Back to top

Business Services

Shawn M. Williams, CPA, LLC provides a wide range of services to individuals and businesses in a variety of industries. At Shawn M. Williams, CPA, LLC, we strive to meet each client's specific needs in planning for the future and achieving their goals in an ever-changing financial and regulatory environment. Our professional services include:


Part Time CFO

Are you a business owner who is:
  • Frustrated by the time you are spending with your accounting?
  • Concerned about the lack of information you have about your business?
  • Uncertain where your business is headed?
  • Nervous about the financial health of your business?
  • Struggling to generate enough cash to take advantage of opportunities?
  • Grappling with financial issues?

If any of the above applies to you, we can help! We offer a comprehensive financial management solution. Our services go beyond compliance and transactional accounting work. We help our clients plan for the future, manage overall business performance, and achieve their growth and profitability goals. In addition, our pricing is significantly less then the cost of employing a CFO or Controller. Clients only pay for the amount of time they need, so they receive our entire team of professionals for a fraction of the cost!

Small Business Accounting

Click here to learn more about Accounting CS Client Access.

As a small business owner you have more important things to do than to keep your own books. We take care of your books for you, so you can get back to the job of running your business and generating profits!

Each month or quarter we'll do the following things for you...

  • Reconcile your bank account
  • Generate an income statement
  • Generate a balance sheet
  • Clean up your general ledger
  • Provide unlimited consultations

These tasks form the solid foundation of your small business accounting system. You can customize the package of services you receive by adding payroll, tax planning, tax preparation, or any of our other services.

Bank Reconciliation

Reconciling your business checking account each month allows us to keep your bank account and financial reports up to date.

Having us reconcile your account each month allows you to...

  • Identify lost checks, lost deposits and unauthorized wire transactions.
  • Detect and prevent excess/unjustified bank charges and ensures transactions are posted correctly by your bank.
  • Detect and prevent embezzlement of funds from within your company.
  • Know how your business is doing. You can't really know unless all accounts are reconciled and properly accounted for on your financial statement.
  • Manage your cash more effectively. Proper management of funds not only saves money; it makes money for you.
  • Protect yourself. By timely reconciling and promptly objecting to your bank about any unauthorized, fraudulent or forged checks presented to your bank and paid by that bank, you can relieve your agency of responsibility for the shortfall and transfer the risk to the bank. This reason to reconcile alone should be enough. Crime exists.
  • Sleep Better. You will sleep more peacefully at night knowing your bank accounts are reconciled, in balance and that all escrow funds, accounts, checks and disbursed funds are properly accounted for.

Income Statement

An income statement, otherwise known as a profit and loss statement, basically adds an itemized list of all your revenues and subtracts an itemized list of all your expenses to come up with a profit or loss for the period.

An income statement allows you to...

  • Track revenues and expenses so that you can determine the operating performance of your business.
  • Determine what areas of your business are over-budget or under-budget.
  • Identify specific items that are causing unexpected expenditures.
  • Track dramatic increases in product returns or cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales.
  • Determine your income tax liability.

Balance Sheet

A balance sheet gives you a snapshot of your business' financial condition at a specific moment in time.

A balance sheet helps you...

  • Quickly get a handle on the financial strength and capabilities of your business.
  • Identify and analyze trends, particularly in the area of receivables and payables. For example, if your receivables cycle is lengthening, maybe you can collect your receivables more aggressively.
  • Determine if your business is in a position to expand.
  • Determine if your business can easily handle the normal financial ebbs and flows of revenues and expenses.
  • Determine if you need to take immediate steps to bolster cash reserves.
  • Determine if your business has been slowing down payables to forestall an inevitable cash shortage.

Balance sheets, along with income statements, are the most basic elements in providing financial reporting to potential lenders such as banks, investors and vendors who are considering how much credit to grant you.

Maintaining a Clean General Ledger

The general ledger is the core of your company's financial records. These records constitute the central "books" of your system. Since every transaction flows through the general ledger, a problem with your general ledger throws off all your books.

