Industries
Who We Work With: Industries We Serve
At SmallBizMaven, we specialize in supporting service-based businesses that are ready to move from financial chaos to clarity. Whether you’re a solo professional, managing a small team, or in fast-paced startup mode, we design bookkeeping and advisory systems tailored to your business model, workflow, and growth goals.
If you manage a growing creative agency, lead a landscape architect design-build firm, run a law office, work in real estate, or own a facial or skin care spa, we help you stay audit-ready, tax-smart, and fully in control of your numbers. Our clients value both flexibility and accountability—so we build financial systems that reflect that same balance.
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Our Sweet Spot Includes:
Real Estate Industry
We help real estate professionals bring order to fluctuating finances with systems designed to handle:
- Commission management (often done incorrectly!)
- Reimbursable expense tracking
- Cash flow management and financial forecasting
- Support for seasonal cash flow fluctuations
- Proper revenue recognition practices
- Separation of business and personal accounts
- Recordkeeping system development
Self-employment tax compliance
Property Management / AirBnB
Managing rental properties comes with unique financial needs—we’ve got you covered:
- Depreciation of rental properties (in coordination with your CPA)
- Rent collection and payment tracking
- Security deposit and escrow account management
- Expense tracking and allocations
- Budgeting and cash flow management (we helped one client, Jodi, stay afloat during a downturn)
- Regulatory compliance
- Insurance coverage tracking and review
- Contract management
Legal Industry
For attorneys and firms, compliance and precision are non-negotiable. We help with:
- Reimbursable expense tracking
- Trust account management to maintain compliance
- Three-way trust reconciliations (trust account, QBO balance, balance sheet balances by client)
- Retainers and client advances
- Contingency fee tracking
- Billing disputes and collections
- Partner compensation and profit allocation
- Profitability analysis
- Clio.com integration
Professional Service Industry
For consultants, advisors, and knowledge-based firms, we streamline the business side of doing business:
- Payroll management
- Client payments and receivables
- Project and job costing
- Managing contractors and subcontractors (1099 compliance included)
- Balancing seasonal or irregular workloads
- Cash flow systems built for variability
- Contract management
- Milestone-based accounting
Landscape / Architecture Firms
Design-build firms and landscape architects face complex billing and project workflows. We help untangle:
- Reimbursable expense tracking
- Contract billing
- Receivables oversight
- Project tracking with Harvest timekeeping
- Project-based invoicing
- Cash flow management by project
- Payroll for employees and contractors
Manufacturing Consulting
Inventory and production-based businesses require specialized insights. We support:
- Royalty reporting
- Commission tracking
- Work-in-progress (WIP) reporting
- Finished goods inventory management
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Why Choose SmallBizMaven?
We’re not just bookkeepers—we’re your accountability partners. Our mission is to replace overwhelm with order and help your business grow with systems that make sense.
- We specialize in growth-phase businesses. You’ve outgrown DIY spreadsheets and piecemeal solutions. We help you step into structure.
- We blend creativity with clarity. If your business thrives on innovation, we’ll meet you there—with systems that support your style.
- We get inventory-aware service models. Especially in industries like skin care, where products enhance—but don’t define—your revenue stream.
- We’re QuickBooks pros and digital system nerds. We help you choose, connect, and optimize your tools—and train your team to use them with confidence.
- We offer non-judgmental support. Whether you’re months behind or just feeling disorganized, we meet you where you are and move forward together.
Quick Q&A
Do you only work with California-based businesses?
We’re based in Oakland and serve the Bay Area—including Walnut Creek, San Rafael, and surrounding regions—but we also work with service-based businesses across the U.S. virtually.
What makes a business a good fit for SmallBizMaven?
If you’re service-based, have 1–5 team members, and are in a growth phase or transition, we’re a great match. We’re especially effective for business owners seeking structure, clarity, and guidance.
Do you work with retail or heavy inventory businesses?
No. We specialize in service-focused businesses with light or limited inventory—like skin care spas. We do not work with inventory-heavy retailers or e-commerce businesses. However, we do speak Shopify!
Can you work with my current systems?
Absolutely. Whether you’re using QuickBooks, spreadsheets, or a patchwork of tools, we’ll meet you where you are and build a system that fits you.
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Ready to bring clarity to your business finances?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you plant the systems you need to grow with confidence.
