Coeur d'Alene bookkeeper for small business.
I am Melody Gerlitz, the owner of Avenue Bookkeeping. Based in Spokane, Washington, I provide professional bookkeeping services to businesses in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, and Rathdrum.
With Coeur d'Alene just 33 miles from my Spokane base, I am a local partner for North Idaho business owners. Whether you are navigating seasonal tourism or managing a construction firm, I keep your records accurate and ready for your CPA.
Do you serve Coeur d'Alene businesses from Spokane?
Yes, I serve Coeur d'Alene and the surrounding Kootenai County area directly from my Spokane base. I also serve Spokane and Spokane Valley businesses on the Washington side. I work with Idaho businesses to maintain clean, organized financial records. By keeping your books up to date on a consistent monthly schedule, I ensure your financial statements are always ready to hand straight to your CPA, no matter where your business is located.
What's different about bookkeeping for an Idaho business vs. a Washington one?
Running a business in Idaho versus Washington changes how your books are organized for your CPA. While I handle the day-to-day record-keeping, the end-of-year package I prepare for your CPA depends on your state's specific tax structure.
Idaho Income Tax and Records
Idaho has a flat income tax on individuals and corporations of 5.3%, effective January 1, 2025. When I manage your books, I ensure your income and expenses are tracked so your CPA has the data needed for your Idaho state income-tax return. I keep your records clean and ready for the filings you manage through the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) portal.
Washington Excise and B&O
In Washington, there is no individual or corporate income tax. Instead, the state taxes businesses via B&O (a gross-receipts tax) and retail sales/use tax. My bookkeeping process for Washington clients focuses on tracking the figures required for these filings through the My DOR portal.
Operating Across State Lines
If your business operates in both states, I organize your records to clearly separate income and expenses for each jurisdiction. This prevents confusion at tax time, allowing your CPA to prepare accurate filings for both Idaho and Washington.
Supporting the local economy.
Kootenai County is home to 6,221 employer establishments, and I help these owners stay organized.
For tourism and retail businesses near Lake Coeur d'Alene, I track the seasonal swings in your revenue so you can plan for slower months. For the construction and real-estate sector in Post Falls, Hayden, and Rathdrum, I provide job costing and subcontractor payment tracking. If you are a remote professional, I handle the transaction categorization that keeps your digital records clean.
About Melody Gerlitz and Avenue Bookkeeping.
I spent over a decade managing restaurants and nearly a decade managing a dental office. After 20 years of handling the day-to-day operations for these businesses, I made it official and opened Avenue Bookkeeping.
I am QuickBooks® Online Certified — Level 1, QuickBooks® Online Certified — Level 2, and QuickBooks® Online Payroll Certified. As a solo bookkeeper, you work directly with me. My clients appreciate the personal attention, as noted by Joshua Jamerson: “Absolute rockstar. Incredible wealth of knowledge. The experience was effortless and stress-free.” I currently hold a 5.0 on Google with 18 reviews (as of July 2026).
What we offer CDA and North Idaho businesses.
Frequently asked questions.
How do you handle bookkeeping for a business that is behind on its records?
If you have a few months or a few years of backlog, I start with a Bookkeeping Cleanup. I assess the scope of the work needed and provide you with a clear quote before we begin. Once the cleanup is complete, we move to a consistent monthly schedule of bank and credit-card reconciliation, transaction categorization, and financial reporting.
What is the benefit of hiring a bookkeeper for my Idaho business?
My goal is to save you time by keeping your books clean and consistent. I provide monthly P&L and balance sheets that are built to hand straight to your CPA at tax time. I keep your records ready for both your CPA's income-tax preparation and the filings you submit through the Idaho State Tax Commission's TAP portal.
Do you offer services beyond basic bookkeeping?
I focus exclusively on core bookkeeping tasks. This includes QuickBooks® Online Setup, monthly bank and credit-card reconciliation, transaction categorization, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll services through QuickBooks® Online Payroll, and QuickBooks® App Integration. I do not provide tax preparation, CFO services, or financial forecasting. My focus is providing you with clear, accurate records.
Does your service area include towns outside of Coeur d'Alene?
Yes. My service area covers the broader North Idaho region, including Post Falls, Hayden, and Rathdrum, along with my Spokane base. Because I am located just 33 miles from Coeur d'Alene, I am readily available to assist businesses throughout the region with their monthly bookkeeping needs and record-keeping requirements.
Page last reviewed: July 19, 2026