Outsourced bookkeeping services in Spokane, WA — clarity for your business.
You're staring at a pile of receipts at 9:00 PM, or perhaps your bank feeds have been stagnant for months. You know your books need attention, but you also know that hiring a full-time, in-house employee isn't the right move for your current budget or your actual workload. You need the expertise of a professional without the administrative overhead of a new staff member.
Outsourced bookkeeping is the modern answer for businesses that have outgrown manual tracking but don't require a full-time, on-site hire. By partnering with a solo practice like Avenue Bookkeeping, you gain a dedicated professional who manages your financial records. This approach allows you to regain your evenings and focus on running your business, knowing your books are in order.
What is outsourced bookkeeping?
Outsourced bookkeeping is the practice of contracting an experienced specialist to manage your company's financial records remotely. Instead of hiring a full-time employee to handle manual data entry, you partner with a professional who uses specialized software to categorize your transactions, manage accounts, and prepare your financial statements. You pay only for the bookkeeping scope and hours your business actually requires, keeping your overhead low while ensuring your records remain accurate and up-to-date.
What is included in outsourced bookkeeping services?
When you outsource your bookkeeping to Avenue Bookkeeping, you are not working with an anonymous offshore team or rotating staff. Every account is handled personally by owner Melody Gerlitz. Her work is recognized by Intuit as a QuickBooks® Online Certified — Level 1, QuickBooks® Online Certified — Level 2, and QuickBooks® Online Payroll Certified specialist. Our full services catalog includes:
QuickBooks® Online Setup
A QuickBooks® Online file arranged around the records and reporting needs of your business.
Monthly Bookkeeping
The core of our work. This includes monthly bank and credit-card reconciliation, diligent transaction categorization, and the delivery of a P&L statement plus balance sheet on a consistent schedule.
Financial Statements
These are built to hand straight to your CPA at tax time. Avenue manages the bookkeeping side so your CPA can efficiently handle your tax returns and tax advice.
Accounts Payable
Vendor bill tracking, payment scheduling, and clear AP reporting.
Accounts Receivable
Invoicing, aging review, and follow-up on outstanding payments.
Payroll Services
Payroll through QuickBooks® Online Payroll — direct deposit, tax payments, quarterly filings; standalone or paired with monthly bookkeeping.
Bookkeeping Cleanup
Whether it's a few months or a few years, we catch you up. We assess scope first and quote before starting.
QuickBooks® App Integration
Integration planning for a clear approach to how information from other systems moves into your books.
Outsourced bookkeeping vs. hiring in-house — which makes sense?
Deciding between an outsourced specialist and an in-house hire is a common crossroads for small business owners.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is $49,210 per year, or $23.66 per hour (May 2024 data). Note that this is the salary before employer taxes and benefits are factored in. When you hire an in-house employee, you are committing to a full-time role and all associated costs. Outsourcing allows you to pay only for the specific scope and hours your books actually need, which is a more sustainable model for growing businesses.
Furthermore, the nature of the role is changing. The BLS projects that employment of bookkeeping clerks will decline 6% from 2024 to 2034 as software automates routine data entry. This is a positive shift; the modern answer for your business is the right software combined with an experienced specialist, rather than a full-time, data-entry hire.
However, in-house support remains the better choice for businesses with significant, daily on-site transaction volume that genuinely fills a full-time, 40-hour-a-week role. If your needs are less than that, outsourcing is the most efficient path to financial organization.
Who controls the books when you outsource?
A common fear is that outsourcing means surrendering control of your financial data. That is not the case. Per Intuit, in QuickBooks Online, a business simply invites its bookkeeper to the company file. You maintain full ownership, and you can remove that access at any time.
When you work with Avenue Bookkeeping, you aren't just using the platform; you are working with a named practitioner. You always know exactly who is in your books: Melody Gerlitz. With her three certifications and background in managing dental and restaurant operations, you have a partner who understands the day-to-day pressure of running a local business in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Coeur d'Alene, or the Post Falls area.
When is the right time to reach out?
If you find that your evenings are being eaten up by transaction categorization, or you've realized your books are months behind, it is time for a change. You don't have to tackle this alone, even if you are feeling overwhelmed.
“Takes the time to get to know the business. Isn't afraid to ask the tough questions.”
Kristy Lynn — Google review
Avenue holds a 5.0 rating on Google.
Avenue has helped many clients navigate difficult backlogs. As Melody puts it: “One client called me on April 1st with two years of backlogged books and a tax deadline breathing down his neck. I worked through Easter weekend and had his books clean within a week and a half.”
Avenue delivers these services remotely through QuickBooks Online; to understand how this works day-to-day, visit our virtual bookkeeping page.
FAQ
How much does outsourced bookkeeping cost?
We do not have a set hourly rate or pre-packaged price list because every business has different needs. During our initial consultation, we assess your unique scope and provide a firm quote before starting any work. This ensures you know exactly what the investment is before we begin.
Do I lose access to my own books if I outsource?
No. In QuickBooks Online, you invite us to access your company file. You remain the owner of the account at all times. Per Intuit, this means the bookkeeper works inside your own account, and you retain the ability to remove that access at any time. Your data stays in your account, under your control.
What is included in my monthly bookkeeping service?
Our monthly service is designed to keep you organized throughout the year. It includes comprehensive bank and credit-card reconciliation, careful transaction categorization, and the delivery of a P&L and balance sheet on a consistent schedule. These statements are prepared to be handed directly to your CPA, making your tax season significantly smoother and less stressful.
Is outsourced bookkeeping right for very small businesses?
Yes. Outsourced financial services are a mainstream, established industry. In fact, 23% of U.S. accountants and auditors work in the “accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services” industry, according to the BLS. Outsourcing is often the ideal solution for very small businesses because it provides access to professional-level bookkeeping without the expense of a full-time employee.
How do I get started, and how fast can you help?
Getting started is simple. Contact us to schedule a Free Consultation. We will discuss your current situation and goals. If you are behind on your books, don't worry — that is common. As with the client Melody helped catch up in a week and a half, we assess your scope first and move quickly to get you back on track.