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Accounting Made Easy, Insights Made Extraordinary


Simplify Your Processes, Organize Your Financials, and Gain Insight into Your Business.

Let's Talk

Accounting Made Easy, Insights Made Extraordinary


Simplify Your Processes, Organize Your Financials, and Gain Insight into Your Business.

Let's Talk
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Why Use a Fractional Accounting Firm?

We’re a remote team of number-loving accounting experts who go beyond balancing books—we integrate into your business to drive real change.


What sets us apart:

  • Cost-effective, hands-on solutions that fit your needs
  • Integrated with your company culture for seamless collaboration
  • Strategic insight & financial expertise to fuel growth
  • Flexible, scalable support—FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), bookkeeper, and controller in one


Unlike traditional outsourced accounting, we become part of your operations, providing proactive guidance to help you build sustainable success.

"We know what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and we empower our team with the tools they need to support one."

Areas of Expertise


At First Steps Financial, we’re more than just accountants—we’re your partners in success.


Our fractional approach means we roll up our sleeves, adapt to your needs, and genuinely care about helping your business thrive. Whether you’re looking for strategic guidance, smoother processes, or day-to-day financial support, we’re here to craft solutions that fit your goals.

Let us take the financial stress off your plate, so you can focus on what you do best—growing your business.


Check out our services below to see how we can help.

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Accounting


For over a decade, First Steps Financial has been a trusted partner for reliable bookkeeping and accounting services.

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First Steps Financial delivers expert financial guidance to empower smarter decisions and drive business success.



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Providing tailored solutions, tracking results, and delivering professionalism with clear, transparent communication.



Why You Should Choose Us


We bring FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) expertise to help you take control of your financial future:



  • Gain better insights & control over your financials
  • Improve budgeting & forecasting for smarter decisions
  • Streamline bookkeeping & bill management to save time


  • Boost cash flow with strategic planning
  • Integrate seamlessly into your company culture as a hands-on partner
  • Drive real business growth with data-backed financial strategies


FP&A goes beyond bookkeeping—it’s about collecting and analyzing data, creating budgets, forecasting trends, and optimizing business performance to help you scale with confidence.

LET'S TALK

Trust the Process.


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Whether you’re scaling up, streamlining operations, or just want someone to handle the numbers so you can focus on your passion, we’re here for you. Take the first step toward financial clarity today.

Hover Over the Steps to Learn More

What Our Clients are Saying...


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First Steps has been a lifesaver. We very much appreciate what

you do and how you do it.


Hanan l.

Kingston Law Group

We very much appreciate your help and feel like you are a true

member of our team. We have included you on our holiday card,

and hope you like it!


Tara D.

TellMed Strategies

Thanks for the overview, Gena, and all your hard work wrapping

up the year-end! I cannot express how much we appreciate

everything you do for us! We could not manage without you.


Anna-Lisa Mackey

PATHS program LLC

Thank you! I get stressed about these things—I need to take a

deep breath and remind myself that we have the amazing

people at FSF taking care of us!!


The Bryant Group

Before we worked with FSF I was involved on a daily basis with

financials, and it was a massive chunk of my time. I am so grateful

for your work, Jodi! My silence is only me being hyper focused

on all the stuff I wanted to get to for all those years! Thank you

for all you do!'


