Tides Bookkeeping

Get current, reconciled books and clear monthly financial reports to support tax readiness and informed business decisions.

Bring overdue books current with reconciled accounts, organized financial statements, and a CPA-ready handoff.

Keep financial records accurate, catch discrepancies and unauthorized charges early, and receive a monthly confirmation that accounts are reconciled.

Get clear, tailored financial reports to understand business performance, track cash, and make informed decisions.

Keep payroll on schedule and help ensure payroll records, tax filings, and bookkeeping stay coordinated and reconciled.

See what is owed, what is overdue, and what cash is expected so you can plan payments and follow up on collections.

Get a properly configured or cleaned-up accounting system with accurate records and reports you can rely on.

Get a clearer picture of your books through five targeted checks and a written summary of the findings.

Align your books with your CPA’s needs and get them ready for tax return filing.

Get an instant, transparent estimate of monthly bookkeeping costs based on your expense volume, with guidance on catch-up work and factors that may affect your quote.

Estimate catch-up costs and timelines instantly so you can plan how to get your books current.

Estimate potential net self-employment tax savings after salary and S-Corp costs to help assess whether an S-Corp election may be worth exploring.

Estimate federal quarterly tax payments from your expected profit and filing details to better plan for tax bills.

Assess your bookkeeping health and get a score with a personalized action plan to help identify gaps in your books.

Monthly Bookkeeping Services

Tides provides remote, ongoing bookkeeping for businesses across the United States. A dedicated bookkeeper categorizes transactions, reconciles bank and credit card accounts, and prepares monthly profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow information. Books are updated weekly, maintained for tax readiness, and available through QuickBooks Online or Puzzle.io. Plans use flat monthly pricing, include the software subscription, and can be canceled anytime.

Category: Bookkeeping Services

• Verify Every Account
  Reconciliation checks that recorded activity matches bank and credit card statements and helps resolve discrepancies before they remain in the books.
• Understand Monthly Financials
  Monthly financial statements give clients a view of revenue, costs, profit, what the business owns and owes, and cash movement to support business decisions.
• Keep Books Current Weekly
  Weekly updates give clients a more current view of their finances than waiting for a quarterly or annual bookkeeping cycle.
• Categorize Every Transaction
  Organized transaction records help clients see how income and expenses are represented in their books and support accurate reporting.
• Prepare Records For Tax Time
  Year-round records and an organized CPA handoff package help clients prepare for filing. Estimated tax reminders flag relevant due dates based on actual earnings.
• Work With One Bookkeeper
  A consistent point of contact retains context about the client’s business and can answer questions about the work and financial records.
• Access Live Books Anytime
  Clients can check their live books through the supported accounting platforms, while the included software subscription is covered by the plan price.
• Plan Costs In Advance
  Flat monthly pricing makes the recurring service cost clear. Tides quotes any one-time setup or catch-up fee upfront and does not use hourly billing.
• Tailor Books To Your Industry
  Industry-specific categories and bookkeeping address differences in revenue patterns, expenses, and reporting needs across business types.
• Track Bills And Invoices
  Tracking vendor bills and outstanding invoices helps clients see payables and receivables as part of their ongoing financial records.
• Get Bookkeeping Remotely
  Clients can receive the service remotely without needing in-person appointments, and Tides serves businesses nationwide.

Catch-Up Bookkeeping

A done-for-you, one-time bookkeeping cleanup for businesses with months or years of backlog. Tides reviews and categorizes transactions, reconciles bank, credit card, and loan accounts against statements, cleans up the chart of accounts, and provides period-by-period profit and loss statements and balance sheets. The service also includes duplicate-transaction review, opening-balance verification, and a CPA-ready handoff package. After a free assessment, Tides quotes a flat fee upfront based on the months behind and business tier, with no hourly billing. The work is completed remotely and can transition into ongoing monthly bookkeeping.

