Setup & Training
Bookkeeping system setup & training for landscaping operations.
For owners who want clean books without outsourcing them. We set up the bookkeeping workflow, teach you how to use it, and stay on call when you need us.
Accounting software credentials
Verified certifications supporting QuickBooks Online work when that platform fits the client.
Who this is for
Built for owners who want to run their own books, done correctly.
Most bookkeepers only want to take over your books. That works for some businesses, but not all of them. Some owners want to stay close to the numbers themselves, they just need someone to build the bookkeeping system correctly and teach them how to use it. QuickBooks Online support is available when that platform fits the client.
Owner operators who want clean books but don't want to outsource them
Brand new businesses choosing a bookkeeping system for the first time
Founders coming off spreadsheets who finally need a real accounting system
Businesses switching from spreadsheets or older software into a cleaner workflow
Anyone whose existing bookkeeping file is a mess and needs a clean reset
For landscaping & lawn care
Set up for how a landscaping business actually runs
A chart of accounts by service line
Income and cost categories for mowing, mulch, planting, tree work, hardscape, and cleanup, so the P&L shows how each kind of work performs.
A products & services list for estimates and invoices
Set up so landscaping estimates and invoices are fast to build and map cleanly back to the right income accounts.
Bank rules that separate the real costs
Rules that split suppliers, fuel, repairs, equipment rentals, payroll, insurance, and owner activity instead of dumping them in one pile.
Training on the parts that trip owners up
Customer deposits, undeposited funds, reconciliations, and the monthly reports that tell you whether the work made money.
Not sure whether you need setup, cleanup, or monthly bookkeeping? Start with the free diagnostic.
What gets fixed
The six things that go wrong in most bookkeeping systems
Almost every bookkeeping file we open for the first time has the same handful of problems. If any of these sound familiar, the Setup Sprint or a Training Intensive session is built to fix it. For step by step help on reconciliations specifically, see our reconciliation guide.
A chart of accounts that doesn't match your business
Default account categories rarely match how your business actually runs. We replace them with a chart structured so the P&L tells you something useful.
Bank feeds that miscategorize everything
Without rules and a proper chart of accounts, the bank feed lumps everything into the wrong buckets. We set up rules that get it right automatically going forward.
Reconciliations you don't trust
If reconciliation is a guessing game, your reports are unreliable. We teach you the process and what to do when the bank balance doesn't match.
Sales tax that isn't actually configured
Most new QBO files have sales tax 'turned on' but not actually wired correctly. We make sure what you collect matches what you owe.
Invoices that look amateur
Default QBO invoices are bland and easy to miss. We customize templates so invoices look like they came from a real business, which gets them paid faster.
An owner who avoids the books because the numbers feel wrong
When the file is set up right and you've been trained on the parts you use, bookkeeping software stops being a chore. That's the entire point.
Three ways to start
Pick the package that fits where you are.
Setup only if your file isn't built right yet. Training only if your file works but you don't. Bundle if you want both done together and want to save a few hundred dollars doing it.
Setup Sprint
$750 one time
A clean foundation for owners just starting out, or starting over.
- ✓New bookkeeping system setup, or cleanup of an existing file (chart of accounts review and reset)
- ✓Chart of accounts customized to your business model (service vs. product, contractor vs. retail)
- ✓Bank, credit card, and payment processor connections + opening balances
- ✓Customer and vendor lists imported and cleaned
- ✓Sales tax configured if applicable to your state and services
- ✓Products & services list set up so invoices look professional from day one
- ✓One 60 minute walkthrough call once the file is ready
- ✓30 days of email Q&A included
Setup + Training Bundle
$1,495 one time
Setup done right, plus the confidence to run it yourself.
- ✓Everything in the Setup Sprint
- ✓Four 90 minute training sessions on the topics of your choice
- ✓30 days of email Q&A after the final session
- ✓Saves $255 vs. buying setup and four sessions separately
Training Intensive
$250 per 90-min session
À la carte, pick the topics that hurt. Buy 3 for $675 and save $75.
- ✓90 minute one on one screen share
- ✓Choose any topic, see the list below
- ✓Recording of the session sent after
- ✓Written follow-up summary with steps
- ✓30 days of email Q&A on the topic
- ✓Bundle 3 sessions for $675 (save $75)
Training topics
Pick what you actually need help with.
Every Training Intensive session and bundle session is focused on one topic. These are the most common ones, but if what you need isn't listed, tell us when you book and we'll tailor the session.
