Asking an accountant or bookkeeper to handle your business finances is a big deal.  This is one of the most confidential, private and important details of your business.  Here are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning how we operate and handle the financial health of your business.

Q: Why would we want to contract with you over someone else?

A: We provide a system specifically designed for each of our clients, with their needs, goals, education and company in mind.  Someone who is more number oriented with a service business requires a system vastly different from a retail seller with no desire to crunch numbers.  Our approach to each client is different as well.  There are no cookie cutters here.  The basic accounting procedures and principles are the same, however, clients are not.  Our mandate is "make it as easy as possible for a client to do business with us."  We go the extra mile, anticipate the question(s) and do anything we can to make life easier.  Finances tend to be complex but we don't think it should be mysterious.  Business owners need to know where their money is coming from and where it is going as well as how to get that information from their accountant or accounting system very quickly.

Q:  Who is your President and what experience does she bring to the table?

A:  Our President is Suzette Flemming.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Montana State University in Billings.  Her primary focus was Accounting with a minor in Speech Communication. She has put her degree and education to use since 1990.  Suzette started out teaching high school students accounting and speaking skills.  Then she put her skills to use in the business world.

After gathering several years of experience working for city governments, temporary agencies, private and non-profit organizations, Suzette started FBS to serve companies that didn't have an in-house CFO.  Since 1994, she has worked with a variety of companies including IT firms, service companies, e-tail, e-commerce, equine operations, construction firms, traditional retail and non-profit organizations.

Accounting and helping businesses thrive is Suzette’s passion.  She is constantly reading, learning and applying new concepts in the ever-changing atmosphere called the world of business.  That means she is up-to-date in the latest tax laws, technology and strategies for saving her clients money.

Q:  My financial data is highly sensitive, what type of security to you provide?

A: We use PGP and Verisign to encrypt sensitive emails.  Which means any email containing financial data is encrypted including instructions for sending invoices, login and password information and any emails with financial attachments.  If files are too large for email we have private, password protected pages on our web site that only you can access.  These pages are not indexed or accessible to anyone else.

Q. Is it difficult to do the type of work you do over long distances? If not, why not? 

A: Actually it is easier.  If a client has a question he/she sends a quick email, fax or phones us.  We like to touch base by telephone once a month or so.  Clients don't have to make time to gather their materials, get in the car, drive to our location and have an hour meeting.  Likewise, we are not driving around gathering materials from clients (although, we do this on occasion).  Time, energy and money are saved working via the internet.  We encourage each client to keep an envelope by their computer to place their receipts and statements in each month.  Then around the 20th or so we have them ship it to us.  Nothing needs to be organized or sorted in any fashion. Most items are self-explanatory and if not then we send an email or pick-up the phone.

Q: How do you overcome geography? 

A. Using the internet, telephone, fax and snail mail.  Most of the information we need is available from online sources.  After we sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) we obtain login and password information from the client either by telephone, fax or encrypted emails.  We can then download the information.

Q: Are there a lot of shipping expenses? 

A: We incur very little in shipping expenses because we get what we need online.  Affiliate checks, payments and invoices sent via snail mail are generally included in your monthly investment.

Q:  How do you handle preparing and remitting sales tax, payroll tax, etc. for clients?

A: For sales tax, payroll tax, etc. we complete the forms.  In many cases we also remit payment then add the amount to the client's next invoice.  Some clients' tax bills are too large for this method, so we calculate the tax, send a fax to get authorization, then pay the tax online using their credit card or EFT.  Or if the client prefers, we forward the completed forms and an addressed envelope to them for remittance to the proper agency.

Q:  What happens when an original signature is required? 

A: As an authorized agent of the clients, we can sign the necessary forms.  However, if an officer’s original signature is needed on a form, we complete everything, enclose a check and a stamped, addressed envelope to the client.  All that he/she needs to do is sign it, put it in the envelope and send it (we always keep a copy, of course). 

Q:  Do you process credit card payments for clients?

A: Several clients accept credit cards using Paypal.  For others we set-up merchant accounts connected to the client’s bank account and process online via Verisign or other portals such as your shopping cart or QuickBooks.  That means we do the processing and verifying of the credit cards.  No worries, no hassles.

Q:  What forms of payment do you accept?

A:  We like to make life as easy as possible.  Therefore, we accept credit card payments directly, personal and business checks and payments via Paypal.  Clients are invoiced on the 25th of the month and payments are due by the 1st of the month.  We offer a 2 percent discount for authorization to automatically charge a client’s credit card for ongoing projects.

Q:  How will my project fit in with all the other projects you have on your schedule?

A: That is a very good question.  We ask clients to pay for services in advance.  That allows us to put you on our calendar.  We schedule each client according to their needs (daily, weekly or monthly).  No one is overlooked or forgotten. 

Q: What advantages do you provide a client over someone that presently works with a CPA? 

A:  This is an excellent question.  We have an unlimited question policy that allows clients to call, email or fax an unlimited number of questions each month.  We also have a 24-hour response policy.  All questions are addressed within 24 hours.  Some concerns and issues may take a bit longer to resolve and we keep the client informed of our progress.  We are more flexible with the accounting services we provide.  We use several accounting programs that most CPAs (accountants and bookkeepers) don't use.  We keep current with Oracle Netledger, Quicken, PeachTree and QuickBooks.  We are business financial specialists.  As an added service to our clients, we also prepare personal tax returns and can advise you concerning other personal financial matters.