Questions, answered plainly
Know what to expect before the work begins.
Clear expectations are part of good service. These answers cover the starting process, core services, remote delivery, firm status, pricing approach, and the work we do not provide.
Frequently asked
Getting started
What happens during the first consultation?
The complimentary fit call is 15 focused minutes. We confirm whether the business and books match our service model, identify the likely starting point, and explain what is needed for a fixed scope. If the file itself must be reviewed, we may recommend the separate $295 Books Health Check.
Do I need to prepare the books before calling?
No. Bring a straightforward description of what feels behind, unclear, or urgent. If a file review is needed before a proposal, we will explain the limited access and records required.
How is pricing determined?
Monthly Close starts at $425 per month and Close + Control starts at $725 per month. Clean-file onboarding is one monthly fee with a $750 minimum. Cleanup starts at $350 per open month with a $1,050 minimum. The signed engagement states the exact scope and fee.
Frequently asked
Bookkeeping and QuickBooks
Can you help if my books are months behind?
Yes. Catch-up and cleanup are core services. We assess the affected months and accounts, identify the available source records, and propose a defined path back to current books.
What is included in monthly bookkeeping?
The exact scope is written for the business. It commonly includes organizing transactions, reconciling agreed accounts, resolving open questions, and preparing a monthly reporting package.
Can you help with a confusing QuickBooks file?
Yes. We focus on bookkeeping structure, workflow, cleanup, and useful reporting. We do not provide every type of general software or device technical support.
Do you provide payroll or sales-tax services?
No. We do not provide payroll or sales-tax services. Reports from the providers handling those responsibilities may still be needed for bookkeeping or tax-preparation work.
Frequently asked
Tax preparation and advisory
What is the difference between tax readiness and preparation?
Readiness is the bookkeeping and document work needed to create a reliable starting point. Preparation uses those records and the applicable facts to prepare the return within the agreed engagement.
Do you guarantee a refund, tax savings, or a business result?
No. Results depend on the law, the facts, future events, and operating decisions. We organize the work, explain the available information, and avoid unsupported guarantees.
Is advisory useful if my books are behind?
The first advisory recommendation may be to repair the information. Decisions based on incomplete or unreliable reports can create false confidence, so cleanup may need to happen before deeper analysis.
Frequently asked
Location and firm status
Where are you located?
McDermott, Cruzet & Co., Tax Advisors is a Florida-based remote practice. Through ATL Bookkeeper, we serve businesses throughout greater Atlanta remotely and do not maintain a Georgia office.
Is ATL Bookkeeper a CPA firm?
No. ATL Bookkeeper and McDermott, Cruzet & Co., Tax Advisors are not CPA firms. An individual professional’s credential belongs to that individual and does not change the firm’s status.
How do remote engagements work?
Consultation, agreed access, document exchange, bookkeeping work, questions, and report discussions are handled remotely. The exact workflow is explained before the engagement begins.
Your next step
Your books are specific. Your first conversation should be too.
Use the fit check and focused call to explain the current situation. We will confirm fit, recommend a next step, and explain what is needed for a fixed scope.