Having us review your general ledger system each month allows us to hunt down any discrepancies such as double billings or any unrecorded payments. Then we'll fix them so your books are always accurate and kept in tip top shape.

Provide consultation regarding financial reporting and accounting transactions

We are always available to spend time with you so you fully understand how to interpret and utilize the financial information we provide. Also, we know you did not go to school to be an accountant and that from time to time situations occur that can be confusing and difficult to analyze. We will assist you in the analysis of accounting matters so that you will be more informed regarding the impact they may have on your business.

If you'd like to receive a Free Consultation on our Small Business Accounting Service, please complete this form.

Payroll

Learn more about our payroll services.

When it comes to paying employees, laws and the IRS have made the payroll function a time consuming nightmare for the small business owner.

Small business owners spend an average of eight hours a month performing payroll functions. That's 12 full days a year that could be spent generating sales, prospecting new business opportunities, improving products or services, or servicing customers.

We offer payroll solutions that meet your business's needs and enable you to spend time doing what you do best--running your company.

Why Outsource Your Payroll...

  • It's Cost Effective
    Use your staff more efficiently by letting us handle payroll and the associated legal details. Reduce overhead by removing the need to hire specialized employees.
  • It's a Time Saver
    Our payroll service eliminates the burden of customizing, updating and maintaining your own payroll system--no more data entry, no more researching updates or new laws, no more worries.
  • Worry Free Payroll Tax Filing
    Eliminate the risks of calculating and filing your own payroll taxes by having professionals do it for you. Federal, state and local payroll tax laws are frequently changing and becoming more complex. How much time do you want to spend learning all the rules and keeping your information up to date?
  • Allows You To Focus On Core Competencies
    Our professional staff allow you to focus on the core competencies of your business. We are accounting professionals--you get the experts working for you and with you.
  • Comprehensive Reports
    You get a wide variety of user-friendly and accurate payroll reports. For a nominal fee, we will include union reports, certified payroll, workers' compensation reports and much more.

Get the Payroll Solution That Best Fits Your Needs.
We know that when it comes to payroll service - no one size fits all. That's why we offer the following 3 custom payroll processing options.

1. Comprehensive Payroll Services
Our Comprehensive Payroll Service takes care of all of the payroll processing for you, so that you won't have to. You get...

  • Your payroll checks prepared and printed on-time, every-time.
  • All of your payroll checks are laser printed on "blank" check stock to ensure maximum security and meet the micro encoding standards as set forth by the Federal Reserve System.
  • Free Direct Deposits
  • Worry free IRS and State tax reporting as well as EFTPS tax deposits.
  • User friendly, and easy to understand monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax reports, including W-2, W-3 and 1099 forms.
  • Detailed reports on your employee's vacation, sick days, and personal days accruals.
  • Creation and filing of the required new hire reports
  • Your payroll records maintained in tip top shape.

2. After-the-Fact-Payroll Services
We will take your manually-prepared payroll records and other payroll information and post this information to our data files, so you get...

  • Worry Free IRS and State tax reporting as well as EFTPS tax deposits.
  • User friendly, and easy to understand monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax reports, including W-2, W-3 and 1099 forms.
  • Detailed reports on your employee's vacation, sick days, and personal days accruals.
  • Creation and filing of the required new hire reports
  • Your payroll records maintained in tip top shape.

3. Online Payroll Processing
You can enter your employee's hours and earnings securely online and get...

  • The ability to instantly print payroll checks on your own printer.
  • Free Direct Deposits
  • Worry Free IRS and State tax reporting as well as EFTPS tax deposits.
  • User friendly, and easy to understand monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax reports, including W-2, W-3 and 1099 forms.
  • Detailed reports on your employee's vacation, sick days, and personal days accruals.
  • Creation and filing of the required new hire reports
  • Your payroll records maintained in tip top shape.

Custom Payroll Reports Service
There seems to be an endless amount of special reports Government agencies require. We can prepare the following reports for you.

