Frequently asked questions

Jacob A. Douglas is based in California and serves clients remotely across the contiguous United States, covering all lower 48 states. Meetings and delivery take place online. We agree on meeting times, required records and the scope of work before the engagement begins.

I primarily work with established creative agencies, studios, and other project-based businesses. Construction companies and specialty contractors may also fit when they need help with project costs, subcontractor or supplier items, cash planning, and approval steps. If your industry is not listed, ask. Businesses managing projects, contractors, suppliers, customer payments, or recurring financial decisions may still be a strong fit.

The project profitability and contractor spending assessment connects project costs, approved commitments and recorded payments. Starting at $1,500 for the defined scope, it includes evidence-linked findings, a decision brief and a prioritized 30-day improvement plan. See the assessment scope and deliverables.

Foundation combines scoped bookkeeping with one agreed routine workflow. Growth provides cash planning, invoice follow-up, vendor coordination, bottleneck reviews, and one operational improvement priority at a time. It requires current, reconciled books; bookkeeping is separately quoted and Foundation is not included. Strategic Decision Support evaluates one major choice with up to three options, a written recommendation, a 90-day roadmap, and a follow-up review. Defined CPA coordination may be added in writing when needed. Compare services and scope limits.

I help you define the decision, organize the relevant numbers, and understand your options. You receive the deliverables in your proposal, with explanations you can discuss with me. We choose a practical measure of progress together, such as clearer expense categories, a usable cash outlook, or a decision made with better information.

Onboarding is a one-time setup engagement covering the agreed record review, access, reporting structure, and delivery process. The monthly fee covers recurring deliverables. For example, Growth starts at $750 for onboarding and $1,750 per month with an initial six-month commitment, continuing month to month at the same rate afterward. The flexible monthly option starts at $1,950. Historical cleanup and additional work are separately quoted. See the onboarding steps, client checklist, and fee explanation.

The assessment suits a defined project or contractor-spending question that needs investigation. Monthly Growth support suits businesses with usable, reconciled books that need cash planning, payment and vendor follow-up, operational improvements, and decision support. We discuss your records and goals before recommending a scope. An assessment does not automatically enroll you in monthly service.

Foundation starts at $800/month. One-time onboarding is $800 or one month’s recurring fee, whichever is higher. The starting scope covers one entity, one currency, up to two bank/card accounts and up to 100 combined statement lines monthly; monthly classification and reconciliation; P&L, balance sheet and exception summary; one documented routine workflow and one consolidated question round.

Each additional 50 statement lines adds $200/month; each additional bank/card account adds $100/month. AP or AR management adds $300–$500/month depending on scope. Additional entities are separate, and cleanup/catch-up receives a fixed quote after a diagnostic. See Foundation boundaries and exclusions.

The project assessment produces a view of costs and commitments, evidence-linked exceptions, a decision brief, and a practical action plan. Foundation includes maintaining the agreed monthly records in Xero, classifying transactions, reconciling included accounts, and preparing reports. You supply supporting documents and approve material adjustments. Growth uses client-supplied reconciled books. Other deliverables are listed on the Services and pricing page. Your proposal confirms the records, meetings, timing, and limits included.

We choose tools appropriate to your engagement, including Google Workspace where agreed. Before you share records, we agree on the transfer method, access, and which information each tool may receive. Any use of AI is discussed as part of that workflow. I review client deliverables. Please keep confidential financial, client, and other sensitive records out of the website inquiry.

Yes. Explain your requirements during the introductory conversation. We assess whether we can meet them and agree on the permitted workflow before work begins. Additional manual work may change the scope, timetable, or fee.

We begin with your existing workflows and available records. Approved exports may provide what the engagement needs. Xero-based support is available, and any software change or integration is separately agreed. We confirm compatibility before promising a connection.

Jacob leads each engagement, reviews deliverables, and remains your primary contact. Your organization retains authority over business decisions, payments, and changes to accounting records. HR, payroll, or CPA support requires a separate agreed scope and specialist availability.

We agree on concrete deliverables and the question to investigate. Results depend on the records, circumstances, and decisions made. A cost difference triggers investigation; it does not by itself prove overpayment or recoverable savings.

Choose Request a consultation to submit an inquiry. Include your preferred times in Pacific Time, and I’ll reply to arrange a conversation. A request does not reserve an appointment. You can also email info@jacobadouglas.com.

Email is the starting point for questions. I provide an initial reply within one business day. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding observed U.S. federal holidays, in Pacific time. An initial reply may acknowledge your question and explain the next step. Complicated questions and solutions can take longer; I will communicate the expected timing. Your proposal defines included support, and additional analysis is scoped and priced separately.

We discuss your goals and choose a suitable scope. Your written proposal confirms deliverables, fees, payment timing, responsibilities, information sharing, support, and cancellation terms before work begins. We build the shared working notes and knowledge base as we establish your process.

Growth requires current, reconciled books. You can use your existing bookkeeper or request a separately quoted bookkeeping add-on. Software subscriptions, custom integrations, and historical cleanup are separately scoped.

Yes. Growth includes a shared register of up to ten active payment or vendor items and one scheduled follow-up round each month. I use approved messages, track outstanding information, and escalate delays to the responsible people. You retain approval over payments, settlements, and changes to terms. Additional items or more frequent follow-up receive a separate quote.

We can use AI to prepare vendor checklists, organize approved procedures, or draft contract-to-payment tracking for my review. We build your working knowledge base while documenting the agreed process. We confirm tools, compatibility, information permissions, and human review before use. Growth focuses on one improvement priority at a time; custom integrations receive a separate scope.