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.
Work With SmallBizMaven
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
Connect with SmallBizMaven!
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 Nevada City and serve the Bay Area in California—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.
Ready to bring clarity to your business finances?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you plant the systems you need to grow with confidence.
