Frequently Asked Questions

Most bookkeeping firms record what happened and hand you a report. We do that too, but we do not stop there. We help you understand what your numbers are telling you, flag what needs attention, and support the decisions you are trying to make. You get accurate books and a team that is genuinely invested in where your business is going.

We work with established, service-based small businesses in the greater Seattle area that are ready to hand off their finances to a team they can trust. Our clients tend to fall into a few categories:

Health and medical practices — physical therapists, chiropractors, physicians, and other healthcare professionals who are experts in patient care and want their finances handled with the same level of expertise.

Business to business professional services — consultants, coaches, advisors, and other service-based professionals who want accurate books and a financial partner who understands how their business works.

Real estate professionals — agents and brokers who are always on the go and need consistent, reliable bookkeeping that keeps up with them.

What our best-fit clients have in common is this. They are established, they are good at what they do, and they have reached the point where managing their own finances is no longer the best use of their time. They want a trusted partner, not just a bookkeeper.

Every file goes through a structured, multi-step process designed to make sure nothing gets missed. Our bookkeeping staff handles transaction entry and reconciliations each month. Your dedicated account manager then reviews that work, manages any specialized tasks like compliance filings, and serves as your primary point of contact for all communication and questions.

The level of support you receive beyond that depends on your package. Foundation clients receive accurate, organized monthly financials and a responsive bookkeeping team. Advisory clients add compliance filings, payroll integration oversight, and faster access to their bookkeeping team. Partnership clients receive everything in Advisory plus proactive advisory support, cash flow analysis, and dedicated advisory sessions with their account manager.

Every package includes multiple sets of expert eyes on your books each month. You get clean, reliable financials not because one person is working hard, but because a structured team process is working consistently.

We use a structured review process, regular reconciliations, and industry-leading tools to keep your books accurate and up to date. You will receive clear financial reports every month so you always know where things stand, without having to manage any of it yourself.

More than most people realize. Inaccurate records, missed deadlines, and compliance issues are the obvious ones. But the quieter costs are often bigger. Not knowing your real cash position, missing early warning signs, or arriving at tax season without the information your CPA needs. Managing your own books also takes time and headspace that most business owners would rather spend elsewhere. It is rarely worth it.

We do not just hand you a report and move on. What that looks like in practice depends on your level of support.

All clients receive accurate monthly financials with a team that is available to answer questions as they come up. If something in your numbers needs attention, we flag it.

Advisory clients have faster access to their bookkeeping team and a dedicated account manager who can walk you through what your reports are showing and help you understand what needs attention.

Partnership clients receive the deepest level of engagement. Every quarter we sit down together in a dedicated advisory session to review your financials, talk through what the numbers are telling you, and work through any decisions or opportunities on your mind. Between sessions your account manager is monitoring your numbers proactively and will reach out if something warrants a conversation. You also have priority access and a guaranteed response time so your questions never sit unanswered for long.

The difference between packages is not just the volume of work we do. It is how actively involved we are in helping you understand and use your financial picture to move your business forward.

Yes, and that is what our advisory work is about. Whether you are thinking about expanding, managing cash flow through a slow season, planning a major investment, or just trying to understand where your business is headed, we help you look at the numbers clearly and make decisions you feel confident about. Our Partnership package is built specifically for clients who want this level of ongoing guidance.

You can access your financial information anytime, from anywhere. It integrates with the other tools you already use, keeps everything organized without manual record-keeping, and makes collaboration with your bookkeeper and CPA much easier. For most small business owners it is simply a better, less stressful way to manage their finances.

We take data security seriously. Gibson Bookkeeping is Accounting Data Security Standard (ADSS) certified, which means we follow the highest industry standards for protecting your financial information. We use secure systems, advanced encryption, and a written information security plan to make sure your data stays protected, confidential, and in the right hands.

We work exclusively with service-based businesses throughout the greater Seattle area, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Sammamish, Woodinville, Bothell, Kenmore, Mercer Island, Shoreline, and Edmonds.