  • Worker's Compensation Audits
  • Unemployment Claims
  • Social Security Audits
  • Child Support Audits
  • W-2 and W-3 processing
  • 1099 and 1096 processing
  • Preparation/assistance with Federal and State registration forms

How much do we charge?
In order to give you an accurate price for our payroll services we need to know a little more about your business and what services you're interested in. Our prices are very affordable.

Please complete the form below to get a Free Consultation and complete pricing of our Payroll Processing Services.

Compilation

Stockholders, creditors, and private investors often need assurance that the financial statements accurately represent the true financial position of a company.

Your stockholders, creditors, or private investors have different levels of risk tolerance, so we provide the following services to meet your needs.

Compilation - Lowest Level of Assurance

In compiling financial statements for a client, we present information that is the "representation of management" and expresses no opinion or assurance on the statements. Compilations don't require inquiries of management or analytical procedures. Instead, we rely on our knowledge of accounting principles and a general understanding of your business.

Banks often require compilations from an independent CPA as part of their lending covenants.

Which Report Should You Use?

Each type of financial statement report may suit specific circumstances, depending on requirements from your client's bank or other parties, as well as meet budgetary needs.

Understanding each report's unique strengths and weaknesses can help you choose the most appropriate one. Please call if you have questions about which type of report is right for you.

Agreed-upon Procedures

Agreed-upon procedure engagements are a unique attestation engagement because we report procedures and findings rather than a conclusion. These engagements involve applying procedures, agreed-upon by specified users, to information and issuing a report that enumerates the procedures performed, states our findings, and restricts the use of the report to the parties that agreed to the procedures.

Understanding each report's unique strengths and weaknesses can help you choose the most appropriate one. Please call if you have questions about which type of report is right for you or complete the form below for a Free Consultation.

Strategic Business Planning

Strategic Business Planning

A Strategic Business Plan is much more than a tool to obtain financing. If you still have all you plans and ideas locked up inside your head... preparing a strategic plan helps you clarify your company's direction, ensures your key leaders are all "on the same page", and keeps both management and staff focused on the tasks at hand.

A Strategic Plan is often needed when...

  • Starting a new venture, product or service
  • Expanding a current organization, product or service
  • Buying a new business, product or service
  • Turning around a declining business

Mergers & Acquisitions

Finding the right business partner for your company can be a difficult task. We can assist you in the merger or acquisition process by assessing such critical elements as tax considerations; product/service compatibility; competitive tactics and position; financial impact; and cash flow considerations.

Let us help you succeed by getting your new business off to a good strong start. Please complete the form below to learn more about our Mergers & Acquisition Services.

Consulting Services

We gauge our worth by the personal and business successes of our clients. We can help your business identify areas negatively affecting profitability and growth and develop solutions that are practical and technically sound. In addition to acting as a sounding board for management, we provide comprehensive, flexible strategies that address the issues affecting your business. The following is just a few of the areas in which we provide consulting services:

  • Accounting software selection and implementation
  • Type of entity selection
  • Buying/selling a business
  • Computer systems
  • Financial & retirement decisions

If you'd like more information about our consulting services please complete this form to setup a Free Consultation.

New Business Formation

Thinking of owning your own business?

Opening your own business is exciting and thrilling. It's everything that comes after the excitement and thrill has worn off that dictates whether a small business will make it or not. It's up to you to maintain and stretch out the "thrill and excitement" period forever.

A methodical plan of action is needed to fulfill your dream or goal of being your own boss and running a successful business. Success lies in the approach you choose to take. We help you avoid the common pitfalls that many new small business owners make when starting their new venture.

We help you...