Ruth Adams

Art Omi

Our Latest Insight


By Alisa McCabe March 21, 2025
As a small business owner, keeping your financials in order is crucial—especially when it’s time to file taxes. Many small business owners come to us for cleanup services because they realize their books don’t reflect their actual business activity. Without accurate financials, you’re flying blind when it comes to planning, decision-making, and tax compliance. Here’s how we help small businesses clean up their books and get back on track: Step 1: Assess the Situation Our first step is to review your books and identify: What looks incorrect: We spot errors like negative balances, uncategorized transactions, or inconsistencies. What needs to be cleaned up: Issues like unreconciled accounts or miscategorized expenses. How to improve going forward: Suggestions to ensure your books remain accurate and useful. Common Issues We See in Small Business Books Here are some of the most frequent problems we uncover: Uncategorized transactions: These don’t show up in your financial reports, leaving you with an incomplete picture of your business. Bank and credit card accounts not reconciled: Without reconciliation, you can’t trust the accuracy of your financials. Large balances in the undeposited funds account: Often caused by customer payments not applied to invoices, leading to double-recorded income. Negative balances on the balance sheet: This usually indicates recording errors, like misapplied payments or incomplete loan setup. Inconsistent expense categorization: For example, telephone bills recorded under different accounts, making it harder to compare year-over-year trends. Step 2: Clean and Reconcile Once we’ve assessed your books, we tackle the cleanup process step by step: Categorize all transactions in holding: Ensuring they appear in your financials. Reconcile every bank, credit card, and loan account: Without reconciliation, there’s no confidence that your numbers are accurate. Apply customer payments to invoices: This prevents double-counting income and ensures your sales figures are correct. Review accounts with large balances: For example- A large sales tax liability may indicate payments are being recorded as expenses instead of reducing the liability. A negative loan balance could mean the original loan wasn’t recorded properly. Check for consistent categorization: We run reports to ensure, for example, that all telephone bills are categorized under the same expense account. Step 3: Build Confidence in Your Financials After cleaning up the books, you’ll gain: Accurate financials: Confidence that your reports reflect reality. Insights into past trends: So you can make informed decisions about the future. Ready for filing taxes: Avoid overpaying taxes by ensuring income is recorded only once. For instance, if customer payments are recorded as new income instead of being applied to existing invoices, you’ll overstate your revenue—and could end up paying taxes on double what you actually earned! Step 4: Prevent Future Problems We don’t stop at cleanup. We provide training and tips to help you: Keep your books accurate moving forward. Spot and fix issues early before they become major problems. Why Accurate Books Matter Accurate financials allow you to plan for the future of your business. Whether it’s forecasting cash flow, preparing for growth, or filing taxes, clean books give you the clarity and confidence to make smart decisions. Ready to clean up your books and take control of your financials? We’re here to help! Reach out to get started. Written By: Diane Roberts
By Alisa McCabe March 7, 2025
Running a small business is no easy feat. From managing day-to-day operations to serving customers and planning for growth, the responsibilities can feel endless. One area where small business owners often struggle is keeping their finances in order—and that's where a QuickBooks ProAdvisor can make all the difference. If you want customized service find an accounting firm that specializes in QuickBooks Online. You will be supporting another business like yours while gaining insight from another business owner. A QuickBooks ProAdvisor is a certified expert in QuickBooks, trained to help small business owners maximize the software’s features while ensuring accurate and efficient bookkeeping. Here’s why partnering with a ProAdvisor can add immense value to your business. Expert Guidance You Can Trust QuickBooks ProAdvisors undergo rigorous training and testing to become certified. They are skilled in everything from basic bookkeeping to advanced accounting practices and can help you set up your QuickBooks account to suit your business needs. There are two levels of certification- Level 1 is basic and Level 2 is advanced. Whether you’re a startup just beginning to track your finances or an established company looking to optimize your accounting processes, a ProAdvisor ensures your system is tailored to your unique business model. They also stay up to date on software updates and new features, ensuring your business benefits from the latest tools and technologies. Saving You Time and Reducing Stress For many entrepreneurs, bookkeeping and financial management can quickly become overwhelming. Reconciling accounts, tracking expenses, and running payroll can eat up valuable time that could be better spent growing your business. A QuickBooks ProAdvisor takes these tasks off your plate, ensuring they’re done correctly and efficiently. They can also identify and correct errors that may otherwise lead to costly mistakes down the road, like unbalanced accounts or inaccurate tax filings. Maximizing QuickBooks Features QuickBooks is a powerful tool, but many business owners only scratch the surface of what it can do. A ProAdvisor can unlock its full potential for your business, including: Custom Reports: Gain deeper insights into your finances with tailored profit-and-loss or cash-flow statements. Job Costing: Track expenses for specific projects to ensure profitability. Automation: Set up