What is the difference between bookkeeping and fractional CFO work?

Bookkeeping records what already happened and produces accurate monthly financial statements. Fractional CFO work uses those statements to plan ahead — forecasting cash, testing pricing and margins, and building budgets and projections. Many clients start with monthly bookkeeping and add CFO work as the business grows.

I am thinking about selling my business. When should I get a pre-sale financial analysis?

Earlier than most owners do — ideally several months before listing. A pre-sale financial analysis normalizes your earnings, documents your add-backs, reconciles the books to filed tax returns and bank statements, and tests the business against a lender's debt service coverage requirements. Finding problems early leaves time to fix them, instead of discovering them from a buyer's lender months into a deal.

What does the monthly bookkeeping service look like?

Transactions are categorized and accounts reconciled throughout the month, financial statements are delivered after close, and regular calls cover what the numbers mean. Everything is handled remotely. Pricing is a flat monthly rate starting at $300.

Four Bookkeeping & Accounting — Bookkeeping, Fractional CFO & Deal Analysis

Q: Does it matter where my business is located?

No. Four Bookkeeping & Accounting is based in Charlotte, NC and works with clients across the United States. The remote-first setup makes it easy to collaborate and manage your books no matter where you are based.

Q: I am buying a business. Do I need a quality of earnings report?

If you are borrowing to buy, the lender will test the seller's numbers whether you do or not. A quality of earnings analysis tells you first. On SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans with a purchase price of $3 million or more, SOP 50 10 8.1 requires an independent quality of earnings report engaged by the lender. Below that threshold a report is optional, though lenders may still request one.

Q: How do you handle messy or backlogged books?

Clean-up and catch-up work starts with a review to see what needs attention, then organizing past transactions, reconciling accounts, and bringing everything current. Once you are caught up, systems are set up to keep the books from falling behind again.

Our services

Three ways to work together.

Start with clean books. Add a CFO when you're ready. Bring us in when you're buying or selling.

📒

Every month

Monthly Bookkeeping

Transactions categorized and accounts reconciled
Financial statements closed every month
Clean-up and catch-up if you're behind
A dedicated accountant, not a portal

From $300/month · flat rate, cancel anytime

📈

When you need more

Fractional CFO

Cash flow forecasting and budgets
Pricing and margin analysis
Projections you can actually plan against
Controller and CFO work, without the six-figure hire

Monthly retainer · scoped to your business

🤝

Buying or selling

Deal & Transaction Services

Selling — Pre-Sale Financial Analysis Get your numbers ready for prospective buyers, and make sure they survive the bank's underwriting. Find the problems while there's still time to fix them.

Buying — Quality of Earnings Independent analysis of the seller's numbers on deals from $150K to $5M, before you commit.

Flat fee per engagement · scoped before you pay
See deal services →

Not sure what you need? A free 30-minute call. We'll tell you which of the three fits — or that none of them do.

Book a free call →

Why Choose FBA

More than someone who records the past.

Most bookkeepers tell you what already happened. The point of good financials is deciding what to do next.

Reliable records

Your books managed and clean financial statements prepared — the kind you can hand to a lender without apologizing for them.

Categorize your transactions
Reconcile your accounts
Prepare financial statements

Save time and money

Clients who switch from DIY bookkeeping are amazed by the difference. They get their time back and finally understand their numbers.

No more rush catch-up sessions
Spot mistakes before they cost you
Find all your deductions

Experience that scales with you

From sole proprietors to 20-person teams. When you outgrow bookkeeping, the CFO work is already here — you don't have to go find a new firm.

Get numbers you can trust
Move beyond basic bookkeeping
Scale without the headaches

Our clients

Industries we serve.

Every industry has its own challenges. Here's how we help different types of businesses stay organized and profitable.

📈

Small & Growing Businesses

Clear monthly numbers so you know where the business actually stands.

💼

Professional Services

Attorneys, consultants, dentists — track billable hours and profitability.