Category: Bookkeeping Services

• Organize Historical Transactions
  Have transactions reviewed and categorized across the backlog so income and expenses are recorded in the appropriate accounts.
• Reconcile Every Account
  Match accounts to statements for each period and resolve discrepancies, creating a reconciled historical record.
• Review Financials By Period
  Receive profit and loss statements and balance sheets for each period covered, providing a record of financial performance and position.
• Prepare Books For Your CPA
  Give your accountant organized, reconciled records and period financials for tax work, or continue with Tides' monthly bookkeeping after the catch-up.
• Know Your Price Before Work Starts
  Receive a flat project quote before work begins, based on the backlog and business tier, without hourly billing.
• Clean Up Account Structure
  Correct duplicate accounts, miscategorized items, and structural problems so the books have a more logical account structure going forward.
• Work Through Your Backlog In Order
  Have the backlog handled period by period, with the work completed remotely and client input requested when needed.
• Move Into Monthly Bookkeeping
  Continue from the completed cleanup into regular monthly bookkeeping to keep the books current.
• Remove Duplicate Entries
  Identify and remove duplicate transactions and bank feed errors that can distort the historical books.
• Verify Starting Balances
  Check opening balances and correct them when needed to support accurate reconciliations and financial statements.

Bank reconciliation

Tides reconciles every business bank account, credit card, savings account, line of credit, and loan account against statements each month. The service matches transactions line by line, investigates and resolves discrepancies, verifies loan balances, and provides a monthly reconciliation summary. Clients receive flagged items with context and recommended actions. Historical reconciliation is available to bring overdue accounts current.

• Reconcile Every Account Monthly
  Keep business accounts current with monthly reconciliation covering bank accounts, credit cards, savings, lines of credit, and loans. The service includes all accounts, with no account skipped regardless of quantity.
• Match Books To Statements
  Verify that the accounting records reflect actual account activity by matching deposits, payments, fees, and transfers to bank and credit card statements.
• Identify And Resolve Discrepancies
  Find and investigate transactions that do not match, including missing entries and bank errors. Tides tracks identified bank errors through resolution and explains flagged items so clients can review recommended next steps.
• Flag Unauthorized Charges
  Bring unfamiliar transactions to the client's attention during the monthly review so potential unauthorized charges can be investigated promptly.
• Correct Duplicate Entries
  Catch and remove duplicate entries and correct bank feed errors as part of the monthly reconciliation process, helping prevent inaccuracies from accumulating in the books.
• Receive Monthly Reconciliation Reports
  Review a monthly confirmation of reconciliation status, including beginning and ending balances and any flagged transactions requiring attention.
• Manage High-Volume Transactions
  Support reconciliation of hundreds or thousands of monthly transactions with feed management, automated matching rules, exception-focused review, volume summaries, and trend anomaly detection.
• Verify Loan Balances
  Check loan and line of credit balances against statements so these account records are included in the monthly reconciliation.
• Reconcile Payroll Transactions
  Compare payroll transactions with payroll reports each month as part of the account reconciliation process.
• Catch Up Prior Periods
  Bring overdue accounts current by reconciling prior periods. Catch-up work is priced separately based on how many months are behind.
• Match Industry-Specific Deposits
  Reconcile relevant business receipts and payouts, including restaurant POS deposits and tip payouts, e-commerce marketplace payouts and chargebacks, healthcare insurance payments, and real estate escrow activity.
• Verify Cross-Account Transfers
  Check transfers between business accounts as part of monthly reconciliation for organizations managing multiple checking, savings, and credit card accounts.

Financial reporting

Tides Bookkeeping delivers monthly financial statements that show business revenue, expenses, financial position, and cash movement. Reports include a Profit & Loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, with year-over-year comparisons and expense breakdowns. Reporting can be configured around dimensions such as product line, location, job type, client, or project, and may include a Puzzle.io live dashboard for businesses using that platform. The service can also provide lender-formatted statements, accounts payable and receivable summaries, tax payment reminders, and an organized year-end CPA package. Reports are delivered monthly, with other reporting cadences available on request.

• Understand Profitability And Track Performance
  See revenue, costs, expenses, and net income for the month and year to date, with prior-year comparisons to help identify business trends.
• Review Assets Liabilities And Equity
  Understand what the business owns, owes, and retains as equity through a clear snapshot of its financial position.
• Track Actual Cash Movement
  See the sources and uses of cash and compare cash movement with reported profit to better understand the business's cash position.
• See Results By Relevant Business Dimensions
  Review financial activity in categories that fit the business, such as by location, client, product line, job type, or project.
• Prepare Organized Records For Your CPA
  Provide your accountant with organized year-end financial information to support tax preparation and reduce the need to reconstruct records.
• Present Statements For Financing Applications
  Request financial statements formatted for lender requirements when applying for financing.
• Review Metrics That Matter To Your Industry
  Get reports adapted to industry needs, such as property-level results, food and labor costs, revenue by payer or client, project margins, or startup runway.
• View Financials Between Monthly Reports
  Access a live view of revenue, expenses, and cash position when the business uses Puzzle.io.
• Configure Reports And Learn How To Read Them
  Set up report templates around the business and receive a walkthrough of the reports and what to look for.
• Identify Outstanding Customer Balances
  Review open customer invoices and how long they have been outstanding to see which balances may need follow-up.
• Track Bills And Upcoming Due Dates
  See what the business owes and when bills are due as part of the reporting package.
• Remember Quarterly Estimated Tax Due Dates
  Receive reminders about quarterly estimated tax deadlines based on actual earnings.
• Match Reports To Your Preferred Schedule
  Configure weekly or quarterly summaries in addition to the standard monthly reporting cadence.

