What does a bookkeeper actually do?
A bookkeeper keeps your financial records accurate and up to date -- tracking income, expenses, reconciling accounts, and producing the reports you need to understand how your business is doing. It's the foundation everything else is built on. Your CPA needs clean books to file your taxes. You need clean books to make good decisions.What's the difference between a bookkeeper and a CPA?
A bookkeeper handles the day-to-day recording and organization of your finances. A CPA handles tax strategy, tax filing, and higher-level advisory work. They're complementary, not interchangeable. I work closely with my clients' CPAs so both sides stay aligned.What are the most common bookkeeping mistakes?
A few come up constantly: mixing personal and business expenses, not matching payments to invoices correctly, not recording loan payments with the proper split between principal and interest, and skipping monthly reconciliations. These mistakes compound over time and make tax season a nightmare.My books are a mess. Does that matter?
Not at all -- that's actually one of my specialties. I clean up books regularly and typically start from the last filed tax return to make sure everything is accurate from a clean baseline. Whatever state your books are in, we can fix it.Do I need to use QuickBooks Online?
I work predominantly in QuickBooks Online and it's what I recommend for most small businesses. If you're using something else, we can talk through whether it makes sense to switch. In most cases, it does.What does bookkeeping cost?
Pricing is based on your transaction volume, number of accounts being reconciled, and the overall complexity of your books. Every business is different, so the best way to get an accurate number is a free call. What I can tell you is that most clients find the time they get back -- time they can reinvest into actually growing their business -- is well worth it.What size businesses do you work with?
Mostly small businesses from startup through about $10M in revenue, across a wide range of industries. The common thread is owner-operated businesses where the owner has better things to do than manage their own books.Do you do taxes?
No. I focus exclusively on bookkeeping. That said, I'm a strong believer that every business owner should have a great CPA, and clean books make your CPA's job easier and your tax bill more accurate. I work closely with my clients' CPAs to make sure everything is aligned.How often will I hear from you?
I'm in my clients' books weekly, sometimes more. For communication, I use a client portal so everything stays organized and in one place. Some clients also do a monthly meeting -- we can figure out what works best for you.Will I be working with Mark Haft?
Yes. Always. You're not getting handed off to someone else.How do I get started?
Start with a free call. We'll talk about where your books stand, what you need, and whether we're a good fit. No pressure.