Bookkeeping for California contractors.

• Tax and entity context

  California applies graduated personal income tax rates that are among the highest in the country, and imposes an annual minimum franchise tax on most registered entities. Entity structure and owner compensation decisions carry more weight here than in most states.

• Season and demand

  Climate varies enormously between the coast, the Central Valley and the desert. Inland HVAC demand is heavily cooling-weighted while coastal demand is comparatively flat, so seasonality has to be read locally rather than statewide.

• The market

  The largest contracting market in the country, with significant regulatory complexity, high labor costs, and substantial prevailing-wage public work for electrical contractors.

We work with contractors across California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento and Fresno. Everything runs remotely and through scheduled calls, so where you are in the state makes no difference to how quickly you get answers.

• HVAC

  I was doing books at the kitchen table at 11 at night after a full day of service calls. My wife finally told me it wasn't sustainable. First month ADB took over, they found $12,000 in expenses I'd never categorized right — parts, fuel, the works. I got my evenings back and I found out I'd been underpricing my maintenance agreements for two years.

• HVAC

  In summer we're drowning, in winter we're wondering where the money went. Nobody I'd worked with before understood that rhythm. These guys built the books so I can actually see what my slow months cost me, and now I plan for them instead of panicking in February.

• HVAC

  Honestly I said yes because the first month was free and I figured I'd get what I paid for. Then I got the report back and it was cleaner than anything my last bookkeeper sent me in 5 years. I signed on the same week.

All client results