Getting started
Do I have to start with the Financial Clarity Assessment? +
For business clients, yes — the Financial Clarity Assessment is the required starting point. It’s a structured process: initial conversation, review of your financials and documentation, then a written recommendation and scope. We don’t price or begin work until we understand your actual situation. Very limited exceptions apply, such as personal tax-only engagements.
What happens during the Financial Clarity Assessment? +
Three steps: an initial conversation about your business and current financial setup; a review of your books and relevant documentation; and a written recommendation that includes the right service, scope, and fixed fee. You’ll have a clear picture of what we’d recommend before committing to anything. The fee is $750 for businesses under $1M in revenue, or $1,000 for businesses over $1M — credited in full toward your first engagement.
What if I’m not sure which service I need? +
That’s exactly what the Assessment is for. We’ll review your situation and confirm whether Fundamentals, Fractional Controller Services, or something else is the right fit. Don’t try to figure it out in advance — that’s our job.
Pricing
How is your pricing structured? +
Every engagement is fixed-fee — no hourly billing. After the Financial Clarity Assessment, we provide pricing based on your actual complexity using our tier structure. The fee is documented in your engagement letter before any work begins and reviewed annually
What does the Financial Clarity Assessment cost? +
The Financial Clarity Assessment is $750 for businesses under $1M in revenue, or $1,000 for businesses over $1M. That fee is credited in full toward your first engagement — so if you engage, the Assessment costs you nothing out of pocket.
Do you bill hourly for anything? +
No. All Enlightened Order engagements are fixed-fee. Fixed fees create better relationships — you know what you’re paying, we know what we’re delivering, and nobody is watching the clock.
Services
What’s the difference between Fundamentals and Fractional Controller Services? +
Fundamentals is for businesses that want Enlightened Order handling the full accounting function — bookkeeping, close, financial statements, and reporting. Fractional Controller Services is for businesses that already have a bookkeeper or internal accounting staff — we review their work, own the monthly close, assess internal controls, identify fraud risk, and stand behind the accuracy of the output. The Financial Clarity Assessment confirms which path fits your situation.
What are the three Fundamentals tiers? +
Collaborate — you categorize your own transactions; we complete reconciliations, prepare financial statements, and deliver a plain-language monthly narrative. Core — we handle the complete accounting function including bookkeeping, close, financial statements, and a plain-language narrative. Quarterly review meetings included. Concierge — everything in Core with monthly meetings, custom reports, and priority response. Pricing for each tier is determined after a Financial Clarity Assessment based on your actual scope.
What is DIY Bookkeeping Support? +
DIY Bookkeeping Support ($125/month) is for business owners who manage their own bookkeeping and want professional backup. It includes email support for basic bookkeeping and QuickBooks questions (up to 8 per month, email only). It also includes a quarterly bookkeeping diagnostic review of your books with a written findings report. It is not full-service accounting and does not include tax advice, payroll, or financial statement preparation. See the
DIY Support page for full details.
Do you offer tax services? +
Yes — business and personal return preparation, year-round tax planning, entity structure review, S-Corp compensation analysis, contractor classification, and 1099 compliance. Our tax services are integrated with your accounting relationship.
What is the Financial Clarity System™? +
Our Fractional CFO service — built on top of your accounting foundation. We identify the 3–5 drivers specific to your business, build a monthly scorecard, and deliver 1–3 prioritized actions every month. Starts at $4,500/month. Appropriate for businesses with a solid accounting foundation that are ready to use their numbers strategically.
Working together
Do you work with businesses outside Colorado? +
Yes — we’ve been fully remote since 2012 and serve clients nationwide. The Financial Clarity Assessment is conducted virtually, all ongoing work is managed remotely, and location has never been a limitation for our client relationships.
How do you communicate with clients? +
Primarily email and scheduled Zoom meetings. All clients have a defined response time based on their tier — 2 business days for Collaborate, 2 business days for Core, 1 business day for Concierge. We also proactively reach out when something warrants your attention — not just when you ask.
How much time will I need to spend on accounting if I work with you? +
For Core and Concierge clients, very little. We handle the full accounting function — bookkeeping, close, reconciliations, and financial reporting. You receive a finished product: financial statements and a plain-language narrative that explains what the numbers mean Most clients spend 20–30 minutes per month reviewing their report and connecting briefly with our team. The hours previously spent in QuickBooks, re-explaining your business to your CPA, or building your own spreadsheets on top of your accounting software — those go away.
Can you produce financials for a lender, investor, or business sale? +
Yes — and this is one of the most common reasons businesses come to us. Lenders and investors need financials that are accurate, consistently produced, and reviewed by a professional. Our Fundamentals engagements produce lender-ready financials as a matter of course. For businesses that need controller-level oversight with formal sign-off, our Fractional Controller Services — specifically the Enterprise tier — includes a named CPA controller who formally reviews and approves your financials before delivery.
Technology & Systems
What accounting software and ERP systems do you work with? +
While a large portion of our work is with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop, we also support Xero, Intuit Enterprise Suite, NetSuite, Acumatica, MYOB, Sage, and other ERP systems. If you’re using a different platform, ask us — we’ll confirm fit as part of the Financial Clarity Assessment before any engagement begins.
Fit & Getting Started
What size businesses are the best fit for Enlightened Order? +
We work with businesses of different sizes, but we are especially well suited for established owners who want more visibility, stronger financial oversight, and more decision support than a basic bookkeeping relationship provides.
What if I already have a bookkeeper or internal accounting staff? +
That may be a strong fit for our Fractional Controller service. We review the work, manage the close, and help strengthen the reliability of the financials.
Do I need CFO services to work with you? +
No. Many clients begin with monthly accounting or controller oversight and add advisory or CFO support later as the business becomes more complex.
How do I know whether I need Fundamentals or Controller services? +
That is exactly what the Financial Clarity Assessment is designed to determine. We review your current structure and recommend the right path before any engagement begins.
How is the Fractional CFO service different from a Financial Advisory Project? +
A Financial Advisory Project is a defined, one-time engagement focused on a specific question or decision — a pricing analysis, a profitability review, a business valuation, or similar work. It has a clear scope, a deliverable, and an end date. The Fractional CFO service (Financial Clarity System) is an ongoing monthly engagement. It includes accounting, a monthly scorecard, an advisory meeting, and a prioritized action plan every month. It is designed for owners who want a continuous financial thought partner, not a one-time answer.