Banking & Reconciliations
Bank feed setup, transaction matching, fixing mismatched reconciliations, undeposited funds cleanup, bank rules that don't break things.
Invoicing & Accounts Receivable
Estimates, invoices, payment links, statements, late fee handling, applying customer credits, what to do when payments come in through Stripe or Square.
Bills & Expenses
Entering bills, paying bills, vendor credits, credit card charge entry, knowing when to use a bill vs. an expense vs. a journal entry.
Payroll Basics
Coordinating payroll with your bookkeeping, federal and state tax setup, employee vs. contractor handling, year end W-2 and 1099 prep.
Sales Tax
Collecting sales tax at point of sale, recording it inside QBO, reconciling collected vs. remitted, preparing the data for state filings.
Reports for Owners
Reading your P&L and Balance Sheet, building custom reports, scheduled emailed reports, exporting clean data for your CPA at tax time.
The Support Promise
When the session ends, the help doesn't.
30 days of email Q&A, included
After your last session, you have 30 days to email us any bookkeeping system question that comes up. We respond within one business day. No timer, no per question fee, no awkward bill at the end.
Direct cell access for urgent issues
For genuinely time sensitive problems, like a file your CPA needs today, payroll that will not run, or a reconciliation that breaks during tax prep, you get our direct cell number so you can text or call. We reserve it for emergencies so it stays valuable.
After 30 days, clients can book another Training Intensive session, transition into one of our monthly bookkeeping plans, or simply check back when something new comes up.
From the resource library
Want to learn before you book?
We wrote these three guides for owners doing it themselves. Skim one, if it feels like you, the Setup Sprint or a Training Intensive picks up where the guide leaves off.
Software Setup
QuickBooks Online Setup Checklist: 12 Steps for a New Business
The exact order to set QuickBooks Online up, and what to skip until later.
Read the guide →Reconciliations
How to Reconcile in QuickBooks Online, and Fix It When It Won't Match
Step-by-step reconciliation plus the five reasons your bank balance won't agree.
Read the guide →Chart of Accounts
Chart of Accounts for Small Businesses: A QuickBooks Ready Template
Numbered chart of accounts with sample tables for service, contractor, and product businesses.
Read the guide →Frequently asked
Questions before you book
Do I need to be a current bookkeeping client?
No. Setup & Training is a standalone service designed for owners who want to run their own books in a small business bookkeeping system. We do the setup or the training (or both), and you take it from there. If you decide later that monthly bookkeeping is a better fit, we can transition you into a plan without redoing the file.
Which bookkeeping systems do you support?
We support QuickBooks Online when it is the right fit, along with bookkeeping workflows that use spreadsheets, bank feeds, payroll tools, and other small business software. The recommendation depends on your business model, volume, payroll, sales tax, and reporting needs.
How long does the Setup Sprint take?
Most files are ready within 5 to 10 business days from the kickoff call, depending on how clean the existing data is. We schedule the 60 minute walkthrough call once the system is configured so you can use it confidently the day we hand it over.
What if I need help after the engagement ends?
Every engagement includes 30 days of email Q&A after the last session. For genuinely urgent issues, like a file your CPA needs today, payroll that will not run, or a reconciliation that breaks during tax prep, you get my direct cell number so you can text or call. After 30 days you can book another Training Intensive session or move into a monthly bookkeeping plan.
Can the training cover topics not listed?
Yes. The six topics listed are the most requested ones, but a session can cover the workflow you actually use: class tracking, projects, custom reports, payroll coordination, sales tax tracking, or integrations like Stripe or Square. Tell us what you want to learn when you book and we'll tailor the session.
Is bookkeeping software included in the price?
No. Any bookkeeping software subscription is billed directly to you by the software provider. We can help you compare options and pick a setup that fits your actual bookkeeping workflow.
QuickBooks guides for landscaping companies
What to read before or after your setup session.
QuickBooks Online for Landscaping Companies
Chart of accounts, products and services list, job costing, and the monthly close — specific to landscaping.
Landscaping Chart of Accounts
Income by service line, COGS for labor and materials, and operating expense structure.
QuickBooks Online Setup Checklist
Step-by-step checklist for the initial QuickBooks setup.
Ready to get your bookkeeping system running the way it should?
Book a free 20 minute diagnostic, we'll look at where you are and tell you exactly which package fits, with no obligation.