Des Moines · small-business accounting · est. 2010
Books closed by the 10th.
Every month. In writing.
Hartwell & Co. keeps the books for about ninety Iowa small businesses — flat monthly pricing, a one-page summary a human can read, and a tax calendar that means April stops being a season of dread.
Services & fees
Fixed and published, because "it depends" is not a price.
| Service | Fee | What that buys |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping | from $295/mo | Categorized, reconciled, closed by the 10th, one-page summary |
| Individual return (1040) | from $240 | Owner returns with Sch. C or K-1 typically $340–$520 |
| S-corp / partnership return | from $850 | 1120-S / 1065 with state and owner K-1s |
| Payroll | $95/mo + $6/employee | Filings, W-2s, year-end — done, not "supported" |
| QuickBooks cleanup | $125/hr | One-hour diagnostic first, written estimate, no scolding |
| S-corp analysis | $350 flat | Real numbers incl. payroll costs; credited if we do the setup |
The year, by deadline
Clients get each of these as a reminder three weeks out, with exactly what we need from them. Nobody files an extension by accident here.
- Q4 estimated taxes due
- W-2s and 1099s out the door
- S-corp & partnership returns (or extensions)
- Individual returns · Q1 estimates
- Q2 estimates
- Q3 estimates · extended business returns
- Extended individual returns
- Year-end planning calls — the ones that actually save money
Asked across the desk
How much does monthly bookkeeping cost?
From $295/month for a service business with one bank account and a card; most clients land between $295 and $625 depending on volume and payroll. The price is flat, in writing, and revisited once a year — never mid-year surprises.
When are my books actually done each month?
Closed by the 10th business day, every month, with a one-page plain-English summary: what you made, what's owed, what changed, and the one number to watch. If we're late, that month is free — it's been free twice since 2010.
What does a tax return cost?
Individual returns start at $240; a typical owner's return with a Schedule C or K-1 runs $340–$520. S-corp and partnership returns start at $850 including state filings and K-1s. You get the fixed quote before we start, based on last year's return.
My books are a mess. Where do I start?
With a one-hour diagnostic ($125, credited to the cleanup). You leave with a written estimate of hours and a priority list. Two years behind is normal here; we've untangled seven. Nobody at this office is going to scold you.
Should my business be an S-corp?
Usually worth analyzing once owner profit clears about $50–60k. We run the actual numbers — payroll costs and admin included, not just the savings headline — for a flat $350, credited if we handle the election and setup.
What is the free fit call?
Twenty minutes by phone or video: you describe the business, we say honestly whether we're the right size for you and what it would cost. If we're not a fit, you'll leave with two names of firms that are. Book at (515) 555-0157.
Book the fit call
Call (515) 555-0157 (Mon–Fri 8:30–5) or email office@hartwellco.example with two sentences about the business. Twenty minutes, honest answer, fixed quote — or two referrals if we're the wrong size for you.
Hartwell & Co. · 414 Quillstone Ave, Ste 210, Des Moines, IA 50309