Compare bookkeeping, CPA and financial-management support by deliverables, access, responsibilities and the decisions your Richmond business needs to make.
Make the work visible before choosing a title
Write down what is falling behind: matching transactions, issuing invoices, collecting receipts, preparing reports or understanding cash needs. Then list decisions you cannot currently make with confidence. A Richmond retailer, a Hanover contractor and a Henrico professional practice may use similar software while needing very different workflows. Describe your transaction volume, staffing, locations and reporting needs without assuming that the largest service package is the right one.
Separate recurring work from review and planning
Ask each candidate to explain what they would do every week, at month-end and when a special question arises. Bookkeeping commonly focuses on records and routine reconciliation; the scope of a CPA or financial-management engagement depends on the agreed work. A title such as fractional CFO does not tell you exactly which deliverables are included. Request a sample reporting schedule and a clear explanation of what would require a separate engagement.
Agree on a useful monthly close
Decide who provides receipts, answers coding questions and approves corrections. Ask when reconciliations and reports will be ready, who explains unusual changes and how unresolved items are tracked. Have the provider walk through a sample report with invented or anonymized numbers. You should be able to identify the decisions it supports, rather than receiving a stack of unexplained charts. Record the handoff between the person keeping the books and the person preparing any required filings.
Keep control of access and records
Identify the business owner of each software account, the access level each worker needs and the secure process for sharing documents. Ask how the business receives its records if the relationship ends. Agree on approval for bill payments and changes to bank details; avoid making one outside contact the only person able to retrieve essential information. Add the review of access and records to your normal management routine, not only to an eventual provider change.
Verify credentials and compare written scope
The Virginia Board of Accountancy directs consumers to verify CPA licensing and explains the role of an engagement letter. Use the exact individual and firm names when checking. Compare deliverables, timing, client responsibilities and fees across proposals. For help organizing the business-planning question itself, the Capital Region SBDC lists a Richmond counseling entrypoint. Confirm its current services and appointment process. General planning assistance does not replace an engagement for your specific accounting or tax work.