Frequently Asked Questions About Outsourced Accounting
Common questions about outsourced CFO, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and non-profit services. Can’t find what you need? Start a Conversation with our team.
We get a lot of questions from business owners and non-profit leaders who are considering outsourced accounting for the first time. This page answers the ones we hear most often, organized by topic so you can find what you need quickly.
About Outsourced Accounting
Outsourced accounting is a team-based model where you get access to multiple specialists instead of relying on a single hire. When you work with Rock Solid Financials, your engagement includes a dedicated senior bookkeeper, a controller for quality review, and CFO-level oversight. That means built-in backup, multi-level accuracy checks, and a broader range of expertise than any one person can provide.
With an in-house accountant, you are paying one full-time salary plus benefits, payroll taxes, software licenses, and ongoing training. If that person leaves, you start from scratch. With an outsourced team, the work never stops because the depth is already built in. Most of our clients find the outsourced model costs 30 to 50 percent less than a comparable in-house setup while delivering a higher standard of output.
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Remote accounting works securely through a combination of cloud-based tools, encrypted communications, and strict access controls. At Rock Solid Financials, all client work is performed in QuickBooks Online with role-based user permissions, meaning each team member only accesses the data relevant to their function.
We use cloud-based document management with encrypted file sharing for sensitive items like bank statements and tax documents. Multi-factor authentication is required on all accounts. Every client portal is password-protected and access is logged. In practice, a cloud-based accounting environment with proper controls is significantly more secure than a filing cabinet full of paper statements or a local hard drive without backup. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest, backed up automatically, and accessible only to authorized team members.
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We use QuickBooks Online as our primary accounting platform. QuickBooks Online is cloud-based, which means you can access your financials in real time from anywhere with an internet connection. It also integrates with hundreds of business tools, including payment processors, point-of-sale systems, payroll platforms, and bank feeds.
If you are currently on a different platform (QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Sage, or spreadsheets), we handle the full migration as part of our onboarding process. That includes chart of accounts setup, historical data transfer, and integration configuration. You do not need to be a QuickBooks expert. We manage the software so you can focus on the results.
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Pricing and Cost
Outsourced CFO services typically range from $3,000 to $10,000 per month, depending on the complexity of your business, transaction volume, service level, and industry-specific requirements. Several factors influence where you fall within that range: number of entities, reporting complexity, frequency of advisory meetings, and whether you need specialized deliverables like financial modeling or board-ready presentations.
For perspective, a full-time CFO commands a salary of $150,000 to $300,000 or more per year, plus benefits, bonuses, and equity. A fractional CFO engagement gives you the same strategic leadership at a fraction of that cost. At Rock Solid Financials, every CFO engagement is backed by our full 23-person accounting team, so you also get the execution layer that makes the strategy actionable. We provide custom quotes based on your specific needs after an initial discovery conversation.
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Most businesses benefit from a fractional CFO once they cross the $1 million revenue mark, though the real trigger is complexity rather than a specific dollar amount. You likely need CFO-level support if you manage multiple entities, carry significant debt, are planning for growth or acquisition, need board-ready financial reporting, or are preparing for an eventual exit.
The simplest test is this: if your financial decisions have outgrown gut feel and a basic profit and loss statement, a fractional CFO brings the strategic layer you are missing. Common inflection points include hiring beyond 15 to 20 employees, opening a second location, pursuing outside funding, or entering a new market. You do not need to be a large corporation to benefit. Many of our clients are owner-operated businesses between $1M and $30M in revenue.
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Services and Scope
Outsourced bookkeeping services cover the day-to-day financial recordkeeping that forms the foundation of accurate accounting. At Rock Solid Financials, our bookkeeping engagements include transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliation, accounts payable and accounts receivable management, general ledger maintenance, and month-end preparation.
