Ann Arbor CPAsEst. 2016
Accounting in
plain English.
Proactive tax planning, monthly books you can actually read, and a firm that answers the phone. Small-business accounting for owners who would rather understand their numbers than dread them.
- Monthly bookkeepingReconciled
- Tax planningYear-round
- Your returnsFiled on time
- A real personAnswers
What we do
Four services, handled as one relationship.
- 01Business Tax Planning & PreparationYear-round tax strategy and clean, on-time returns for small businesses. We plan ahead so April is a formality, not a scramble.
- 02Bookkeeping & Monthly AccountingClean books, closed monthly, that actually tell you something. Financials you can read, reconciled and delivered on a schedule you can count on.
- 03Personal TaxIndividual and family returns handled with the same care as the business, especially where the two are tied together.
- 04Advisory & Fractional CFOA financial thinking partner between the milestones. Cash flow, pricing, hiring, and the numbers behind the decisions you are weighing.
Why owners stay
“An accountant who only appears in April is one you are overpaying to be late.”The Marlowe & Voss view
Plain English, always
Numbers only help if you understand them. We explain every recommendation in words you can repeat to a partner or a spouse, and we treat a good explanation as part of the job, not a favor.
Proactive, not reactive
The value is in the planning that happens before the deadline. We look ahead on purpose, so the return is a formality and the surprises are rare. An accountant who only appears in April is an accountant you are overpaying to be late.
Fixed monthly pricing
For ongoing business clients, one agreed monthly price covers the relationship. No clock, no invoice anxiety, no hesitation to pick up the phone because it might cost you. Predictable pricing makes for a better conversation.
We answer the phone
Responsiveness is the feature. When you reach out, you get a prompt, human answer from someone who knows your file. It is the simplest promise we make and the one clients mention most.
How it works
A calm, predictable way to work together.
A conversation first
We start by understanding your business and what you actually need, not by pushing a package. We look at where your books stand, what your tax picture looks like, and where a proactive accountant would earn their keep. You leave the first meeting with a clear read on your situation, whether or not we work together.
A plan and a fixed price
We propose a scope that fits, from monthly bookkeeping through year-round planning, and we put a fixed monthly price on it before anything begins. No meter, no surprise invoices. You approve the plan and the price together, so the relationship starts on clear terms.
Clean books, on a rhythm
We get your books current and accurate, then close them on a schedule you can count on. Every month you get financial statements you can read, reconciled and on time, so you are never guessing about where the business stands.
Planning between the deadlines
The real work happens in the quiet months. We meet to look ahead, adjust estimates, weigh decisions, and keep the tax picture from ever becoming a scramble. By the time a deadline arrives, the answer is already prepared.
Common questions
The things owners ask first.
How does your pricing work?
For ongoing business clients we work on fixed monthly pricing, agreed before we begin, so you know what you are paying and we are not watching a clock. That covers your bookkeeping, your planning conversations, and your returns as one relationship rather than a series of surprise invoices. For one-time or individual work we quote a flat fee up front. You will always know the cost before we start.
Do you actually answer the phone?
Yes. It sounds like a low bar, and it is exactly why we mention it. When you call during business hours you reach a person, and when you email you hear back promptly, in plain language, from someone who knows your file. A responsive accountant is not a luxury feature. It is the whole point of having one.
We are behind on our books. Is that a problem?
Not for us, and more common than you think. A cleanup engagement is a normal first step: we get your books current and accurate, agree on a monthly rhythm going forward, and make sure the tax picture is built on numbers you can trust. Being behind is a starting point, not a source of judgment.
What kind of businesses do you work with?
Established small businesses and their owners, mostly in and around Ann Arbor: professional practices, agencies, trades, shops, and service firms. The common thread is an owner who wants a proactive accountant they can talk to, not just a return filed once a year. If you are outgrowing a purely seasonal relationship, that is usually the right moment to talk.
Can you work with our existing bookkeeping software?
In almost all cases, yes. We work in the common cloud accounting platforms and are comfortable stepping into a system you already use. If your setup is holding you back, we will say so and help you move, but we are not in the business of forcing a migration you do not need.
When is the best time to start working together?
Sooner than most people think. The value of a proactive accountant comes from the planning that happens between the deadlines, so the earlier in the year we start, the more we can do. That said, there is no wrong time to get your books in order and your plan in place, and we regularly begin relationships mid-year.
Begin here
Let us make the numbers make sense.
Start with a plain conversation about your business. We will tell you where a proactive accountant would earn their keep, and quote a fixed price before any work begins.
Or call(734) 555-0126