How Most Clients Close by the 3rd
Most Atkins CPA clients' QuickBooks Online books are closed by the 3rd business day starting Month 2 when required inputs are available: feeds connected, statements available, receipts or documents uploaded, and open client questions answered. This is typical timing rather than a guaranteed deadline. The operating rhythm includes a 30-day setup, automation during the month, CPA review, and a monthly package with P&L, balance sheet, cash snapshot, variance notes, and a walkthrough.
Delivery Model
Virtual-first QBO bookkeeping for U.S. service businesses
Monthly Close
Most clients' books closed by the 3rd business day starting Month 2
Platform
QuickBooks Online with CPA review and automation support
Monthly books that are current, reviewed, and useful.
The engagement is built around recurring monthly service, not a one-time cleanup. Cleanup and onboarding happen first so the close can run on a repeatable cadence.
See the monthly process30-day setup to connect QuickBooks Online, bank feeds, documents, and recurring close workflows
Required-input checklist covering connected feeds, statements, receipts, documents, and open questions
Monthly reconciliations across bank, credit card, and balance sheet accounts in scope
CPA review before the close package is delivered
P&L, balance sheet, cash snapshot, variance notes, and monthly walkthrough
Most clients' books closed by the 3rd business day starting Month 2 when required inputs are available
From messy handoffs to a repeatable close.
Set the close baseline
Month 1 establishes the chart of accounts, source-document flow, bank feeds, recurring transactions, and questions that must be answered before the close can be reliable.
Run automation during the month
QuickBooks Online and supporting workflows keep transactions organized as activity happens, so month-end is review and exception handling instead of a scramble.
Review and deliver
Hunter reviews the reconciliations, variance notes, and financial package before delivery and walkthrough. For most clients, that delivery happens by the 3rd business day starting Month 2 when required inputs are available.
Good fit
- Business owners who are tired of waiting weeks for financial statements
- QuickBooks Online businesses willing to keep feeds connected and source documents available
- Teams that want a CPA-reviewed close rhythm instead of ad hoc bookkeeping
- Service, construction, and manufacturing operators who can support a digital monthly workflow
Not a fit
- Tax preparation, tax filing, audit, attest, or assurance engagements
- Businesses that cannot provide statements, receipts, documents, or answers needed to close
- Paper-first workflows that prevent a repeatable monthly close
- Owners looking for an occasional report instead of recurring monthly bookkeeping
Pricing path and next step.
Atkins CPA uses a single monthly offer: $3,000/month for client accounting services on QuickBooks Online. The free assessment confirms whether your books, workflow, and service needs match the model before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What helps clients close by the 3rd business day?
Bank and credit card feeds need to stay connected, statements must be available, receipts or documents need to be uploaded when requested, and open client questions must be answered. Timing depends on those inputs, file condition, complexity, and client responsiveness.
What does the monthly close package include?
The monthly package includes reconciled QuickBooks Online books, a P&L, balance sheet, cash snapshot, variance notes, CPA review, and a walkthrough focused on what changed and what it means.
When does the typical by-the-3rd close start?
Most clients reach the by-the-3rd rhythm starting in Month 2. Month 1 is used for setup, cleanup, source-document workflow, automation, and the baseline needed to close consistently. The timing is not guaranteed.
Is this tax preparation?
No. This is monthly bookkeeping, reconciliation, close automation, CPA review, reporting, and owner walkthroughs. Atkins CPA does not prepare tax returns or perform audit, attest, or assurance work.