Think of bookkeeping as the foundation layer. Every transaction gets coded, categorized, and reconciled so your books are always clean and current. This work feeds directly into the accounting and reporting layers above it. Unlike a solo bookkeeper, our team includes a built-in review process where a senior team member checks every set of books before they move to the next stage. Clean bookkeeping is what makes everything else possible: accurate financial statements, reliable management reports, and stress-free tax preparation.
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A controller is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of your financial reporting. Controllers manage month-end close, ensure your financial statements are correct, maintain compliance with accounting standards, and oversee the bookkeeping team. Their focus is making sure the numbers are right.
A fractional CFO is responsible for strategic financial leadership. CFOs use those accurate numbers to build forecasts, create budgets, develop KPI dashboards, advise on cash flow, plan for growth, and prepare for major transactions like an exit or acquisition. Their focus is making sure you are using the numbers to make better decisions.
At Rock Solid Financials, we provide both roles within a single engagement. Your controller ensures the reporting is airtight, and your fractional CFO turns that reporting into actionable strategy. You do not have to choose one or the other.
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Yes, we offer tax preparation as a complementary service for our accounting clients. Tax prep represents about 2 percent of our total revenue because we are not a standalone tax shop. We are an accounting firm that happens to prepare taxes, and that distinction matters.
When your books are clean year-round, tax season becomes a non-event. There is no scramble to organize receipts, reconcile accounts, or reconstruct a year of transactions in January. Our team prepares your returns using the same data we manage every month, which means fewer surprises and faster filing. We also coordinate directly with your CPA or tax advisor if you prefer to use an outside preparer. Either way, the year-round accuracy of your books is what makes tax time simple.
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Outsourced payroll integration means your payroll and your accounting are managed by the same team, in the same system, with no gaps between the two. At Rock Solid Financials, payroll data flows directly into your general ledger without manual re-entry or third-party handoffs. That eliminates the reconciliation issues that plague businesses using separate providers for payroll and accounting.
When one team handles both functions, payroll liabilities, tax withholdings, benefits accruals, and wage expenses are recorded accurately and automatically. There is no waiting for a payroll report to arrive before you can close the month. No discrepancies between what the payroll provider reported and what your books show. It is a single source of truth for every dollar tied to your workforce.
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Non-Profit Accounting
Rock Solid Financials provides audit readiness and support, not the audit itself. Independent audits must be performed by a licensed CPA firm, and we work alongside your auditor to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Our audit support includes preparing complete workpapers, organizing supporting documentation, responding to auditor inquiries, acting as your liaison during fieldwork, and remediating any deficiencies identified in prior audits. We also handle Form 990 preparation and provide support for single audits required under the Uniform Guidance for organizations receiving federal funding. Non-profits that work with us consistently report shorter audit timelines and fewer auditor adjustments because the books are clean and the documentation is organized before the auditor walks in the door.
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We specialize in six primary industries: professional services, medical start-ups, family-owned businesses, distribution companies, trucking companies, and non-profit organizations. Our client base spans the entire United States, and we serve organizations ranging from early-stage companies to established businesses with $30M or more in annual revenue.
Each industry comes with its own accounting complexities.
- Professional services firms need project-level profitability tracking, clean revenue recognition, and financial infrastructure that scales with the business.
- Medical start-ups require careful cash flow management during the pre-revenue phase.
- Family-owned businesses often need succession planning and clean separation of personal and business finances.
- Distribution companies require inventory accounting and cost of goods sold tracking.
- Trucking companies deal with fleet cost accounting, equipment depreciation, and fuel expense management across operations.
- Non-profits need fund accounting, grant tracking, and Form 990 support.
Our team has deep experience in all of these areas.
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Related Services
Looking for more detail on a specific service or topic? These pages cover the areas our clients ask about most.
Outsourced CFO and Accounting Services
A complete overview of our full-service accounting and advisory model.
About Rock Solid Financials
Learn about our team, our leadership, and the approach that sets us apart.
Pricing
Transparent information about how our engagements are structured and what to expect.
Who We Serve
Details on the industries and organization types we specialize in.