Outsourced Accounting Services: Your Virtual Back Office
Bill pay, invoicing, sales tax, and complete accounts payable/receivable management. Without the overhead of in-house staff.
Most small businesses spend 10+ hours per week on accounting operations.
We take that off your plate.
What Is Outsourced Accounting?
Bookkeeping records what happened. Outsourced accounting manages the operations that create those transactions.
Think of it this way: bookkeeping is historical record-keeping. Outsourced accounting is operational management. We handle the bills that need paying, the invoices that need sending, and the sales tax that needs filing. You focus on running your business.
Where Outsourced Accounting Fits
FOUNDATION
Bookkeeping
Recording transactions accurately
OPERATIONS
Outsourced Accounting
Running financial operations
STRATEGIC
Fractional CFO
Planning and financial leadership
What’s Included in Outsourced Accounting
We handle the operations. You approve and stay in control.
Accounts Payable Management
- Bill entry and approval workflows
- Vendor payment scheduling (check, ACH, card)
- 1099 tracking and year-end prep
- Cash flow timing optimization
Accounts Receivable Management
- Customer invoicing (recurring and one-time)
- Payment application and reconciliation
- Collections follow-up and aging reports
- Revenue recognition compliance
Sales Tax Compliance
- Multi-state nexus monitoring
- Sales tax filing and remittance
- Exemption certificate management
- E-commerce platform integration
Payroll Integration
- Payroll journal entries and reconciliation
- PTO and benefits accrual tracking
- Gusto, ADP, Paychex coordination
- Workers’ comp audit support
Systems & Integrations
- QuickBooks Online / Xero optimization
- POS integration (Square, Shopify)
- Payment processor reconciliation
- Expense tools (Ramp, Brex, Expensify)
Financial Reporting
- Monthly P&L and balance sheet
- AP/AR aging reports
- Cash flow projections
- Custom dashboard access
The SDO Difference
Tax-Integrated Operations
Every AP decision, every revenue recognition choice, every sales tax filing connects to your tax strategy. We don’t just process transactions. Every payment timing decision considers whether accelerating expenses before year-end makes sense for your tax planning.
Partnership & S-Corp Expertise
We understand the accounting operations unique to pass-through entities: owner distributions vs. wages, guaranteed payments, basis tracking, K-1 timing. If you’re an S-Corp or partnership, your accounting operations aren’t generic. Neither are we.
Scalable Support
Start with what you need. Add services as you grow. We’re not forcing a one-size-fits-all package. Many clients begin with accounts payable outsourcing and expand to full operations management as they see the value.
Is Outsourced Accounting Right for You?
✓ Good Fit
- • Revenue $500K-$5M+
- • 5+ vendors to pay monthly
- • Invoicing customers regularly
- • Multi-state sales tax obligations
- • Using multiple software systems
- • S-Corp or partnership structure
Read our guide for small business owners to see if you’re ready.
✗ Not the Right Fit
- • Fewer than 10 transactions/month
- • Need in-house presence daily
- • Not ready to delegate operations
If you have low transaction volume, bookkeeping services may be a better fit.
How It Works
Operations Assessment
We analyze your current accounting operations: what’s working, what’s not, what’s missing. You’ll get a clear picture of where time and money are being wasted. No obligation.
System Setup & Transition
We implement workflows, set up integrations, and document processes. Typical transition: 2-4 weeks. You’ll know exactly who handles what and when.
Ongoing Management
We handle your accounting operations on your schedule: weekly AP runs, monthly invoicing, quarterly sales tax. You approve, we execute. You get visibility without the work.
Outsourced Accounting Pricing
Pricing based on your operations, not a generic package.
BASIC
$500-$1,500
/month
20-50 transactions
STANDARD
$1,500-$3,500
/month
50-150 transactions
COMPLEX
Custom
pricing
150+ or multi-entity
What affects pricing: Transaction volume, integrations required, sales tax filing frequency, entity complexity.
See our detailed cost guide or view pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between bookkeeping and outsourced accounting?
Bookkeeping records what happened: categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts. Outsourced accounting manages operations: paying bills, sending invoices, handling sales tax. Think of bookkeeping as historical record-keeping; outsourced accounting is operational management.
Do I need bookkeeping AND outsourced accounting?
They often go together. Outsourced accounting generates the transactions that bookkeeping records. Some businesses do their own bookkeeping but outsource operations; others outsource both. We’ll recommend based on your situation.
How do you handle bill approvals?
We set up an approval workflow that matches your preferences. Options include: email approval, mobile app approval, scheduled payment runs with pre-approval, or hybrid approaches. You stay in control; we execute.
Can you work with my existing accounting software?
Yes. We work primarily with QuickBooks Online and Xero, but can integrate with most cloud-based systems. We’ll also connect your payment processors, POS systems, and expense tools.
How do you handle sales tax in multiple states?
We monitor your nexus exposure, register in required states, file returns on schedule, and remit payments. For complex multi-state situations, we use specialized software (like Avalara or TaxJar) integrated with your sales platforms.
What if I just need help with one area, like AP?
We offer modular services. If you only need accounts payable management, we can scope to that. Many clients start with one area and expand as they see the value.
How does this integrate with my tax preparation?
This is where SDO CPA shines. Your outsourced accounting team and tax team are the same firm. Every operational decision considers tax implications. No year-end scramble, no coordination headaches.
What reporting do I get?
Standard reporting includes: AP aging, AR aging, cash flow projections, monthly P&L, and balance sheet. For deeper analysis, our Fractional CFO services add KPIs, forecasting, and strategic recommendations.
Stop Spending Your Time on Back-Office Operations
Get your time back. Let us handle the bills, invoices, and compliance while you focus on growing your business.