🚛

Trucking & Owner Operators

Fuel costs, maintenance, per-mile profitability, IFTA filings, and quarterly taxes. See our trucking page →

🔨

Construction & Contractors

Job costs, subcontractor payments, and progress billings.

🛍️

Retail & E-commerce

Inventory, cost of goods sold, sales tax, and merchant processing fees.

🌿

Home & Field Services

Track time, materials, and jobs across locations.

Don't see yours? Most of this is the same work under different names. Ask.

Bert Gonzalez, Founder of Four Bookkeeping & Accounting

25+Years experience

About us

Meet Bert Gonzalez.

I'm Bert Gonzalez, founder of Four Bookkeeping and Accounting. With over 25 years of corporate accounting and finance experience, I've worked with businesses of every size — from solo entrepreneurs to companies with hundreds of employees. I have closed the books, built the forecast, sat across from the lender, and been the person a buyer's diligence team was asking questions of.

My background in both public accounting and private industry has taught me that every business has unique needs. Whether you're a one-person operation or a multimillion-dollar company, you need a financial partner who understands your business.

The name "Four Bookkeeping" comes from my four kids. I built this firm the same way I'm raising them — with intention, accountability, and a focus on doing things right. That's why I take the time to understand where your company is now and where you want it to go — then build solutions that fit.

Bert Gonzalez

Founder & Lead Accountant

Connect on LinkedIn

Pricing

Clear pricing. No surprises.

Flat rates, scoped before you commit. No hidden fees, no surprise hourly bills, and no lock-in contracts.

Monthly Bookkeeping

$300per month and up

Simple flat monthly rate, all-inclusive
Categorization, reconciliation, monthly statements
QuickBooks Online setup included
No extra charge for monthly meetings
Cancel anytime — no lock-in contracts

Get started →

Fractional CFO

Retainerbilled monthly

Cash flow forecasting and budgets
Pricing and margin analysis
Scoped to the hours you actually need
Add to bookkeeping or stand alone

Talk through scope →

Deal & Transaction Services

Flat feeper engagement

Pre-sale analysis for owners going to market
Quality of earnings analysis for buyers
Deals from $150K to $5M
Fee quoted before any work begins
We never work both sides of the same deal

See deal services →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Does it matter where my business is located?

We work with clients across the United States. Our remote-first setup makes it easy to collaborate and manage your books effectively, no matter where you're based.

What's the difference between bookkeeping and the CFO work?

Bookkeeping records what happened and produces accurate statements. The CFO work uses those statements to plan — forecasting cash, testing prices, building budgets and projections. Many clients start with the first and add the second as the business grows.

What happens during the discovery call?

We get to know your business. We'll learn about your current setup, discuss any challenges you're facing, and answer your questions. If we're a good fit, we'll go over pricing and next steps in clear terms.

What happens after I decide to work with you?

We'll set up a call to gather what we need to get started — account access and key information about your business. Then we'll review your books, fix any issues we find, and set up your systems the right way. You only pay for the services you need.

How do you handle messy or backlogged books?

Don't worry — we've seen it all. We'll start with a review to see what needs attention, then organize past transactions, reconcile your accounts, and get everything up to date. Once you're caught up, we'll set up systems to keep things running smoothly.

What does the monthly service look like?

We keep your books up to date throughout the month and send you clear financial reports that show how your business is doing. We'll meet regularly to go over your numbers and answer questions. Everything is handled remotely.

I'm thinking about selling my business. When should we talk?

Earlier than most owners do — ideally several months before you list. A pre-sale analysis normalizes your earnings, documents your add-backs, reconciles the books to your filed returns and bank statements, and runs the business through a lender's coverage test. That finds the problems in your numbers while you still have time to fix them, rather than discovering them from a buyer's lender six months into a deal.

I'm buying a business. Do I need a quality of earnings report?

If you're borrowing to buy, the lender will test the seller's numbers whether you do or not — a quality of earnings analysis tells you first. On SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans with a purchase price of $3 million or more, an independent report engaged by the lender is now required outright. Below that threshold it's optional, though lenders may still ask for one.