Small business guide
They are not the same job. A bookkeeper keeps the records. An accountant interprets them and advises. Many small businesses need one first and the other later.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
| Role | Typical work |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | Records and categorizes transactions, reconciles accounts, tracks invoices and bills |
| Accountant | Prepares financial statements and taxes, advises on structure, planning and decisions |
You are behind on records, have many transactions, or would rather spend that time running the business.
You are preparing taxes, choosing a structure, planning growth, or applying for larger funding and want statements prepared.
A very small business with few transactions can do its own bookkeeping with software and hire an accountant once a year.
Late or inaccurate records lead to missed deductions, tax surprises and decisions made on the wrong numbers. For funding, unclear records slow the conversation. See bookkeeping habits that make funding easier.
Clean books make a funding review faster, because the numbers a funder reads in your bank statements match what you can explain. We fund from $25,000 to $5,000,000, decisions move fast, and funding can arrive in as little as 24 hours for qualified businesses. We read about three months of business bank statements, consider owners with a FICO score of 500 or above, and sole proprietors can apply.
See bookkeeping habits that make funding easier and the financial statements funders want, then start your application. It takes about five minutes and begins with a soft credit pull.
Yes, with software and a weekly routine. Hire help when it takes too much time or goes behind.
No. A CPA is a licensed accountant with additional credentials. Bookkeepers do not need to be CPAs.
It varies widely by location, volume and scope. Ask for a written quote.
No. We read about three months of business bank statements and do not require tax returns.
When records are behind, when tax time is stressful, or when decisions are being made without clear numbers.
Same-day decision. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.