workflows that save time, such as recurring invoices or payment reminders. By leveraging these advanced features, a ProAdvisor helps you make data-driven decisions that drive growth. Preparing for Tax Season and Audits One of the biggest stressors for small business owners is tax season. Ensuring your books are accurate and compliant with tax laws can be daunting, especially if you’ve fallen behind on your bookkeeping. A QuickBooks ProAdvisor helps you stay ahead of tax deadlines by keeping your financial records audit-ready year-round. They can work with your tax preparer or CPA to streamline the process, ensuring deductions are maximized and filings are accurate. Planning for Growth As your business grows, your accounting needs will evolve. A QuickBooks ProAdvisor can help you transition to more advanced features, such as multi-user setups or industry-specific tools. They can also provide strategic financial advice, helping you forecast cash flow, manage budgets, and plan for long-term success. Hiring a QuickBooks ProAdvisor is an investment in the health and future of your business. By providing expert guidance, saving you time, and optimizing your financial systems, a ProAdvisor helps you focus on what you do best: running and growing your business. If you’re ready to take control of your finances and unlock the full potential of QuickBooks, consider reaching out to a certified ProAdvisor today.
By Alisa McCabe February 24, 2025
For small business owners, the word "audit" can strike fear and uncertainty. However, with proper preparation and organization, audits can become a manageable process—one that can even uncover valuable insights into your business operations. Here's what to expect during an audit and how to ensure your books are always audit-ready. What to Expect During an Audit An audit is a detailed examination of your financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with tax laws, financial regulations, or internal policies. Here’s an overview of the process: Notification and Initial Request: You’ll receive a notice specifying the scope of the audit and a list of documents to provide, such as bank statements, receipts, and tax returns. Document Review: Auditors will examine your financial statements, expense records, payroll, and other relevant data. Interviews and Clarifications: Auditors may ask questions about specific transactions, policies, or discrepancies to gain a deeper understanding of your business practices. Findings and Recommendations: At the end of the audit, you’ll receive a report outlining findings, including any compliance issues or errors, along with recommendations for improvement. Audits can be conducted by external parties, such as the IRS, state agencies or financial institutions to assess processes and controls. How to Prepare for an Audit Proactive preparation can save time and reduce stress. Here’s how to ensure you're ready: Keep Accurate and Organized Records: Ensure all financial transactions are accurately recorded in your accounting software. Regularly reconcile bank statements, track receipts, and categorize expenses properly. Organized books are essential for quick retrieval of records and a sure sign that you are being proactive in keeping good financial records. Understand Compliance Requirements: Familiarize yourself with local, state, and federal regulations affecting your industry. Ensure you’re collecting and remitting the correct taxes, filing payroll reports, and following all applicable guidelines. Seek out professionals who are experts. Review Financial Statements Regularly: Conduct monthly or quarterly reviews of your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement to ensure accuracy. Correct discrepancies as soon as they arise to avoid compounding errors. This should be regularly done with your accounting team. Maintain a Digital Trail: Use cloud-based accounting software like QuickBooks Online to store and back up records digitally. This makes it easier to retrieve and share information during an audit. Establish Internal Controls: Implement checks and balances, such as separating duties for handling cash and recording transactions. This reduces the risk of errors or fraud that could trigger red flags during an audit. Seek Professional Guidance: Enlist the help of a professional accountant or bookkeeper to ensure your books are accurate and compliant. If you’re notified of an upcoming audit, consider hiring a CPA with audit experience to guide you through the process. Preparing for an audit doesn't have to be daunting. By staying organized, adopting best practices, and leveraging technology, you can ensure your business is audit-ready at any time. Regular maintenance of your books not only reduces stress but also positions your business for growth and success. When in doubt, seek the guidance of financial professionals to help you stay on track.
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Our Core Values:

Be Innovative | Be a Team Player | Be Kind | Take Ownership

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Let Us Tell You More:

Be Innovative | Be a Team Player | Be Kind | Take Ownership

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Our Mission:

Collaborating with entrepreneurs to create success, as they define it, and solve issues together

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Current Opportunities:

Accounting Support LI | Controller | CFO | Accounting Supervisor

Work With Us: Be Part of Something Great


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At First Steps Financial, we’re not just about helping small businesses succeed—we’re about building an amazing team, too! If you love numbers as much as we do and enjoy working with passionate people who make a difference, this is your chance to shine.

Our Business runs on EOS

We know what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and we empower our team with the tools they need to support one.

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