Depends.

1) What do you actually do?

We record every transaction, accurately categorize, weekly reconcile, and monthly report your books.

• Record: Do you really want to learn the latest version of QuickBooks Online? If you hire us... you could be doing the activities that actually need your attention, such as acquiring more properties and spending time with your loved ones.

• Categorize: A Generalist will follow best practices. Nothing wrong with that… until it starts costing you unnecessary tax bills and audits.

  Here are just a few examples that could end up costing you way too much:

  1 CapEx vs. Repairs

  Generalist: Categorizes a new $10k roof as a "Repair" (Expense).

  The REI Ledger: Corrects it as a Capital Improvement to be depreciated, protecting your cost basis.

  2 Escrow Payments

  Generalist: Codes the entire mortgage payment as an "Expense."

  The REI Ledger: Splits the payment into Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance for accurate P&L.

  3 Security Deposits

  Generalist: Records deposits as "Rental Income."

  The REI Ledger: Moves them to a Liability Account on the Balance Sheet (since it’s not your money yet).

  4 Closing Costs

  Generalist: Lists all settlement fees as "Legal Expenses."

  The REI Ledger: Separates Loan Costs (amortized) from Property Basis (depreciated) and deductible items.

  5 Tenant Refunding

  Generalist: Codes a returned deposit as an "Expense."

  The REI Ledger: Properly offsets the Liability Account to keep the P&L clean of non-business "losses."

  6 Owner Draws

  Generalist: Labels personal cash flow as "Payroll" or "Contractor Expense."

  The REI Ledger: Categorizes as an Equity Draw, preventing you from paying unnecessary self-employment tax.

  7 Property Taxes

  Generalist: Categorizes the pre-paid tax at closing as a current-year expense.

  The REI Ledger: Properly allocates it to the basis or the specific tax year it covers.

  8 Appliances

  Generalist: Slaps a $2,000 HVAC or Fridge into "Supplies."

  The REI Ledger: Identifies it as a Fixed Asset that may qualify for De Minimis Safe Harbor or Bonus Depreciation.

  9 Travel & Meals

  Generalist: Often ignored or buried in "Miscellaneous."

  The REI Ledger: Captures and categorizes specifically for IRS compliance (e.g., local vs. long-distance travel).

  10 Loan Points

  Generalist: Expenses the full cost of "points" in the year of purchase.

  The REI Ledger: Amortizes them over the life of the loan per IRS requirements.

• Reconcile: The Generalist will send you a long spreadsheet at the end of the month asking if you remember what each and every receipt was for and which property it went with. Causing a massive headache and unnecessary stress. The REI Ledger reconciles weekly so any needed questions can be answered accurately and timely without dumping extra work on you at the end of each month.

• Report: A Generalist will make your reports unnecessarily long and unreadable. As an investor, you must be able to make quick decisions based off of actual numbers. The REI Ledger uses QBO Class Tracking to ensure that all reports are readable. You can quickly see your numbers “as a whole” or per property, allowing you to move quickly when opportunities come along.

2) Should I just do the books myself?

Not if you’re serious about investing.

For most investors, trying to keep up with the books pulls them away from building their portfolio. Your energy should be focused on high-value activities that actually move the needle, like analyzing new deals, negotiating contracts, and building relationships with lenders.

As an investor, you are the CEO of your portfolio; your job is to find the next opportunity and drive the strategy, not to function as your own data-entry clerk. By offloading the ledgers to a specialist, you free up the mental bandwidth necessary to scale your business while having the peace of mind that your financial foundation is being built by an expert.

3) Where can I find someone to do it cheaper?

The best place is to ask your current CPA.

When it comes to real estate bookkeeping, "cheap" is often the most expensive mistake an investor can make. A budget service might keep your bank feed green, but they lack the specialized knowledge to catch the missed depreciation, misclassified CapEx, and complex loan treatments that actually save you thousands at tax time.

You aren't just paying for data entry; you’re investing in an accurate financial "scoreboard" that lenders trust and an audit-proof foundation that allows you to scale without looking back. Think of it this way—hiring a budget service to do real estate books is like hiring a plumber to do your electrical work. It might look fine on the surface, but you won't know there's a problem until the "house" is at risk.

4) Do you do other things like taxes and payroll?

No, those are outside of our Scope of Work

The financial statements are a vital decision making tool for any serious real estate investor. We focus exclusively on delivering meticulous, high-level bookkeeping. For real estate investors, the "books" are the heartbeat of the operation; accurate financial records are vital for tracking property performance, maximizing cash flow, and ensuring you're ready for any acquisition or audit. By specializing in the numbers, we provide the clarity you need to scale your portfolio with confidence. Your CPA and banker will thank you.

5) How do I get started?

Schedule a call with us.

1) Schedule a FREE 15 minute consultation using our Contact form.

2) During the call tell us what your current portfolio holds and what you want your portfolio to look like in 2 years.

3) After the call, give us Accountant Access to your QBO. We will look at your books to calculate your Average Monthly Transaction Rate and clean up fee.

4) We will reply to you within 5 business days with a written Estimate of Onboarding and Monthly Fee. And schedule a follow up consultation call.

5) You will be sent a Letter of Engagement that outlines everything in our agreement and the Initial Invoice.

6) To officially secure your spot in our onboarding queue, we require the Initial Invoice to be settled in full.

7) You will be assigned your day of the week and get, at minimum, weekly communication.

Our Remote Workflow

Our 100% remote model means efficient, secure, and seamless service, no matter where your investments are located.

• Secure Cloud Integration: We utilize industry-leading software (QuickBooks Online) and securely integrate with your bank, credit card accounts, and property management software.

• Weekly Reconciliation & Review: Every week, we reconcile all accounts, categorize every transaction with a real estate investor lens, and review your Trial Balance for any red flags.

• Investor-Focused Monthly Reporting: You receive easy-to-read, comprehensive monthly financial reports, including a Balance Sheet by Property and a Profit & Loss by Class (to track individual property performance), so you always know which investments are driving the highest return.

Our Pledge to You

We believe that your financial reports should be a tool for decision-making, not a necessary evil at tax time. Our specialized focus means we anticipate the complexities of your real estate business and provide the structural bookkeeping support required to succeed.

Stop giving the government an interest-free loan. Stop paying your CPA extra to fix amateur mistakes. Partner with us and ensure that the financial engine of your real estate portfolio is running at peak efficiency, setting you up for maximum profitability and minimum tax burden.

Your focus is your portfolio. Our focus is your financial foundation.

Are you ready to elevate your bookkeeping from a chore to a strategic asset?

Let's connect to discuss how our specialized approach can directly improve your tax outcomes this year.