How it works
A consult, a decision, then a calendar.
Every engagement follows the same sequence. Thirty minutes to see whether we fit; a Diagnostic only if the books need one; then a close calendar that repeats every month until renewal.
Week 0
The free 30-minute consult
We ask about revenue, entities, who does the books today, what your lender or surety asks for, and what is late. Then we tell you whether the Diagnostic is needed or you can start with Controller Essentials directly. No pitch. You get a one-page note on what we heard and what we would propose.
Weeks 1–2Side step
The Financial Health Diagnostic, only when needed
Behind on reconciliations, more than one entity, a lender covenant, revenue above $6M, or a cleanup smell. Optional for Band A and B when the consult shows the books are current. You grant read-only QuickBooks or Xero access; it runs for 10 business days at $2,500. Credited to month one of any band signed within 30 days.
Then
Engagement letter and onboarding
You sign an engagement letter with scope, fee and included hours. An onboarding checklist in the client portal shows what we need from you and what we are doing, item by item. Without a Diagnostic, the first month’s hours cover a lighter onboarding review.
Month 1
The close calendar
The first close runs to a calendar. Your management-use package lands on a fixed business day: day 15 on Controller Essentials, day 10 on Controller + Cash, down to day 5 on the largest package.
Every month
Package, usage statement, notice
Hours are logged per client per task and shown on a monthly usage statement delivered with your financial package. At 80% of included hours we tell you in writing what is consuming the time, and offer to defer it, add an add-on, or bill the overage.
Renewal
Re-banding
Bands are reviewed annually at renewal against trailing-twelve-month revenue. Two consecutive months over cap moves you to the next band with 15 days notice, or you reduce scope instead.
The close calendar is the product. Everything else, the package, the usage statement and the notice, hangs off a date you can plan around.
The client portal
Where you see it.
Packages, usage statements, requests and documents live in one place. The previews below use demo data for Harbor & Pine Builders, a fictional company.
Usage statement · April 2026
Harbor & Pine Builders · Band B with WIP schedule
15.5of 19.0 included hours
80% notice sent| Close and reporting | 6.25 h |
|---|---|
| Reconciliation | 4.50 h |
| AP / AR | 2.00 h |
| Meetings and calls | 1.50 h |
| Ad-hoc questions | 1.25 h |
Written notice at 80%
Close and reporting is taking most of the time this month. Choose to defer the budget review to May, add an add-on, or have the overage billed at $225/hr.
Financial packages
Harbor & Pine Builders · delivered day 10 of the following month
| August 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | Delivered |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Aug 14, 2026 | Delivered |
| June 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | Delivered |
| May 2026 | Jun 12, 2026 | Delivered |
Requests
Answered within 2 days on band B
- Retainage on Job 2216: where does it sit on the balance sheet?In progress
- Bank wants the Q2 covenant figuresWaiting on you
- Recode the June fuel card charges to jobsResolved
Free · 30 minutes
Step one is thirty minutes.
You get a one-page note on what we heard and what we would propose.