Bookkeeping & Payroll Services in West Branch, MI

Quick answer: Heartwood CPA keeps small-business books current in QuickBooks Online every month: transactions categorized, bank and credit cards reconciled, and a profit and loss and balance sheet delivered. We also run payroll for 1–25 employees, file federal and Michigan payroll taxes, and clean up books that have fallen behind. Get a quote on a free 15-minute call at (989) 965-0138.

Reviewed by Jake Sheltrown, CPA · Updated October 2026

At a glance

  • Who it's for: Sole proprietors, contractors and small businesses with up to 25 employees
  • Software: QuickBooks Online (we set it up if you don't have it)
  • You receive: A monthly profit and loss, balance sheet and a tax-ready year-end package
  • Pricing: A fixed monthly quote based on your transactions, accounts and employees
  • Payroll filings: Federal 941 and 940, Michigan withholding and UIA, W-2s and 1099s
  • How to start: Free 15-minute call at (989) 965-0138

Monthly packages

Packages grow with your business.

Self-employed, no employees

  • Foundation: Up to 75 transactions a month and 1–2 accounts. Reconciliations, categorization, monthly P&L and balance sheet, QuickBooks setup, tax-ready package and email support.
  • Professional: Up to 150 transactions, contractors or several income streams. Everything in Foundation, plus bills and invoicing, 1099 contractor tracking, cash flow review and a 30-minute monthly call.
  • Strategic: 150+ transactions or a more complex structure. Everything in Professional, plus projections, budget vs. actual, a KPI dashboard, bi-weekly advisory calls and an annual written plan.

Businesses with employees (includes payroll)

  • Essential, 1–5 employees: Full bookkeeping, monthly P&L and balance sheet, payroll and payroll tax filings, and a tax-ready package.
  • Professional, 6–15 employees: Everything in Essential, plus bills and receivables, HR compliance basics, financial reporting and a monthly advisory call.
  • Executive, 16–25 employees: Everything in Professional, plus full HR compliance support, forecasting, a KPI dashboard and bi-weekly fractional CFO meetings.

Just starting out or not using QuickBooks yet? Our Essential Starter and Startup Solopreneur plans track income and expenses for you and get you ready for Schedule C.

Behind on your books?

Months of unreconciled accounts, personal and business spending mixed together, or a QuickBooks file nobody trusts: it's common, and it's fixable. Our cleanup work gets you accurate and tax-ready, then monthly bookkeeping keeps you there.

  • Historical records cleanup and catch-up reconciliations
  • Separating personal and business accounts
  • Payroll tax filing catch-up
  • 1099-NEC filing for contractors you paid

Cleanup is quoted as a one-time project after a free review of your file.

How it works

  1. Free 15-minute call. We learn your business, volume and payroll needs.
  2. Fixed monthly quote. Plus a one-time cleanup quote if your books are behind.
  3. Secure connection. We connect to your QuickBooks and bank feeds. No shoeboxes.
  4. Monthly reports. Your financial statements arrive each month, with a CPA to answer questions.

What clients say

"We love Heartwood CPA!!! Extremely professional. Very knowledgeable and thorough. Easy to work with. We use them for our business as well as personal. 10/10 recommend!" — Emily H.

Bookkeeping & payroll FAQs

How much does bookkeeping cost for a small business?

It depends on how many transactions you have each month, how many accounts we reconcile, and whether payroll is included. We give you a fixed monthly quote after a free 15-minute call.

Do I need QuickBooks?

For monthly bookkeeping, yes: we use QuickBooks Online and will set it up for you. Very small or brand-new businesses can start on our Essential Starter plan, which needs no software.

Can you fix a messy QuickBooks file?

Yes. We correct miscategorized transactions, reconcile past months and fix opening balances, then quote cleanup as a one-time project.

Which payroll filings do you handle?

Paychecks and direct deposit, federal Forms 941 and 940, Michigan income tax withholding, Michigan UIA quarterly reports, and year-end W-2s and 1099s.

How do I send you my documents?

Through our secure client portal, so your financial records stay protected.

Serving northern Michigan businesses

Bookkeeping and payroll for contractors, restaurants, farms, medical practices and service businesses in West Branch, Rose City, St. Helen, Hale, Roscommon, Gladwin and across Ogemaw, Roscommon, Iosco and Gladwin counties.

Related services

Ready to get your books off your plate? Call (989) 965-0138 or email accounting@heartwoodcpa.com for a free 15-minute call and a fixed monthly quote.