(949) 689-0598 diane@powersfinancialsolutions.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
​​
​
I. The Power of Financial Oversight
​
​​​Q: Do I Still Need a Bookkeeper If I Use QuickBooks Online?
A:
​
​
​
​Q: What Is the Difference Between a Bookkeeper and a CPA?​​​​
A: ​​
​​
Q: Why Do I Charge a Fixed Monthly Fee Instead of an Hourly Rate?
A:
Q: Since I Was an Owner, Do I Understand Your Industry?
A:
​
​
​
​II. Onboarding & Your Timeline to Clarity​
Q: How Do I Get Started and What Is the Timeline?
A:
​
​
​
Note: I provide a custom, flat-rate quote and a project timeline for the Catch-Up Project. Most clean-up projects (6–12 months behind) typically take 2 to 4 weeks to complete. ​
​
Q: How Does My Monthly Service Help Me with Tax Season?
A:
III. Technology, Workflow & Collaboration
​
Q: How Do We Share Information Since I Work Remotely?
A:
​Q: Will We Use Google Meet for Our Strategic Calls?
A:
​
​
​Q: How Do You Manage My Receipt Collection and Expense Submissions?
A:
​
​​
​
IV. Security & Confidentiality
Q: How Do I Securely Share Documents and Sensitive Information?
A:
​
​​​​​​​​​​Q: What are My Privacy Practices Regarding Your Financial Data?
A:
​​​
Q: How Do I Use Google Drive to Keep My Financial Records Organized?
A:
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​
​
The sooner we start the assessment, the sooner you gain financial peace of mind,
ensuring you never fall behind again.
Yes, absolutely. QuickBooks Online (QBO) handles the mechanics of data tracking, but it is not a replacement for human expertise. I provide the strategy, interpretation, and accuracy needed for growth, something software alone cannot do. My role is to oversee the AI, correct data, and turn numbers into strategic decisions.
As your Bookkeeper/Fractional CFO, my focus is on active, year-round strategic planning and the operational health of your business. I provide monthly financial foresight and clean data, empowering you to make profitable decisions now. A CPA focuses on annual tax strategy, compliance, and filing. I ensure your financials are perfectly clean and strategically sound every month, which makes your CPA's job easier when tax time arrives.
I choose fixed monthly pricing because, as a former business owner, I know you need budget predictability, not surprise bills. Hourly billing creates anxiety. My fixed packages cover everything you need to stay compliant and strategic, ensuring your focus remains on profit, not tracking my time.
While my background is in the Audio/Visual industry, my 18 years of experience taught me to master the universal financial fundamentals that every successful business shares: managing cash flow, tracking profitability, and navigating tax requirements. My value is in applying owner-level insights and clear strategic reporting that apply to any successful small business.
Getting started is simple, quick, and designed for minimal effort: 1. Free Discovery Call: We start with a 15-minute call to discuss your challenges. I then send a brief intake form to create your tailored roadmap. 2. Assessment and Clean-Up (If Needed): If your records are behind, I will conduct a brief assessment to determine the exact complexity and volume of the past records. 3. Ongoing Service: Once the records are clean, we move you straight into your chosen fixed-rate monthly package, ensuring you never fall behind again.​ ​
My service is the ultimate preparation for tax season, turning it from a panic into a simple procedure. *No Penalties: I ensure you won't incur penalties or interest due to late filing caused by messy books. *Maximum Deductions: I ensure every expense is correctly categorized throughout the year, maximizing your legal write-offs. *Smooth Handover: Your CPA receives a clean, perfect set of financial statements, saving them—and you—time and money.
Our process is 100% cloud-based and highly secure. We use QBO as our central platform, and you grant me accountant access. Your bank transactions are safely linked to QBO, ensuring real-time accuracy and minimizing your manual data entry. I leverage AI tools to ensure fast, focused reporting.
Yes, we use Google Meet for all consultations and strategic review sessions. This platform is reliable and easy to use, ensuring our meetings are productive and focused entirely on your profit and growth strategy.
I recommend implementing a dedicated third-party app for maximum automation and compliance, but for maximum flexibility and cost control, I can also utilize Google Sheets or Forms for secure team expense submissions.
I prioritize the security and privacy of your data above all else. We use highly secure, encrypted portals and platforms for all document transfer, avoiding standard email. This protects your private information during transit and storage, giving you peace of mind.
Your financial data is treated with the highest level of confidentiality, just as I treated my own company's sensitive information for 18 years. Access is limited to me alone, and all my practices comply with industry standards. Your data is used only for accurate bookkeeping and strategic analysis—never for any other reason.
I leverage Google Drive as a secure, centralized hub for non-QuickBooks documents (like annual tax returns or contracts). I create a dedicated shared folder that is secure, ensuring both you and your CPA always know exactly where to find every essential record.