Frequently Asked Questions | Bradford Bookkeeping

What industries do you specialize in?

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We specialize in real estate investors (multifamily portfolios, single-family operators) and professional service firms (law firms, dental practices, consultants). These industries have specific financial complexitiesâ€”such as distinguishing repairs from capital improvements, reconciling property manager distributions, and handling 3-way IOLTA trust reconciliationsâ€”that general bookkeepers simply aren't built for.

Do you work with clients outside of real estate?

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Yes. While real estate investors make up a significant part of our client base, we also partner with select professional service firms including law practices, consulting businesses, and medical practices. If your business manages multiple LLCs or complex revenue streams, we'd love to connect.

Are you a remote bookkeeping firm?

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Yes. We are a 100% remote firm serving business owners across all 50 U.S. states. All meetings, document exchanges, and reviews are conducted virtually through secure encrypted client portals and Zoom.

What is included in monthly bookkeeping?

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Every month we reconcile all bank and credit card accounts, accurately categorize income and expenses, maintain your QuickBooks Online file, and deliver clean Balance Sheets and Profit & Loss statements. Depending on your tier, we also provide custom Loom video walkthroughs and quarterly Zoom review sessions.

How much does bookkeeping cost?

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Our pricing is structured in transparent monthly tiers starting at $300/month plus QuickBooks Online subscription fees. Pricing scales predictably based on transaction volume, legal entity count, and whether you require advisory video reviews or high-touch collaboration.

I already have a property manager. Do I still need a bookkeeper?

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Yes. Property managers handle day-to-day tenant relations, maintenance requests, and collect rents, but they do not provide holistic company-wide accounting. We reconcile property manager monthly payout statements against your actual bank deposits, track mortgage amortizations, and ensure your taxes and escrows are properly accounted for.

Do you integrate with AppFolio, Buildium, and other PM software?

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Yes. We regularly extract and reconcile reports from AppFolio, Buildium, Rent Manager, and similar property management portals directly into QuickBooks Online so your financials reflect all gross rental income and deductions.

What is the difference between repairs and capital improvements?

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Repairs and routine maintenance (fixing a broken pipe, repainting a turnover unit) are typically 100% tax-deductible in the current operating year. Capital improvements (replacing an entire HVAC unit, new roof) must be capitalized on your Balance Sheet and depreciated over time. Misclassifying these can trigger IRS audits or overpayment of taxes.

Do I need a separate set of books for each LLC or property?

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Yes. To protect your corporate veil and ensure legal compliance, each legal LLC or entity should maintain its own distinct accounting file and bank accounts. We structure your accounts cleanly in QuickBooks Online with class tracking so you can view both individual property metrics and consolidated totals.

What do you need from me to get started?

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To begin, we will request accountant-level access to your QuickBooks Online file, read-only view access to business bank feeds, official EIN confirmation documentation, and a brief summary of your active entities or property units.

Are there long-term contracts?

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No. All services are month-to-month. There is a one-time onboarding fee to set up your accounts and configure your portal, after which you are billed monthly with zero lock-in contracts. If you ever need to cancel, we require 60 days written notice so we can properly close out your current month and hand over clean records.

Do your rates ever increase?

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Monthly bookkeeping rates are reviewed annually, with any adjustments taking effect July 1. We provide at least 30 days advance notice before any annual rate adjustment. Outside of the annual review, pricing only adjusts if your business structure meaningfully expands (such as acquiring additional properties or adding payroll).

Behind on my books? Can you do historical cleanup?

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Absolutely. Many clients come to us months or even years behind on their reconciliations. We conduct a diagnostic assessment to quote a flat-fee historical cleanup and bring your accounts completely up to date before rolling into monthly maintenance.

How do I schedule my introductory consultation?

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You can schedule a complimentary 20-minute Zoom call with Marie Pues directly through our calendar booking link on the Contact page, or submit your financials through our Free Snapshot Review form for an async evaluation.

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