Frequently Asked Bookkeeping Questions
Hi, I'm Sarahy Tomas, founder of Gamaliel & Co. I bring 7+ years of experience in controller, HR, and general management roles to every client relationship. Below are answers to the questions I hear most often from business owners considering bookkeeping support.
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Yes. I work with small businesses nationwide. Because all bookkeeping is done remotely, your location doesn't affect the quality or responsiveness of the service.
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Yes — all bookkeeping work, including reconciliations, reporting, and QuickBooks Online management, is handled remotely. This means I can work with businesses anywhere in the country. Clients in our local service area also have the option to meet in person by appointment, though it's never required.
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Yes — I regularly help business owners clean up and correct books after a previous bookkeeper or accountant. This typically starts with the same initial review process: I assess the condition of your existing records, identify errors or inconsistencies, and determine the scope of corrections needed before recommending a plan.
Common issues I address include miscategorized transactions, unreconciled accounts, duplicate entries, and outdated or inaccurate chart of accounts structures.
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Getting started begins with an initial review of your records, accounts, and current systems — there's no need to clean anything up before reaching out. That review helps me determine:
the condition of the bookkeeping
the amount of catch-up work needed
and the best support structure for your business
Depending on what I find, cleanup and setup services may include:
historical bookkeeping cleanup
reconciliation corrections
catch-up bookkeeping
workflow organization
and chart of accounts restructuring
After the review, you'll receive a recommended service plan and a custom cleanup quote based on the complexity and condition of your records — so you know exactly what's involved before committing to anything.
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To get started, I typically ask for accountant-level access to your QuickBooks Online account — I never take ownership of the account, just the access needed to do the work. For bank and credit card activity, either read-only bank access or recent statements work equally well, whichever you're more comfortable providing. If you have prior financial reports or tax filings on hand, those are helpful too, though not required to begin — for your privacy, I ask that any Social Security, EIN, or ITIN numbers be redacted or hidden before sharing.
Once I have a clear picture of where things stand, I'll let you know if anything additional is needed.
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A bookkeeping cleanup addresses backlogged, inaccurate, or disorganized books to bring your records current and accurate. Ongoing bookkeeping is the regular monthly maintenance that keeps your books accurate going forward, usually starting after a cleanup is complete.
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Yes — Month-End Close Services ensure your books are reconciled, reviewed, and finalized every month so you have accurate, timely financial statements.
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I specialize in QuickBooks Online, including new account setup, cleanup of existing files, and ongoing monthly bookkeeping.
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I specialize in QuickBooks Online, and it's the platform I recommend for most clients. For the right fit — such as larger engagements or businesses with more complex needs — I'm also open to working within other accounting software. If you're using something other than QBO, reach out and I'll let you know if it's a good match.
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I work primarily with small businesses that need reliable, accurate books without hiring a full-time in-house bookkeeper.
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Pricing depends on your transaction volume, the complexity of your books, and the level of support you need, but most ongoing monthly bookkeeping starts around $350/month. After an initial review, I'll provide a custom quote so you know the exact cost before committing to anything.
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I bill ongoing services on a monthly retainer basis, with pricing determined by the level of support, transaction volume, operational complexity, and scope of services provided.
Additional projects, historical cleanup, urgent requests, or work outside the agreed scope may be billed separately as needed.
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Yes — you'll always have access to your financial data and reporting systems. I work directly within your existing software and platforms whenever possible, so you and your team can continue viewing financial information, reports, and operational activity in real time.
Visibility and transparency are core to how I work — you should always be able to see exactly where your books stand, not wait for a monthly report to find out.
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I send weekly check-ins to flag any transactions I need clarified — this way you're never scrambling to remember details at the end of the month. You'll also receive full monthly reporting, including your P&L, so you always have a clear picture of where things stand. I aim to respond to client communications within 1–2 business days, so you're never left wondering.
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I use secure, encrypted, cloud-based platforms like QuickBooks Online to manage your financial data, and I never store sensitive information outside of trusted, industry-standard software. For sharing files or documents — including tax records — I use SmartVault, a secure client portal built specifically for accounting and financial data, rather than email. Each client has their own private, encrypted vault, so your documents stay protected and access can be tracked or revoked at any time. Your information stays secure whether we're working together remotely or meeting in person.
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For security, I ask that documents — especially anything containing sensitive information like tax filings — be shared through SmartVault rather than email. I'll set up a private, encrypted vault for you, and you'll be able to upload and access your files there anytime. This keeps your information protected and gives both of us a clear record of what's been shared.
If you're ever unsure how to send something, just reach out and I'll walk you through it.