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Small business bookkeeping · Houston
Do you need a bookkeeper or an accountant? Probably both.
A bookkeeper keeps your books right every month. A CPA files your taxes and gives tax advice. When the first job is done well, the second one costs you less. Here's how to tell what you need.
The difference
Bookkeeper vs. CPA, in plain English
| Job | Bookkeeper (SolBook) | CPA or tax preparer |
|---|---|---|
| Record and categorize every transaction | Yes, every month | Usually not |
| Reconcile bank and card accounts | Yes, by the 10th | Only if your books are a mess, for a fee |
| Monthly profit and loss, profit by job | Yes | Rarely |
| Payroll, 1099s, Texas sales tax returns | Yes | Sometimes |
| Income tax returns and tax planning | No | Yes |
| Audits, reviews, tax advice, IRS representation | No | Yes (licensed CPAs) |
In Texas, only licensed CPAs can call themselves accountants or offer audit and attest services. SolBook is a bookkeeping service and works alongside your CPA.
Monthly bookkeeping
What happens every month
All month: one text a week
Every Thursday we text you the handful of charges we can't place: "$412 Home Depot, job or truck?" You answer in a minute. That's your whole job.
By the 10th: books closed
Every bank and card account reconciled, every transaction categorized, payroll and helper payments matched.
Your numbers, in your inbox
Profit and loss, cash on hand, what customers owe you, and on Growth, profit by job and service line, so you know which work to take more of.
Signs it's time
You need a bookkeeper if…
- You do the books on Sunday night, or not at all
- Your tax preparer charges extra to clean up every spring
- You pay helpers by cash, Venmo or Zelle
- You can't say which jobs made money last month
- You're not sure if you owe Texas sales tax
- You want a loan or line of credit and need clean statements
Price
From $249/mo · most crews pick Growth at $895/mo
Flat price, agreed before we start. No hourly bills, no surprise invoices. See every plan and add-on.
"I spent my Sundays buried in material receipts. Now SolBook handles all of it, and I got my weekends back."
Our guarantees
The deal, in plain English
Three promises in writing, so the risk sits with us, not you.
Closed by the 10th, or that month is free
If your books aren't closed by the 10th, you don't pay for that month. Applies while your accounts stay connected and you answer the weekly text within 3 business days.
CPA-ready, or we fix it and the next month is free
If your CPA or tax preparer sends back anything in our year-end package, we fix it within 5 business days and your next month is on us.
No contracts. Your books stay yours.
Month to month. Cancel any time with 30 days' notice, and your QuickBooks file and every report go with you.
Any number of forms, on any plan. 1099-NECs are due to the IRS and your contractors by January 31, so this is the month to get it handled. We onboard 10 new businesses a month so every client gets a bookkeeper who knows them.
Keep reading
Questions
Straight answers
How much does a bookkeeper cost for a small business?
Published surveys put outsourced bookkeeping at about $250 to $350 a month for basic service and $500 to $700 for mid-range. SolBook plans are $249, $595, $895 and $1,395 a month, flat, with no contract.
Can I just use my CPA for bookkeeping?
Some CPAs offer it, but most charge CPA rates for it or only touch your books once a year. Monthly bookkeeping by a bookkeeper, then a clean handoff to your CPA, usually costs less overall.
Is SolBook an accounting firm?
No. We're a bookkeeping service. We don't prepare income tax returns, give tax advice, or provide audit or review services. Those stay with your CPA.
Do I need to meet in person?
No. Everything runs by text, email and short calls. We're based in Houston if you'd like to meet.
Ready to get your evenings back?
Two minutes, eight taps, and you'll know exactly where your books stand, plus which plan fits.