Client Results
What changes when your books are done right. Real case studies from businesses we've worked with.
General Contractor Who Couldn't Tell Which Jobs Made Money
The Problem
A general contractor running residential remodels was busy year-round but never seemed to have cash left over. He quoted jobs based on experience and rough material estimates, but never tracked actual costs against those quotes. Subcontractor invoices, material receipts, and labor hours were all dumped into one big expense bucket.
He had a gut feeling that some jobs were losing money, but no way to prove it.
What We Did
We set up construction job costing in QuickBooks Online so every expense could be tied to a specific project. Labor, materials, permits, and subcontractor payments each got their own category within each job. We also created a job profitability report that compared his original bid to what the project actually cost.
The Result
His kitchen remodels, which he thought were his bread and butter, were consistently coming in over budget because of scope creep he never billed for. He started writing tighter contracts with clear change order terms.
Within three months, his average profit margin per job improved noticeably because he finally had numbers to back up his pricing decisions. His CPA also got a clean file at year-end instead of a pile of receipts.
Real Estate Investor Running Five Rentals Through One Account
The Problem
A real estate investor with five rental properties was running everything through a single checking account. Mortgage payments, repairs, tenant deposits, and personal expenses were all mixed together. He had no idea which properties were cash-flow positive and which were dragging the portfolio down.
His lender wanted property-level financials before approving a new purchase, and he couldn't produce them.
What We Did
We went back a full year and separated every transaction by property using class tracking in QuickBooks Online. Security deposits were properly recorded as liabilities instead of income. We set up a system where each property has its own P&L so he can see performance at a glance every month.
The Result
One of his five units had been losing money for over a year once repairs and vacancy costs were properly allocated. He raised rent on that unit and addressed a recurring maintenance issue that had been driving up costs.
His lender got the clean, property-level reports they needed, and the new purchase was approved. He now reviews his monthly reports and actually understands where his rental income is going.
Shopify Seller Who Didn't Know Her Real Margins
The Problem
An e-commerce business owner selling handmade products on Shopify and Etsy had strong sales numbers but couldn't figure out why she wasn't making more money. Platform fees, shipping costs, packaging materials, and ad spend were all lumped together. She was pricing products based on what felt right, not on what they actually cost to make and deliver.
What We Did
We set up proper inventory accounting so every product had an accurate cost of goods sold. We separated expenses by category and by sales channel so she could see the true margin on each platform. We also reconciled her payment processor deposits against actual sales to catch the fees that were quietly eating into her revenue.
The Result
Her Etsy sales looked great on the surface, but after accounting for listing fees, transaction fees, and the ad spend she was running on that platform, her margins were razor thin. Her Shopify store was significantly more profitable per order.
She shifted her marketing budget and raised prices on her lowest-margin products. Within two months, her take-home profit increased even though total sales volume stayed about the same.
IT Consulting Firm With a 1099 Problem
The Problem
A small IT consulting firm in Long Beach had been hiring subcontractors for years but had never filed a single 1099. The owner knew he was supposed to, but kept putting it off because the paperwork felt overwhelming. He also had no system to track contractor payments separately from regular expenses, which made his books unreliable and left him exposed to IRS penalties.
What We Did
We went back through two years of bank and payment records to identify every contractor who should have received a 1099. We gathered the necessary W-9s, prepared and filed the forms, and set up a system going forward so contractor payments are automatically tracked and flagged for year-end filing.
The Result
He went from completely non-compliant to fully caught up with the IRS. The system we put in place means 1099 preparation at year-end is now a straightforward task instead of a dreaded project.
His books are also more accurate because contractor payments are no longer buried in general expense categories. His CPA commented that it was the cleanest file she had ever received from him.
Commercial Cleaning Company Growing Faster Than Its Books
The Problem
A commercial cleaning company had grown from three clients to over fifteen in just two years. The owner was still tracking invoices in a spreadsheet and paying bills whenever she remembered. Late fees were piling up, clients were being invoiced inconsistently, and she had no clear picture of her monthly revenue or expenses.
What We Did
We moved her onto QuickBooks Online and set up recurring invoices for each client contract. We took over bill payment so vendor invoices were tracked, scheduled, and paid on time. We also cleaned up six months of backlogged transactions so she had an accurate starting point going forward.
The Result
Late fees dropped to zero within the first month. Her clients now receive professional invoices on a consistent schedule, which improved her payment collection time noticeably.
She can see exactly how much revenue is coming in each month and what her actual operating costs are. That clarity gave her the confidence to hire another crew, because she could see the numbers supported it instead of just hoping they did.
Restaurant Owner Flying Blind for Two Years
The Problem
A restaurant owner in the South Bay had not touched his books in nearly two years. He was working long hours and bookkeeping always fell to the bottom of the list. Tax returns had been filed based on rough estimates, and he suspected he was overpaying. He wanted to apply for a small business loan to renovate the dining room, but couldn't produce the financial statements the bank required.
What We Did
We took the entire two-year backlog off his hands. We reconciled every bank and credit card statement, categorized thousands of transactions, and separated food costs from labor from overhead. We organized tip reporting and made sure sales tax had been handled correctly throughout.
The Result
His food cost percentage turned out to be well above the industry average because supplier prices had increased twice while his menu prices stayed the same. He updated his menu pricing and saw an improvement in margins within weeks.
The clean financials gave the bank what they needed, and his loan was approved. We now handle his books monthly, so he has a clear view of his numbers and never has to face that kind of backlog again.
Recommendations
What business professionals have to say about working with BirdWise.
"I had the pleasure of working with Lily, and her personality, reliability, and positive energy truly stood out. She brings incredible drive to get things done and creates a motivating, uplifting atmosphere for everyone around her."
Lily Y.
Influencer Marketing Specialist
"Lily is incredibly knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and dependable. She took ownership of complex work, communicated clearly, and consistently kept things running smoothly and on track."
Mary L.
Head of Customer Support & Operations
"Lily is thoughtful, practical, and very clear about what's needed. She asks smart questions, communicates transparently, and makes complex implementations feel smooth and manageable."
Crawford O.
Growth Lead
"Lily brings structure, clarity, and momentum to every initiative she touches. She communicates with transparency and creates an environment where people feel supported and empowered to do their best work."
Taylor J.
Sr. Product Manager
"Lily is reliable, thoughtful, and consistently keeps work organized and moving forward. She communicates clearly, stays calm under pressure, and always anticipates challenges before they become roadblocks."
Sydney W.
Development Lead
"Lily brings a rare mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution. She anticipates issues before they surface and guides work forward with clarity and confidence."
Ashley E.
Director, Product & Design
Long Beach's Trusted Bookkeeping Partner
The Next Step:
A Quick Discovery Call
Tell us where things stand with your books. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you a clear quote to get it handled.
