This page answers the questions owners ask us most, in plain words. If yours isn't here, call (804) 391-4002 or request a consultation and ask us directly. We'd rather you ask than guess.
Price
How much does ABFI cost?
Monthly plans start at $850. There are four starting points, depending on how much of the accounting work you want us to own [1]:
| Plan | Starts at | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Core Accounting | $850 / month | Bookkeeping, reconciliations, a locked monthly close, P&L and balance sheet, CPA-ready records |
| Managed Accounting | $1,250 / month | Core, plus payroll coordination, bills and invoices follow-up, stronger review of each close |
| Integrated Accounting | $1,850 / month | Managed, plus controller review, job, client or location reporting, multi-entity coordination |
| Fractional Department | $2,750 / month | Integrated, plus budgets, cash forecasts and planning calls |
These are starting points, not quotes. Your actual fee is set in a written engagement agreement after we review your business.
What changes the price?
The amount of work your books really take: how many transactions and accounts you have, how complex your industry is (job costing, inventory, several entities), how current you need the numbers to be, and how much oversight and advice you want. The pricing estimator asks four questions and shows you a planning range on screen.
Do you bill hourly?
No. Monthly work is a flat monthly fee, set in your engagement agreement. You won't get a surprise invoice because you sent us an email.
Is cleaning up old books included?
No. If your books are behind or messy, the catch-up or cleanup is quoted separately as a one-time project after we review them [1]. See clean-up and catch-up, and if you're a year behind, our guide to catching up on 12 months of bookkeeping explains what's involved.
Why isn't ABFI the cheapest option?
Because we're built to be your accounting department, not an app. There are good lower-cost services that categorize transactions and send reports. ABFI adds a monthly close that gets reviewed before you see it, one person accountable for the whole system, and a clean handoff to your CPA. If you mostly need categorizing, a lower-cost service may suit you better, and we'll tell you so. Our guide to doing it yourself in QuickBooks vs hiring a service can help you decide.
What's included
What happens each month?
Bookkeeping and reconciliations are kept current, every bank and card account is reconciled, the month is closed and locked, a reviewer checks the close, and you get your financial reports with the questions that matter answered. The exact cadence and reports are set in your engagement agreement. How We Work explains the structure.
What does "closed and locked" mean?
Once a month has been reconciled and reviewed, we lock it in your accounting software so nobody changes it by accident. The numbers you used to make a decision stay the numbers.
What reports will I get?
At minimum, a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet every month. Depending on your plan and industry, that can grow to include job, client or location profitability, cash forecasts and budget vs actual. See controller services and fractional CFO.
Who will I work with?
ABFI is built around a Client Accounting Manager who owns your account and coordinates the work, with bookkeeping, controller review and CFO advisory behind them. One point of accountability, so you stop being the person who connects everyone. How We Work shows how it fits together.
Do you do payroll?
We coordinate payroll and keep payroll records straight in your books, from the Managed plan up. See bookkeeping and payroll.
What ABFI doesn't do
Do you file taxes?
No. ABFI does not prepare or file tax returns. We keep your books clean and closed all year, then hand your CPA an organized, reconciled file so they can do their part faster. See CPA coordination.
Are you a CPA firm?
No. We're an outsourced accounting department. You keep (or choose) your own independent CPA for tax work. Not sure who does what? Read bookkeeper vs accountant.
Do you have an office I can visit?
We work remotely with businesses across the US. Meetings happen by video or phone.
Switching to ABFI
How do I switch from my current bookkeeper?
We agree a switch date, get access to your systems (with our own logins, never yours), take over from the last month your current bookkeeper finished, and check their last reconciliations before we build on them. Our guide to switching bookkeepers mid-year covers the handover in detail.
I'm using Bench, QuickBooks Live or another online service. Can I switch?
Yes. We'll need your books exported or your QuickBooks file shared, plus your bank and card statements. Our pages on Bench alternatives and QuickBooks Live alternatives explain what to gather.
How long does onboarding take?
It depends on how current and clean your books are. If they're up to date, onboarding is mostly access and setup. If they need a catch-up first, that's scoped as its own project. We'll give you a timeline after we review your books.
Can you start mid-year?
Yes. Mid-year is fine. We reconcile through the switch date first so the year stays continuous.
Software and access
Which accounting software do you use?
QuickBooks Online is our main system. If you use something else, tell us on the call and we'll say plainly whether it's a fit or whether a move makes sense.
Do you need my bank password?
No, and you shouldn't give it to anyone. We use accountant user invitations, view-only bank access or bank feeds, and a secure document folder. See how to give your bookkeeper access safely.
Who sees my financial data?
Only the ABFI team working on your account. Our privacy policy explains how data is handled.
Who owns my books and records?
You do. When services end, we return or give you access to the records we hold for you, as set out in your engagement agreement [2].
Industries and locations
Which industries do you work with?
ABFI has dedicated playbooks for startups, agencies and consultancies, recruiting and staffing, contractors and trades, e-commerce, and multi-entity businesses. See industries. If your industry isn't listed, ask. We'll be honest about fit.
Which states do you work in?
We work with businesses across the US, remotely.
The complimentary Diagnostic
What is the Business Accounting Diagnostic?
A review of how reliable your books and accounting setup are, with what's working, what isn't and what to fix first. It's complimentary for qualifying businesses, offered at ABFI's discretion. You can see a sample report for your industry on the industries page.
Is there a quicker check?
Yes. The books checkup asks six questions about how much you trust your numbers and takes a couple of minutes.
Contracts and cancellation
Is there a contract?
Yes. Every engagement has a written agreement that sets the scope, fee, responsibilities and terms. If anything on the website differs from your signed agreement, the agreement wins [2].
How do I cancel?
Give written notice to info@ABFIAccounting.com, following the notice period and any minimum term in your engagement agreement [2].
Do you give refunds?
Fees for work already done are generally not refundable, and billing errors are always corrected and refunded. The full rules are in our refund and cancellation policy [2].
Sources
- ABFI Accounting, Pricing, www.abfiaccounting.com/pricing. Checked November 6, 2026.
- ABFI Accounting, Refund and Cancellation Policy, www.abfiaccounting.com/refund-policy. Checked November 6, 2026.
- ABFI Accounting, How We Work, www.abfiaccounting.com/how-we-work. Checked November 6, 2026.
Still have a question?
Talk with ABFI about your books. Bring your questions and your messiest account, and we'll help work out which approach fits.