Accounting for Professional Services

Accounting, tax and advisory support for Professional services businesses in Edmonton and across Alberta.

Two engineers reviewing drawings at a drafting table in their office

Overview

Profit by client and project, and owner pay that fits.

Professional services firms sell time and expertise. Profit depends on which clients and projects earn a margin, payroll is usually the largest cost, and owners need to decide how to pay themselves between salary and dividends.

Clients: Profit by client and project.
People: Payroll, usually the largest cost.
Owners: Salary and dividends reviewed.
Alberta: Businesses across the province.

What changes

What changes

What Changes in the Accounting

The work is the same in outline as for any business. These are the details that differ.

Profit by Client and Project

Revenue and costs tracked by client or project, so profitability is visible.

Owner Pay Reviewed With Personal Tax

Salary and dividends reviewed alongside the owners’ personal returns.

Payroll for a Growing Team

Payroll set up and adjusted as the team grows.

Monthly Reports the Owners Can Read

Statements prepared and explained each month in plain terms.

A common question

How much should the owners pay themselves?

The same three stages apply to every client; this is how they apply here.

1
Setup
We start with how clients, projects and staff time are tracked.
2
Monthly Reporting
Profitability is reported with your monthly statements.
3
Improvement List
The list looks at client and project margins, payroll costs and owner pay.

Working together

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about working with Ebert CPA.

Getting startedDo you only work with these industries?

No. Ebert CPA works with small and medium-sized businesses in any industry across Alberta. These pages describe how the work differs for some common types of business.

Getting startedWhat happens at the first consultation?

We discuss your business, current accounting arrangements and the services you need. We then confirm the proposed scope, fees and next steps, including any records or account access required.

Getting startedDo you work with businesses outside Edmonton?

Yes. Ebert CPA is based in Edmonton and serves businesses across Alberta. We discuss meeting arrangements and any on-site work as part of the engagement.

FeesHow are your fees determined?

Fees are quoted for each engagement and sized to your business. They depend on the services you need, the volume of transactions and the condition of your records: clean monthly statements take less work than a year of receipts in a box. We agree fees before work begins and discuss any additional work with you first.

Specialties