Bookkeeping for Avalon Small Businesses

Bookkeeping for Avalon businesses on Catalina Island. Remote support from our Long Beach office, right across the channel.

Bookkeeping Across the Channel

Running a business on Catalina Island means dealing with challenges that mainland businesses don’t think about. Supplies arrive on ferry schedules. Your customer base changes with the seasons. And finding professional services on-island is difficult when the year-round population is under 4,000 people. Bookkeeping shouldn’t be one more thing you struggle to source locally.

BirdWise Bookkeeping is based in Long Beach, right across the San Pedro Channel. We work remotely with all of our clients through QuickBooks Online, which makes us a natural fit for Avalon businesses. You get a dedicated small business bookkeeping service without needing to take the ferry every time you have a question about your numbers.

Monthly Bookkeeping

Full-service bookkeeping that keeps your records current every month. Transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliation, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets delivered on a consistent schedule so you always know where your business stands.

Catch-Up Bookkeeping

Peak season on Catalina means long days running your business, not updating your books. If you’ve fallen behind by months or longer, we clean up the backlog and get your records current before moving to regular monthly service.

Bill Payment and Invoicing

We handle accounts payable so vendors get paid on time, and accounts receivable so you stay on top of what’s owed to you. Especially useful when you’re busy with customers and don’t have time to chase invoices or manage payment schedules.

Tax-Ready Records

Financial records organized and accurate so your CPA has what they need at year end. Proper categorization from the start means no scrambling in February to figure out what went where.

Avalon Businesses We Work With

Avalon’s economy runs on the visitors who cross the channel from the mainland. Tour operators, restaurants, retail shops, hotels, and rental properties all depend on seasonal traffic that builds in spring and peaks through summer. Nearly every business on the island is small and owner-operated.

What these businesses share is a need for accurate financial records without the overhead of hiring someone full-time. Owners are already doing the work of running the business, managing staff, handling inventory, and keeping customers happy. Adding bookkeeping to that list is where things start slipping. We take that piece off your plate so you can focus on the season in front of you.

Restaurants and Hospitality

Avalon’s dining scene is a big part of what draws visitors to the island. Tight margins, tip reporting, food cost tracking, and revenue that swings hard between summer and winter. We keep your restaurant and bar books current so you can see what’s actually working and what’s eating into your profit.

Retail and Gift Shops

Tourist foot traffic drives sales from spring through fall, then things get quiet. We track inventory costs, manage the seasonal cash flow picture, and keep your records clean so you’re not guessing at profitability when the slow months arrive.

Tour Operators and Recreation

Kayak tours, snorkeling, zip lines, glass-bottom boats, and everything else visitors come to Catalina to do. Seasonal businesses that earn most of their revenue in a few months. Bookkeeping that captures everything during the rush and keeps things organized through the off-season.

Vacation Rentals and Property Management

Short-term rental income, cleaning expenses, maintenance costs, and platform fees from Airbnb and VRBO. We track it all and keep your records ready for tax reporting, whether you manage one property or a portfolio on the island.

Common Questions

We're on Catalina Island. How does working with you actually work?

Everything happens remotely through QuickBooks Online, shared documents, and regular communication. Our office is in Long Beach, right where the Catalina Express departs, but you never need to make the trip over. The same process we use with mainland clients works perfectly for island businesses.

Do you work with seasonal businesses?

Yes. Avalon businesses deal with big swings between summer tourism and the quieter winter months. We structure bookkeeping around your actual revenue cycle so the numbers make sense whether you're in peak season or the slow stretch.

What does monthly bookkeeping cost?

Starting at $199 per month based on your average monthly expenses. We quote a flat rate after learning about your business so there are no surprises.

Can you help if our books are months behind?

That's a common starting point. We clean up the backlog, get everything current, and then move into regular monthly bookkeeping so it stays that way.

Do you work with vacation rental owners on the island?

Yes. We track rental income, expenses, cleaning costs, and platform fees from Airbnb or VRBO. Your records stay organized and ready for tax time whether you manage one property or several.

Long Beach's Trusted Bookkeeping Partner