Payroll Bookkeeping Support

Tides sets up or takes over payroll accounts, coordinates scheduled payroll for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, and keeps payroll records reconciled to the books. Payroll is run through Gusto, which handles processing, direct deposit, and tax filings. Tides can also work with existing providers such as ADP, Paychex, and QuickBooks Payroll. Support includes employee onboarding, deduction and time-off tracking, year-end forms, and multi-state payroll assistance.

Category: Bookkeeping Services

• Run Payroll On Schedule
  Payroll runs follow the agreed schedule, with direct deposit handled through Gusto and pay stubs distributed to employees.
• File Payroll Taxes On Time
  Gusto handles scheduled payroll tax deposits and filings, while Tides reconciles filing activity to the books.
• Reconcile Payroll To The Books
  Payroll activity is recorded in the appropriate accounts and reconciled so the books reflect wages, employer taxes, benefits, and payroll costs.
• Set Up Or Take Over Payroll
  Get a payroll account configured with employee, bank, and tax details, with support through the first run and ongoing schedule.
• Track Employees And Contractors Separately
  Separate records for employees and contractors help keep payroll activity and contractor payments organized for year-end reporting.
• Prepare And File Year-End Forms
  Year-end employee and contractor forms are prepared and filed through Gusto, with electronic delivery and recipient copies.
• Keep Your Current Payroll Provider
  Businesses can receive support while staying with a current provider, or explore a move to Gusto during onboarding.
• Track Deductions And Time Off
  Keep benefit deductions and employee time-off accruals and usage recorded in the payroll system.
• Support Payroll Across States
  Get support for payroll in multiple states, including assistance with payroll tax registration when required.

Accounts Payable & Receivable Management

Tides Bookkeeping tracks both sides of a business’s cash flow in QuickBooks Online. Vendor bills are entered, categorized, and tracked against due dates; customer invoices are recorded and monitored through payment. Monthly AP and AR aging reports show open balances by age, while cash flow summaries provide a view of expected inflows and outflows. The service also tracks contractor payments for year-end 1099-NEC reporting, logs payment terms, and flags overdue invoices and early-payment discounts. Tides records and reports on bills and invoices, while the client authorizes vendor payments and typically sends invoices to customers.

• Track Bills And Due Dates
  See vendor balances and upcoming due dates to help plan payments and avoid missed bills. Tides tracks bills but does not authorize or make vendor payments.
• Monitor Invoices Through Payment
  Keep open invoices and customer balances visible until payment is received, with payment records maintained in QuickBooks.
• Review Open Balances By Age
  Identify which bills and invoices are current or overdue, and see which balances may need payment planning or collection follow-up.
• See Expected Cash Inflows And Outflows
  Look beyond today's bank balance to understand the expected effect of open bills and invoices on upcoming cash positions.
• Flag Invoices For Follow-Up
  See which customer invoices are overdue and need attention, making collection follow-up easier to prioritize.
• Track Contractor Payments For 1099s
  Keep contractor payment records organized during the year so year-end 1099-NEC information is available for preparation.
• Plan Payments Around Terms And Discounts
  Review payment terms, due dates, and identified early-payment discounts to help time vendor payments while keeping control of cash outflows.
• Set Up Lists And Invoice Workflows
  Establish vendor and customer records, invoice templates, and a bill-entry workflow in QuickBooks Online before monthly tracking begins.
• Organize Receivables By Customer Or Service
  View outstanding customer balances using business-relevant categories such as customer type or service line.

Accounting software setup and cleanup

A one-time service to configure accounting software from scratch or correct problems in an existing setup. Tides primarily works in QuickBooks Online and can also configure Puzzle.io, migrate data from Wave, FreshBooks, or spreadsheets, connect bank feeds, verify opening balances, and clean up duplicate or misclassified transactions. The service can include an industry-appropriate chart of accounts, recurring transaction rules, vendor and customer records, and class or location tracking. Tides assesses the setup, provides a flat project quote upfront, documents changes, and can transition the finished books to ongoing monthly bookkeeping or hand them off to an existing bookkeeper.

