Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we get about our accounting services, pricing, tools, and how we work at Acuity.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us – we’re happy to help.
- Where are Acuity’s employees located? While we’re headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, our accounting experts live throughout the U.S. and some even live internationally. We also have an office in the Philippines and St. Lucia. We believe that our unique ability to employ team members no matter where they live is one of the key reasons we’re able to attract the top accounting professionals in the industry. Plus it allows our team really cool opportunities to see the world while still serving our clients!
- Does Acuity specialize in any industries? Absolutely! While we serve entrepreneurs across various sectors, we’ve developed deep expertise in certain industries, allowing us to provide tailored support and insights.We specialize in:
- What is the onboarding process like? First off, congrats on choosing Acuity—the best accounting firm in the world! Once you come on board with Acuity, you will be assigned a dedicated Operations Team Lead. This assignment typically takes 1-3 business days, but once assigned, they will reach out to begin getting access to all the necessary information for us to get started. From there, they will review your existing accounting setup and practices, and schedule an onboarding call to get the ball rolling.
Pro Tip: We highly encourage you to get to know your Operations Manager and reach out to them whenever you have any needs or questions! - What does “Acuity, powered by Sorren” mean? The short answer is: we’re growing! We’re joining forces with other like-minded firms across the country under a new name: Sorren – bringing you a larger network of resources and service offerings, while keeping what matters most – our commitment to our people, clients, and communities. Learn more about this new name here.
- Can I cancel your services at any time? Yes. Our bookkeeping engagements require a 30-day notice for cancellation, but the controller and CFO engagements can be canceled at any time.
- What does “Acuity, powered by Sorren” mean? The short answer is: we’re growing! We’re joining forces with other like-minded firms across the country under a new name: Sorren – bringing you a larger network of resources and service offerings, while keeping what matters most – our commitment to our people, clients, and communities. Learn more about this new name here.
- What locations does Acuity serve? Since we’re an outsourced accounting firm, we serve businesses all over the United States. Here are some major cities in the U.S. that we serve and where some of our team members live!
- What precautions does Acuity take to protect my personal information? We take your privacy seriously—like, superhero seriously! Your usernames and passwords are locked away in our 1Password encrypted vault, safe from any unauthorized users. And we go the extra mile with 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) whenever possible, adding an extra layer of security to keep your info extra safe. When it comes to delivering your data and reports, we usually send them via email. But hey, if you have a different preference, just let us know! We’re all about making sure your info is not just secure, but also delivered in a way that works best for you.
- Is my business in the Essentials, Growing, or Established stage? Essentials: This is your go-to if you’re just looking to keep things simple and tax-compliant. It’s like the basics-only playlist: straightforward and gets the job done.
Growing: Ready to step up your game? This plan is for you if you’re not just looking at your financial statements but actually using them to make decisions. Think of it as your curated playlist of hits – reliable and insightful.
Established: This one’s for the big players. If you’re making major decisions and need to report to banks, boards, or investors, this plan is your power playlist – packed with everything you need to stay on top and impress the crowd. - What is the Essentials stage? The Essentials stage is for entrepreneurs who have simple back-office operations and are looking to stay on top of their tax. No extra bells and whistles – just what you need to stay compliant and focused.
- What is the Growing stage? The Growing stage is for entrepreneurs who have increasingly complex back-office operations and ready to use their financials to make better business decisions. Take things up a notch with personalized insights and support you need to keep scaling.
- What is the Established stage? The Established stage is for entrepreneurs who have complex back-office operations and are making big business moves. If you’re managing major decisions and reporting to stakeholders like banks, boards, or investors, you can rely on our expert advisors to give you everything you need to stay sharp and confident.
- Which client stage is right for my business? Our services are structured into three stages – Essentials, Growing, and Established. If you’re primarily focused on tax compliance and basic financial management, Essentials is for you. If you’re using financial data to drive business decisions, you’re in the Growing stage. For advanced financial management and strategic support, Established is the best fit. Visit our pricing page for examples of accounting solutions you may need in each stage.