  1. Prepare an initial business plan to clarify your marketing, management, and financial plans.
  2. Determine your start-up capital needs.
  3. Identify sources of start-up capital and backup sources if needed.
  4. Evaluate and quantify your borrowing power so you know how much money you can get your hands on if needed.
  5. Select a business structure that best fits your needs by evaluating tax advantages, legal exposure, ease of operation and portability should you need to relocate.
  6. Select the right accounting software by evaluating your budget, needs and hardware.
  7. Prepare a Cash Flow Budget so you know exactly how much money you need to keep the business alive each month for the first few years. Unplanned cash requirements are always emotionally painful.
  8. Establish billing and collection procedures to maximize your cash flow.
  9. Establish procedures to monitor and control costs.
  10. Setup a home office so you can maximize your tax deductions.
  11. Prepare and file all required state and local licenses and permits.
  12. Prepare and file your application for your Federal Employer Identification Number.
  13. Provide payroll and payroll tax filing when you bring on your first employee.
  14. Comply with employment laws so you don't get hit with fines and unhappy employees.
  15. Identify your business insurance needs.
  16. Develop a solid Partnership Agreement. This is an extremely important document for all new partnerships and will help prevent a tremendous amount of financial and emotional problems down the road.

Let us help you succeed by getting your new business off to a good strong start. Please complete the form below to learn more about our New Business Formation Services.

Internal Controls

At times you may need a trained outside professional to evaluate your company's operations to determine if the appropriate controls are in place to ensure proper handling of resources and to protect yourself from employee theft.

We assess your internal control systems to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of your operating procedures. Then we make recommendations that help your company become stronger and more profitable by correcting any inefficient or ineffective operating procedures we find.

What we do for you...

  • Implement segregation of duties so that duties are divided, or segregated, among different people to reduce risk of error or inappropriate actions. No one person has control over all aspects of any financial transaction.
  • Make sure transactions are authorized by a person delegated approval authority when the transactions are consistent with policy and funds are available.
  • Ensure records are routinely reviewed and reconciled, by someone other than the preparer or transactor, to determine that transactions have been properly processed.
  • Make certain that equipment, inventories, cash and other property are secured physically, counted periodically, and compared with item descriptions shown on control records.
  • Provide employees with appropriate training and guidance to ensure they have the knowledge necessary to carry out their job duties, are provided with an appropriate level of direction and supervision, and are aware of the proper channels for reporting suspected improprieties.
  • Document policies and procedures and making them accessible to employees. The documented policies and procedures provide day-to-day guidance to your staff and continuation of duties in the event of prolonged employee absences or turnover.
  • Review operations to ascertain whether results are consistent with established objectives and goals and whether the operations are being carried out as planned.

    If you'd like more information about our internal control services please complete this form to setup a Free Consultation.

Succession Planning

If you own a family business, retirement isn't simply a matter of deciding not to go into the office anymore. You've got some critical questions to answer like...

"What happens to the business when you're no longer running it?" and
"Will you have enough money to retire?"

The family dynamic complicates the whole transition because of the relationships and emotions involved. Most people are not comfortable discussing topics such as aging, death, and financial affairs.
Comfortable or not, succession planning should be a priority for any family business considering that more than seven out of ten family-owned businesses fail to survive the transition from founder to second generation, typically falling prey either to estate taxes or family discord - or both.

Developing and implementing a well-designed succession plan is essential to the survival of a family business from one generation to the next.
We help you with these key issues -

  • Keeping it in the family. Are you going to pass the business on to your family or sell it to a third party? We help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each of these options.
  • Who's going to run the business when you're gone? Management and ownership are not one and the same. You may decide to transfer management of your business to just one of your children but transfer equal shares of business ownership to all your children, whether they're actively involved in the business or not.
  • Minimizing the tax bite. The tax burden when transitioning a family business can be significant. The challenge is that a family business is not generally a liquid asset, but taxes are typically due when ownership is transferred.
  • Making it fair. Transferring family ownership often adds a tremendous amount of stress to individual family members. We talk with each of the family members to ensure that they feel they a getting an equitable and fair share of the pie.

    What we do for you...
    Once we understand how you feel about the key issues above, we begin constructing your succession plan focusing on these 5 issues...
    1. Business Valuation
    2. Business Restructuring
    3. Tax Consequences
    4. Retirement Projections
    5. Tax Projections

    Let us help you pass on what's taken a lifetime to build by requesting a Free Consultation below.


Information Request for Services Listed Above

Client Login

Subscribe to our Newsletter