• Organize Accounts Around Your Business
  Use a clear account structure suited to your business and industry, rather than a generic or disorganized chart. This supports more useful financial reports.
• Set Up A Reliable Accounting System
  Start with a new, correctly configured accounting system or get help fixing an existing setup. Tides primarily works in QuickBooks Online and also offers Puzzle.io setup.
• Clean Up Transaction Errors
  Correct duplicate, conflicting, and misclassified entries so the transaction history is cleaner and the financial records are more dependable.
• Connect Bank And Card Accounts
  Connect business bank and credit card accounts to QuickBooks Online through live feeds, helping transactions flow into the system from the start.
• Verify Your Starting Balances
  Begin with opening balances checked against statements and prior records, reducing the chance that errors carry forward into future financial information.
• Move Your Records Into QuickBooks
  Bring data from Wave, FreshBooks, or spreadsheets into QuickBooks Online as part of setup, helping you move to the new system without handling the migration alone.
• Automate Common Transaction Categories
  Set up rules for recurring transactions so common activity can be categorized automatically in the accounting system.
• Track Results By Location Or Division
  Set up class and location tracking so transactions can be organized for reporting across multiple business locations or divisions.
• View Your Financial Data In Real Time
  Configure Puzzle.io for a live view of cash position, revenue, and expenses, providing dashboard access to this financial information.
• Fix Only The Areas That Need Work
  Address specific problems in an existing QuickBooks Online account without requiring a full rebuild when only part of the setup needs correction.
• Review And Document The Finished Setup
  Understand the completed configuration through a review and documentation of changes. Afterward, the books can transition to Tides' monthly service or be handed off to an existing bookkeeper.
• Configure Vendor And Customer Records
  Import and configure vendor and customer lists within the accounting system as part of establishing the business's records.

Free Books Review

A free, read-only, 30-minute review of business books conducted over a screen-sharing call. Tides checks five areas: account reconciliations, uncategorized transactions, Undeposited Funds and clearing accounts, payroll and sales tax balances, and how sales are recorded. Within two business days, clients receive a one-page written summary by email. The review does not change records or provide tax advice, and there is no obligation to hire Tides.

Category: Bookkeeping Services

• Spot Unreconciled Accounts
  See whether bank and credit card accounts are reconciled and whether their balances match statements.
• Check How Sales Are Recorded
  See whether sales are recorded from categorized POS or payment processor data, rather than treating bank deposits as income.
• Review Books Without Changing Records
  Have the books reviewed on a screen-sharing call without changes being made. Clients can share their screen instead of providing a login.
• Receive Findings In Writing
  Get a one-page plain-English summary of the five checks by email within two business days, with no requirement to hire Tides.
• Identify Unclassified Transactions
  Understand the amount and age of transactions awaiting classification in commonly used holding accounts.
• Find Stalled Payments
  See whether payments are piling up in Undeposited Funds or clearing accounts rather than reaching the bank.
• Compare Balances With Payments
  Check recorded payroll and sales tax amounts owed against the amounts actually paid.
• Assess Your Books For Free
  Get a 30-minute review of your books without paying or committing to hire Tides.
• Review Supported Bookkeeping Software
  Use the review for books maintained in QuickBooks Online, Restaurant365, or Puzzle.

CPA session

A 45-minute working session with you and your CPA to get the books ready for tax return filing, based on what the CPA needs and the format they want.

Category: Bookkeeping Services

• Prepare Books For CPA Filing
  Work with your CPA to get the books return-ready in the format they need before filing season.
• Collaborate With Your CPA
  Use a scheduled 45-minute session to work with your CPA on preparing the books for filing.

Bookkeeping Cost Calculator

A free interactive tool that estimates monthly bookkeeping costs based on monthly business expenses and whether the books are up to date. It uses Tides’ published pricing tiers to provide an instant estimate, explains factors that can affect the final quote, and distinguishes ongoing monthly costs from one-time catch-up work. Users can optionally request the estimate and a custom quote by email or book a free call for an exact quote.

