Everything you need to know before we get started.

Traditional CPA firms operate as "financial historians" — they look backward at your past transactions and compile compliance filings after the window for meaningful planning has already closed. We operate as a strategic C-suite partner, deploying forward-looking models, proactive tax mitigation, and active project management of your financial infrastructure. We also come with zero industry learning curve — we natively understand subscription metrics, ASC 606 revenue recognition, clinical trial budgeting, and R&D credit eligibility from day one.

We specialize exclusively in high-complexity sectors: SaaS & Technology, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Biotech, and Advanced Manufacturing. Our ideal client is a venture-backed, bootstrapped, or institutional-grade entity approaching or scaling past $1M–$2M+ in annual revenue. We do not serve general retail, restaurants, or non-technical service businesses.

Yes. While we are headquartered in Raleigh, NC, we are a fully cloud-native firm and serve high-growth companies nationally. All client work is conducted through our secure digital infrastructure including TaxDome, QuickBooks Online, and Dext. Geographic location is not a barrier to working with us.

A Fractional CFO provides the same strategic financial leadership as a full-time Chief Financial Officer — but on a part-time or project basis. For us, this means delivering dynamic runway modeling, board-grade financial reporting, cap table advisory, and C-suite communication support without you paying a $250K+ annual salary. You get institutional-grade financial leadership scaled to exactly what your stage requires.

We offer both as separate or integrated engagements depending on your needs. Tax return preparation is typically scoped as its own engagement. Tax strategy is an ongoing advisory relationship. Bookkeeping and CFO advisory are monthly retainer services. Many clients work with us across multiple service lines, but we scope them separately so pricing and expectations remain clear.

The Section 41 R&D tax credit is a federal incentive that allows qualifying businesses to offset payroll tax liability by up to $500,000 per year. Many SaaS, biotech, pharma, and tech companies are eligible — often without knowing it. Qualifying activities include software development, clinical research, product testing, and process improvement. We conduct a full R&D credit study as part of our tax strategy engagement to identify and capture every dollar your company is entitled to.

Section 1202 QSBS (Qualified Small Business Stock) allows founders and early investors to exclude up to 100% of capital gains on the sale of qualifying stock — potentially saving millions in taxes at exit. To qualify, your company must meet specific requirements around entity structure, asset size, and active business activity. The key is structuring your corporate architecture years in advance of an exit. We identify QSBS eligibility early and structure your entity accordingly as part of our tax strategy advisory.

Every new engagement begins with our Financial Health & Venture-Readiness Assessment — a standalone project that delivers a comprehensive diagnostic of your financial architecture and a clear roadmap before any ongoing commitment. From there, we scope the appropriate ongoing services. Onboarding is managed through our TaxDome client portal, where you'll complete an intake form, connect your existing accounts, and receive your secure document workspace.

No — this is exactly why we exist. We commonly onboard clients whose books are outdated, on cash basis, or built on a weak foundation. As part of the initial assessment and bookkeeping engagement, we handle the cleanup, transition to accrual accounting, and architect a clean ledger from the ground up. You don't need to be ready — that's our job.

Our core cloud stack includes QuickBooks Online (QBO) for the general ledger, Dext for automated receipt and document capture, TaxDome for client portal, document management, and e-signatures, and Fathom for financial reporting and forecasting dashboards. We project-manage your entire tech stack — you don't need to know how these tools work; we do.

All document sharing and e-signatures are handled through your secure TaxDome client portal. Day-to-day strategic communication is available via Google Chat IM for Fractional CFO clients. We also schedule dedicated weekly executive briefings for ongoing advisory clients. You'll always know who to reach and how.

We do not charge hourly. Ongoing services (bookkeeping, Fractional CFO advisory, tax strategy) are priced as monthly retainers scoped to your entity's complexity and revenue stage. The Venture-Readiness Assessment is a standalone fixed-fee project. Tax return preparation is scoped per entity. All pricing is presented transparently upfront — no surprise invoices.

We intentionally structure our entry point around the Financial Health & Venture-Readiness Assessment — a standalone project that delivers immediate value with no ongoing commitment required. From there, ongoing advisory engagements are structured as 12-month agreements with a 30-day notice provision, reflecting the depth of integration we build into your financial infrastructure.

Our ideal client is approaching or scaling past $1M–$2M+ in annual revenue. At this stage, the financial infrastructure decisions you make have a direct multiplying effect on your enterprise value and exit readiness. Pre-revenue entities may be considered on a case-by-case basis if there is significant venture backing or institutional complexity that warrants the engagement.

Tax preparation is the annual or quarterly compliance process — filing your returns accurately based on what already happened. Tax strategy is the year-round planning process that shapes what happens before it's recorded. Strategy involves R&D credit engineering, QSBS structuring, quarterly mitigation planning, and aligning your operational decisions with your tax position in advance. Most firms only offer preparation. We offer both — and we prioritize strategy because that's where the real value is captured.

Many high-impact strategies need to be in place before December 31st of the tax year. However, it is rarely too late to start. R&D credits can often be claimed retroactively, QSBS structuring can be addressed prospectively, and even mid-year clean books create significantly better outcomes than year-end scrambles. The best time to start is now — and the second best time is still now.

Your secure TaxDome client portal is available at slaccountingsolutions.taxdome.com. You'll receive login credentials during onboarding. The portal is where you upload documents, review and sign engagement letters, access completed returns, and communicate securely with the team.

Yes. TaxDome uses 256-bit AES encryption for data at rest and TLS 1.2+ for data in transit — the same security standard used by major financial institutions. We never request sensitive financial data via email. All document exchange, e-signatures, and communications happen exclusively within your secure portal environment.