The Situation
Meredith, a U.S.-based founder of a consulting, coaching, and training corporation, came to us buried in financial confusion. Her previous accountant had been unresponsive for years, leaving behind a three-year backlog of unreconciled books, misclassified owner transactions, unanswered letters from the IRS and the state, and disconnected payment platforms in Xero accounting system.
She had received IRS and State of Alaska notices, wasn’t sure how to address them, if she owed money or was eligible for refunds, and had no usable financial reports to guide decisions. She wanted to grow but had no visibility, no compliance confidence, and no one in her corner.
These are challenges we see often, especially for non-U.S. founders running U.S. entities, where poor accounting and lack of visibility and coaching blocks both compliance and growth.
The Journey
The first priority was restoring control.
When Meredith came to us, years of unresolved bookkeeping issues had created a domino effect across her business. We rebuilt three years of accounting records in Xero, cleaned and reclassified thousands of transactions, restored broken bank feeds, integrated Gusto payroll correctly, and untangled owner distributions and loans that had complicated both the company’s books and her personal tax reporting. Despite the volume of work, the entire cleanup was completed within two months.
With accurate financial records finally in place, Meredith could stop reacting to problems and start making informed decisions. For the first time, she received reliable monthly financial reports that clearly showed where the business stood, giving her confidence in both compliance and day-to-day operations.
As the financial foundation became stronger, our conversations naturally shifted from fixing the past to planning the future. Together, we reviewed profitability, cash flow, margins, and reinvestment opportunities. Combined with Meredith’s own vision, willingness to learn, and ability to embrace technology, this clarity gave her the confidence to transition from project-based work to a recurring retainer model, creating a more predictable and scalable business.
By the end of the engagement, our role had evolved well beyond bookkeeping and compliance. Instead of only answering accounting questions, we became a trusted finance partner she could rely on for ongoing financial guidance, strategic decisions, and long-term growth.
The Transformation
In just 12 months:
- 2.5x Revenue
- 4x EBITDA
- IRS and state issues resolved — with a tax refund issued
- Reliable monthly reports
- Peace of mind & strategic control
- Multiple referrals to other founders
Behind these numbers is more than a bookkeeping cleanup.
Although Meredith was a U.S.-based founder, her situation mirrors what non-U.S. founders often face when managing a U.S. corporation.