• Estimate Monthly Bookkeeping Costs
  See an estimated monthly cost based on your expense volume, including the applicable published plan tier or an indication that custom pricing may apply.
• Compare Costs With Published Tiers
  See how expense ranges correspond to Tides’ published monthly pricing, with custom pricing noted for higher-volume businesses.
• Separate Catch-Up From Monthly Costs
  Understand that ongoing bookkeeping and overdue-book cleanup are separate costs. Users who are behind can use Tides’ catch-up estimator for a separate estimate.
• View Your Estimate Instantly
  Get a cost estimate directly on the page without providing contact details as a prerequisite.
• Understand Factors That Affect Pricing
  See why the estimate may change based on business complexity and add-on needs, and understand that a call is used to confirm the exact quote.
• Request Your Estimate And Custom Quote
  Choose to receive the estimate and a custom quote by email, or speak with Tides on a free call to confirm the exact price.

Catch-Up Bookkeeping Estimator

A free online tool that estimates the one-time cost and timeline for catch-up bookkeeping based on how many months your books are behind and your transaction volume. Estimates are shown instantly and can also be emailed with a custom quote. The estimate uses current catch-up rates; a free 15-minute call can confirm the exact quote.

• Estimate Your Catch-Up Cost
  See a cost estimate for the backlog based on how many months need catch-up and the transaction volume selected.
• Plan Your Catch-Up Timeline
  Get an expected timeframe for the project so you can plan when your books may be current.
• Tailor Estimates To Your Backlog
  Provide the time behind and transaction-volume level to get an estimate based on those details.
• Get An Estimate Without Signing Up
  View an estimate instantly without paying or submitting contact details to see the result.
• Receive Your Estimate In Writing
  Request the estimate by email and use a free 15-minute call to confirm a firm quote with no obligation.

S-Corp Savings Calculator

A free online calculator that estimates the potential net self-employment tax savings of electing S-Corp status. Enter annual net profit, a reasonable W-2 salary, and estimated yearly S-Corp costs to receive an instant comparison with operating as a sole proprietor or default single-member LLC. The simplified educational estimate uses federal self-employment and FICA rates, excludes several tax and personal-return factors, and is not tax, legal, or financial advice.

• Estimate Potential Net Tax Savings
  See a directional estimate of potential savings after accounting for payroll tax on salary and the added costs of running an S-Corp.
• Test Profit And Salary Scenarios
  Adjust annual profit and a defensible salary estimate to see how those inputs change the potential S-Corp savings.
• Include Estimated Yearly Costs
  Account for estimated S-Corp operating costs in the result so the estimate reflects net savings rather than tax savings alone.
• Understand The Savings Calculation
  Review the basic comparison behind the estimate: self-employment tax on sole-proprietor profit versus payroll tax on salary, with distributions excluded from self-employment and payroll tax in the calculator's explanation.

Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

A free online calculator that provides a simplified estimate of federal quarterly tax payments for self-employed people. Enter expected annual net self-employment profit and filing status; optional other taxable household income helps account for tax brackets. The estimate covers self-employment tax and federal income tax, applies a simplified QBI deduction and the standard deduction, and divides the total into four payments. It uses 2026 federal figures and is for educational purposes only, not tax, legal, or financial advice.

• Estimate Federal Quarterly Payments
  Get a quick, per-quarter estimate based on your expected profit and filing details, giving you a starting point for planning your federal tax payments.
• Include Self-Employment And Income Taxes
  See an estimate that accounts for both major federal tax components associated with self-employment income, rather than an estimate based on income tax alone.
• Adjust Estimates With Your Tax Details
  Use expected business profit, filing status, and optional other taxable household income to tailor the estimate to the information requested by the calculator.
• Use Updated 2026 Federal Figures
  Calculate an estimate using the federal figures identified for tax year 2026, including the standard deduction, tax brackets, and Social Security wage base.
• Get A Free Estimate Without Signup
  View an estimate directly on the page without signing up, and choose separately whether to request it in writing by email.
• Receive Your Estimate By Email
  Request a written copy of the estimate by email, with the option to get help setting money aside for taxes automatically.

Bookkeeping Health Check

A free, two-minute online check that asks five quick questions to assess the health of your books. It provides a Bookkeeping Health Score and a personalized action plan tailored to your answers, with results delivered by email. The check is presented in plain language and comes with no obligation.

• Get A Tailored Action Plan
  Receive practical next steps based on your responses, alongside your score. Your results appear on the page, and the action plan is also sent to your email.
• Assess Your Bookkeeping Health
  Complete a short, plain-language check to get an indication of how healthy your books are. The assessment takes about two minutes and consists of five questions.
• See Your Bookkeeping Score
  Get a numeric score out of 100 that summarizes the health of your books based on the answers you provided.