FAQs
Questions about bookkeeping? You are not alone. Whether you run a nonprofit, professional-services firm, or growing small business, reliable financial information makes it easier to make decisions with confidence. Here are answers to common questions about working with Joan Fortney Bookkeeping.
1 What bookkeeping services does Joan Fortney Bookkeeping provide?
2 Do you work with nonprofit organizations?
3 Do you work with small businesses?
4 Who do you work with?
5 Do you use QuickBooks Online?
6 Can you clean up messy or overdue books?
7 What financial reports will I receive?
8 Can you prepare reports for a non profit board?
9 Do you provide tax preparation or legal advice?
10 How much does bookkeeping cost?
11 What is included in monthly bookkeeping?
12 How do we get started?
13 Do I need to be located in Northeast Ohio?
14 Why should I outsource bookkeeping?
15 How often will we communicate?
What bookkeeping services does Joan Fortney Bookkeeping provide?
1
Joan Fortney Bookkeeping provides monthly bookkeeping and financial reporting for small businesses, professional-services firms, and nonprofit organizations. Services may include transaction categorization, account reconciliation, monthly financial statements, accounts-payable support, accounts-receivable tracking, cash-flow visibility, and customized reporting.
The goal is simple: organized books and financial information you can use to make better decisions.
Do you work with nonprofit organizations?
2
Yes. Joan Fortney Bookkeeping supports nonprofits that need organized financial records, consistent monthly reporting, and information that helps leadership and boards understand the organization’s financial position.
Nonprofit bookkeeping needs can include tracking restricted and unrestricted activity, monitoring program and administrative expenses, preparing board-ready reports, improving chart-of-accounts structure, and keeping records ready for grant, audit, or tax-preparation needs.
Do you work with small businesses?
3
Yes. We work with small businesses and professional-service firms that want to spend less time managing transactions and more time serving clients and growing their business.
Monthly bookkeeping can help business owners understand revenue, expenses, profitability, cash needs, and the financial health of their company.
Who do you work with?
4
Joan Fortney Bookkeeping works primarily with nonprofit organizations and small professional-services businesses in Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Remote bookkeeping support may also be available for organizations that use cloud-based systems such as QuickBooks Online.
We are a strong fit for organizations that need dependable monthly bookkeeping, clearer reporting, and a financial partner who can explain the numbers in plain language.
Do you use QuickBooks Online?
5
Yes. Joan Fortney Bookkeeping uses QuickBooks Online to help clients maintain accessible, cloud-based financial records. QuickBooks Online makes it easier to collaborate remotely, review current financial information, share documents securely, and provide your tax professional with organized records.
If you are not yet using QuickBooks Online, we can discuss whether it is a good fit for your organization and help with setup or conversion planning.
Can you clean up messy or overdue books?
6
Yes. Cleanup and catch-up bookkeeping services are available for businesses or nonprofits with incomplete, inaccurate, or behind-schedule records.
A cleanup engagement may involve reviewing prior transactions, reconciling bank and credit-card accounts, correcting account classifications, identifying missing information, and bringing records to a usable starting point. Cleanup work is quoted separately because the time required depends on the condition and number of months of the books.
What financial reports will I receive?
7
The reports depend on your service level and organization’s needs, but may include:
Profit and Loss statement, also called an income statement
Balance Sheet
Statement of Cash Flows or cash-flow reporting
Budget-versus-actual reporting
Accounts receivable and accounts payable summaries
Customized management, owner, or board reporting
Nonprofit program, fund, or restriction-related reporting where appropriate
We focus on reports that answer practical questions: Are we profitable? What is driving expenses? How much cash do we have? Are we on budget? What does leadership need to know this month?
Can you prepare reports for a nonprofit board?
8
Yes. Joan Fortney Bookkeeping can help prepare clear, consistent financial reporting that gives board members and leadership a better view of financial performance and position.
Board-ready reports can be tailored to your organization’s needs and may include a statement of activities, statement of financial position, budget-to-actual comparisons, cash summaries, and concise explanations of meaningful financial changes.
Do you provide tax preparation or legal advice?
9
No. Joan Fortney Bookkeeping provides bookkeeping and financial-reporting services, not tax preparation, legal advice, or investment advice.
We can help keep your books organized and provide clean financial reports for your CPA, tax preparer, auditor, or attorney. When needed, we are happy to work alongside those professionals to support a smoother year-end or tax-preparation process.
How much does bookkeeping cost?
10
Yes. Joan Fortney Bookkeeping can help prepare clear, consistent financial reporting that gives board members and leadership a better view of financial performance and position.
Board-ready reports can be tailored to your organization’s needs and may include a statement of activities, statement of financial position, budget-to-actual comparisons, cash summaries, and concise explanations of meaningful financial changes.
What is included in monthly bookkeeping?
11
Monthly bookkeeping is customized, but commonly includes:
Recording and categorizing financial transactions
Reconciling bank, credit-card, and other financial accounts
Reviewing income and expenses for accuracy
Preparing monthly financial statements
Identifying questions, exceptions, and missing documentation
Providing regular financial information for owners, leadership, or boards
Coordinating with your CPA or tax preparer when needed
The exact scope is established during onboarding so both sides understand what is included and what information is needed each month.
How do we get started?
12
Start with a consultation to discuss your organization, current bookkeeping process, financial systems, reporting needs, and goals. From there, Joan Fortney Bookkeeping will recommend an appropriate service level and identify whether cleanup, setup, or catch-up work is needed before recurring monthly service begins.
Once the scope is agreed upon, onboarding typically includes gathering financial access and documents, reviewing the chart of accounts, setting up an efficient workflow, and establishing a monthly reporting schedule.
Do I need to be located in Northeast Ohio?
13
No. While Joan Fortney Bookkeeping is based in the Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio area, cloud-based bookkeeping makes remote collaboration possible for many clients.
For local organizations, an in-person relationship may be available when appropriate. For remote clients, communication and document sharing can be handled through secure cloud-based tools and scheduled meetings.
Why should I outsource bookkeeping?
14
Outsourcing bookkeeping can give you reliable financial information without the cost and management responsibility of hiring a full-time internal bookkeeper. It can also reduce the pressure on owners, executive directors, office managers, and volunteers who may be trying to manage financial records alongside their primary responsibilities.
With timely, organized books, you can make decisions based on current financial information rather than guesswork or outdated reports.
How often will we communicate?
15
Communication depends on your service level and needs. At a minimum, monthly bookkeeping includes a regular process for collecting information, resolving questions, and delivering financial reports.
Clients with more involved reporting, cash-flow, or leadership needs may have more frequent check-ins. We aim for a simple, dependable process with clear expectations and responsive communication.