- Does Acuity cover all of my bookkeeping needs? Yes! Our bookkeeping service is designed to handle everything from transaction categorization and reconciliation to financial reporting and month-end close. We also offer a la carte services like payroll, invoicing, and bill pay to give you a fully customized solution, while making sure you only pay for what you need.
- What’s the difference between bookkeeping services and standard accounting? Bookkeeping focuses on daily financial tasks – recording transactions, reconciling accounts, and keeping the books organized. Accounting builds on that foundation to analyze trends and guide financial strategy.
Our bookkeeper services keep your records accurate and compliant, making tax time and big-picture planning much easier. - What tasks are included in your bookkeeping services? Acuity’s bookkeeping services include transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and month-end close. We also ensure your books stay clean and tax-ready.
Need more? We offer payroll, invoicing, collections, and more to keep your business running smoothly as you scale. - What are the benefits of hiring a bookkeeper? A dedicated bookkeeper saves you time, reduces stress, and keeps your financials in order – so you always have a clear picture of your business’s performance. With our bookkeeping service, you’ll get accurate, tax-ready books without the hassle of managing them yourself.
We work in your business so that you can work on your business.
- Why should I hire Acuity to help with my business taxes? Acuity’s business tax service take the stress out of tax season. Our CPAs do more than just file your taxes – they help you plan ahead to maximize deductions, minimize liabilities, and ensure full compliance. With expert guidance, you’ll avoid surprises and keep more of your hard-earned money.
- Are tax services different from bookkeeping and accounting services? Yes. Business tax services focus on tax preparation, filing, and strategic planning to optimize your tax situation. Bookkeeping tracks and organizes financial transactions, while accounting provides broader financial management, reporting, and analysis. At Acuity, we integrate all these services, so your finances are always tax-ready.
- When should I hire a company like Acuity for my business taxes? The best time to hire a business tax service like Acuity is before tax season – proactive planning means fewer headaches and better financial outcomes. If your business is growing, your tax situation is getting more complex, or you’re tired of juggling multiple vendors, it’s time to bring in expert support. We’ll keep you compliant, maximize savings, and make tax time a breeze.
- Can you estimate how many hours I need for controller services? Is there a fixed price option? Each business is unique, so controller hours will vary based on your specific needs. While we can’t guarantee a set number of hours upfront, we do commit to providing a clear communication plan to keep you updated on our progress. As for a fixed price, we first need to understand the full scope of your requirements. Once we have more details, we can discuss pricing options that best suit your business. Book a call today to get started!
- How do I communicate with my controller? Our bookkeeping services are virtual so we communicate with clients via email, phone, Slack, and video call. Our CFOs also have the ability to work onsite with clients in the Atlanta area.
- When should you hire a virtual CFO for startups?
95% of companies aren’t large enough to need a full-time CFO. However, often times businesses try to bring on a full-time CFO too quickly, and they end up functioning like a very expensive bookkeeper or controller.
We recommend bringing a fractional CFO on board when you start needing help with complex projects, like cap table systems, building investor pitch decks, building budgets and strategic plans, etc. A fractional CFO is a virtual expert who you can pay for project work an as-needed basis, rather than keeping a full-time CFO on your payroll. - How much does a virtual CFO cost? A full-time CFO might set you back about $250,000 annually. With our virtual CFO services, you gain that CFO expertise without the full-time cost.
Need short-term expertise? Our virtual CFO pricing begins at $275 an hour.
Need more long-term strategic help? For $4,000 per month, or less than $50,000 per year, you can get weekly CFO insights. - What’s the difference between a fractional CFO and a virtual CFO? “Fractional CFO” and “virtual CFO” are terms that are typically used interchangeably. At Acuity, when we talk about fractional and virtual CFOs, we’re referring to the same team members.