Frequently Asked Questions

Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording and organizing of financial transactions — income, expenses, reconciliation. Accounting builds on that for taxes and strategic decisions. Pay Flow handles the bookkeeping; your CPA handles taxes. Clean books from us makes their job easier and less expensive.

No. Every setup includes hands-on training so you can understand your reports, code basic expenses, and know where your business stands financially — without needing an accounting degree.

Just book a free 30-minute consultation. From there we typically need access to your accounting software (or we set one up), recent bank and credit card statements, and payroll details if you have employees. We walk you through everything — no preparation required.

No. Pay Flow is a bookkeeping and QuickBooks setup practice. For tax filing and legal questions, work with your CPA or attorney — we keep your books clean and organized so that work is easier and less costly.

Based in Brentwood, CA, serving Antioch, Oakley, Pittsburg, Concord, and the greater East Bay. Everything can be handled virtually through QuickBooks Online, secure file sharing, and video calls — so location is never a barrier.

Pay Flow offers flat-rate monthly packages — Bronze (essential bookkeeping), Silver (bookkeeping plus payroll), and Gold (full-service with job costing and advisory) — priced by your transaction volume and needs. QuickBooks cleanup projects start at $500 and contractor setup packages start at $950. Compare packages or book a free consultation for an exact quote.

Yes. Catch-up and cleanup work is a core service: we reconcile accounts, recategorize transactions, and get your QuickBooks file accurate and audit-ready. Cleanup projects start at $500 depending on how far behind the books are. See QuickBooks services.

No. We work with most major accounting software and will keep you on what you're already using if you'd rather not switch. If you're not on anything yet, we'll set up QuickBooks for you the right way from day one.

Yes — full payroll setup and processing, payroll tax calculations and filings, new hire onboarding, workers' comp coordination, and EDD account setup for California businesses. See payroll services.

Yes — and it's a specialty. Job costing, certified payroll, prevailing wage, and CSLB new contractor setup are services most bookkeepers don't offer. See contractor services.

Start with a financial foundation built for construction: QuickBooks configured for job costing, payroll set up for certified payroll and prevailing wage if you plan to bid public works, and your EDD and workers' comp accounts done correctly. Pay Flow offers flat-rate new contractor setup packages starting at $950 that cover all of this.