Every question CPA firms ask before outsourcing their accounting — answered directly.

From discovery call to first deliverable is typically 10–14 days. day 1 is the discovery call. days 2–5 cover NDA execution and access setup. week 2 is a soft start on one client you select. week 3 onwards is full handoff. if your situation requires faster onboarding we can discuss compressing the timeline.

Four stages: (1) 30-minute discovery call to assess fit and agree engagement model. (2) NDA executed, accountant assigned, software access configured with your approval. (3) Soft start on one low-complexity client — you review everything before we proceed. (4) Full handoff from week 3. we start narrow and expand as you build confidence. full details at /for-cpa-firms/onboarding.

No. we integrate into your existing workflow, software, and communication preferences. if you're using QBO, we work in QBO. if you use ShareFile for documents, we work through ShareFile. if you prefer email communication, that's how we communicate. the adjustment should be close to zero on your side.

We work with CPA firms from 2 staff upwards. there's no minimum client count required to start. many firms begin with a single client on the per-entity model to test the quality before expanding. we'd rather start small and earn the larger engagement than take on more than we can deliver well from day one.

Yes. many firms start with a tax season engagement specifically to test the quality before committing to year-round work. we handle this through the per-entity model. most firms that use us for tax season continue the relationship year-round — but there's no obligation to do so.

Multiple layers: (1) mutual NDA executed before any access is granted. (2) role-based software permissions — your accountant sees only what you authorise. (3) all work performed within your cloud environment — no local data downloads. (4) ISO 27001:2013 certified information security management system at the parent organisation level. you can revoke access instantly at any time. Full documentation at /for-cpa-firms/data-security.

Standard. a mutual NDA is executed before any access is granted on every engagement without exception. it's not something you need to ask for. if you have your own NDA template you prefer to use, we're happy to work with that instead.

Our parent organisation Nimblechapps Pvt. Ltd. holds ISO 27001:2013 (information security management) and ISO 9001:2015 (quality management). we are working toward SOC 2 Type II readiness as we scale the Finance division.

Only what you assign. access is configured client by client within your software. if you have 20 clients in QBO and only want your offshore accountant working on 5, you grant access to those 5. the other 15 are not visible to them.

You revoke software access immediately. since all work is performed within your cloud environment and nothing is stored locally on our end, there's nothing to transfer or delete on our side. the NDA continues to apply after the engagement ends.

Three ways: (1) certification — every accountant is QBO ProAdvisor and Xero Certified before touching a client file. (2) calibration — the soft start is specifically designed to align your accountant to your firm's standards before they take on full scope. (3) internal QA — every deliverable is reviewed before it reaches you. you shouldn't be finding basic errors in our work because we find them first.

We revise at no additional charge, same day. if errors are recurring rather than isolated, we treat it as a calibration issue and address it at the process level — not just fix the individual instance. if quality issues persist beyond the soft-start period, we'll reassign your accountant or offer you the option to exit without penalty.

Yes. QBO ProAdvisor certifications are searchable in Intuit's ProAdvisor directory. Xero Certified Advisor status is verifiable through Xero's advisor portal. EA credentials are registered with the IRS and publicly searchable by name. we share verification links on request — we don't expect you to take our word for it.

Yes. US-specific knowledge is the point. our accountants are trained specifically on US accounting standards, IRS tax requirements, and the compliance obligations your clients face. accountants pursuing the EA credential are tested by the IRS on US federal tax law. this isn't general accounting knowledge adapted for US clients — it's US accounting knowledge built from the ground up.

Your accountant works with overlap to US business hours. we agree a specific communication protocol during onboarding — typically a morning update and end-of-day status note. turnaround SLAs for each task type are agreed in advance. the time zone difference is managed through process, not ignored.

Directly with your accountant. there's no account manager layer between you and the person doing your work. direct communication means faster resolution, better calibration, and a genuine working relationship rather than a managed handoff.

Whatever you prefer. email is the default. if your firm uses Slack, Teams, or another tool, your accountant can communicate through that. we adapt to your workflow — we don't impose ours.

4 business hours for standard queries. urgent queries flagged as such are typically responded to within 1–2 hours during overlap hours. we set specific SLAs for your engagement during onboarding so there's no ambiguity about what "quick" means.

We have three models: (1) dedicated resource — fixed monthly retainer for one certified accountant working exclusively on your firm. (2) per-entity — priced per client entity, suited to flexible or seasonal engagements. (3) hybrid — dedicated resource plus per-entity overflow capacity. pricing is discussed in the discovery call and tailored to your firm's volume and service mix.

No long-term lock-in. monthly engagements with reasonable notice periods. we want you to stay because the quality keeps you here — not because a contract does.

No setup fees. the onboarding process is part of the engagement. you start paying when your accountant starts delivering — not before.

Yes. the per-entity and hybrid models are specifically designed for this. add capacity in January, reduce after April. no penalty for scaling down after peak season. if you're on the dedicated model, we discuss seasonal capacity needs as part of the annual engagement review.

QuickBooks Online and Xero are the primary platforms — both covered by certified accountants. we also work in Sage 50cloud. for tax: Drake, Lacerte, ProConnect, CCH Axcess, and ATX. for payroll: Gusto, ADP Run, QBO Payroll. for document management: ShareFile, Google Drive, and most client portals.

Our primary certification and expertise is on QBO. if your clients use QuickBooks Desktop, raise it in the discovery call and we'll assess whether we can support it. our general recommendation to clients still on Desktop is to discuss migration to QBO — but we don't force that conversation.

No. you grant your accountant the specific role required for their work — bookkeeper, accountant, or tax preparer level access. you retain admin control. they can never change billing details, add users, or access areas of the platform outside their assigned role.

Only if you tell them. all work is delivered white-label under your firm's name. we never contact your clients directly. no Nimblechapps branding appears anywhere on any deliverable.

Yes. multi-state individual and business returns are within scope. multi-state nexus analysis and sales tax compliance are also available as a separate service. raise the specific states and entity types in the discovery call so we can confirm coverage and assign appropriately.

Both. full-cycle payroll includes Form 941 quarterly filings, Form 940 annual FUTA, state payroll tax filings, W-2 and 1099 year-end preparation, and new hire reporting. payroll compliance is part of the engagement, not an add-on.

We provide audit support — not audit execution. workpaper preparation, general ledger review, schedule preparation, and documentation organisation. we work alongside your audit team to handle the preparatory work so your CPAs can focus on the judgment-intensive parts of the engagement.

We assign a replacement and brief them on your firm's workflow before they take over. all institutional knowledge about your style, clients, and preferences is documented on our end. the transition is managed so your engagement continues without disruption.

Under the dedicated resource model, yes — exclusively yours. under the per-entity model, your accountant may work across multiple firm engagements, but each engagement is managed separately with no cross-firm data access.

Yes. if you have specific requirements — real estate specialisation, trust and estate experience, a particular tax software, or an EA-track accountant — tell us in the discovery call and we'll match accordingly. if we don't have the right person available immediately, we'll tell you the timeline before you commit.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. our team operates from a single location under the Nimblechapps Pvt. Ltd. entity. all accountants are full-time employees — not freelancers or contractors. you're engaging a professional team with employment accountability, not a marketplace of individual operators.