus on what you do best. You could need a bookkeeper for many different reasons, from day to day bookkeeping to financial analysis, paying your bills, keeping track of your payroll. We handle all of those things that overwhelm you.

Why not hire a CPA?

Certified Public Accountants (CPA's) are licensed in accounting. Just like a medical license is required to perform surgery, a CPA is required to audit and review financial statements.

However, you don't need a doctor to plan your meals or design an exercise plan. So, you shouldn't hire a CPA to perform your monthly accounting tasks. CPA rates are $75 - $250 per hour. You don't need to pay CPA rates for bookkeeping work.

If you already have a CPA, and are happy with their work, you can still make smarter use of your money. A lot of their time is spent gathering information, organizing, classifying and reconciling your records to create annual reports and income tax filings. We can do that for less!

Should I hire someone part time?

We can offer you as much or as little service as you need, whether it is 20 hours a week or just a few hours each month. If your needs are not that great, the chances of hiring someone willing to work just a few hours are remote, especially someone with over 20 years experience in managing the books of a variety of small to medium businesses, such as we can offer. With an employee, even part-time you have to add the cost of payroll taxes, benefits, workers comp, disability and administration.

How does it work?

We can either do the work in your office or set up a convenient time to pick up the work at your location (we provide a file organizer for this purpose) and return it to your office when completed.

How can I contact you?

Call us! Email Us! Write Us!
Phone: 716.908.6285
Email - visit the Contact Us page to send us a message.

How much do you charge?

We tailor packages to each individual client. So typically, we will set up a meeting with you to discuss what services you need and what sort of bookkeeping system you have in place. We work on either an hourly rate, or a flat monthly rate, dependent upon the level of service required and your preference. To quote a rate, we need full understanding of your needs and situation. Before we meet, it is helpful if you provide your level of financial activity. This can include the number of checks written per month, number of customers you have, vendors and employees.

Do I have to sign any contracts or commit to a certain amount of time?

Absolutely not. The Left Brain provides only the services you want and only for as long as you want them, and we only bill you after the services are performed. You have no upfront obligations.

Is my business too small for you to provide services to me?

We specialize in small business; you might even say micro businesses. Our clients range from sole proprietors to S Corps with 10-20 employees. I cater to the companies that don't have the workload to make it practical to hire even a part-time bookkeeper but don't enjoy doing the books themselves.

What qualifications do you have?

We have over 20 years experience with countless different small businesses. In addition, we are certified as Quickbooks ProAdvisors, are a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and Microsoft Certified experts in Excel and Access.

Where is the rest of our brain?

Right here!

Starting a business/Employer information

Starting a business in New York State
Application for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
New York State Employer Registration
New Hire Reporting
Independent Contractor vs. Employee

Employee Information Forms

Federal W-4 Form
How to fill out W-4 correctly
New York State IT-2104
Federal I-9 Form

Tax Links

Federal
New York State Income Tax
New York State Sales Tax

Financial Calculators

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Fun & Interesting

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