For architecture, engineering & design firms
Know which projects are profitable, and get paid faster.
Monthly bookkeeping, job costing and cash-flow advisory for small project-based firms. I keep your books clean and show you what the numbers mean.
Free 30-minute call. No pressure, no obligation.
Sound familiar?
- You finish a project and still aren't sure whether it was profitable.
- The work gets done, but invoices go out late, or not at all.
- Scope creep eats into the fee because it never became a change order.
- Winning a big project leaves you short on cash while you staff up for it.
- You're a designer or engineer, not a finance person, but the books keep landing on your desk.
Most firms your size run on QuickBooks Online, and that's fine. You just need someone who understands how project-based firms make and lose money.
What I do
One monthly service that combines clean books with clear advice. You get both, every month.
Clean books
- Monthly bank and credit card reconciliations
- Transactions categorized correctly, bills and invoices kept current
- Monthly profit and loss and balance sheet you can trust
- Sales tax tracking and a tidy chart of accounts
Project insight (for A/E/C firms)
- Project profitability: job costing that shows which projects are profitable, and which aren't
- Tracking of unbilled work, so nothing you've earned goes uninvoiced
- Invoices out on time, and overdue payments flagged each month
Cash-flow advice
- A rolling cash-flow forecast, so you see a tight month coming
- Budget versus actual, with plain-English notes on what changed
- Two or three key numbers chosen for your firm
- A 45-minute strategy call each month or quarter
I don't prepare taxes or do audits. You keep your CPA, and I keep your books clean and organized so they're ready when your CPA needs them.
How it works
- Step 1
Intro call.
A free 30-minute video call. We talk about how your firm runs, what's frustrating you, and whether we're a good fit.
- Step 2
Review and setup.
I look through your books, fix what needs fixing, and set up job costing and reporting. If your books are behind, I'll quote any catch-up work up front.
- Step 3
Your monthly rhythm.
Each month I close your books, send your reports, and we talk through what the numbers mean and what's coming.
Pricing
Every engagement includes bookkeeping and advisory together. I keep my client list small on purpose, so each firm gets real attention.
Project-based firms
For: Architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and civil, structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering firms.
Starting at $1,500/month
Includes: Clean books, job costing and project profitability, unbilled work tracking, cash-flow forecasting, and a regular strategy call.
Other small service businesses
For: Small service businesses outside A/E/C that want the same clarity.
Custom pricing
Includes: The same bookkeeping-plus-advisory approach, scaled to the size of your business.
Final pricing depends on transaction volume, number of entities and project complexity. You'll get a clear quote after our intro call.
Hi, I'm Charis.
I've spent 19 years in hands-on accounting, from full-charge bookkeeping to corporate accounting. Along the way I've seen how hard it can be for small firms to know where each project, and their cash, really stands.
I started Felis to give small firms that clarity, right inside their QuickBooks Online or Xero, with a real person who knows their numbers.
I'm based in Portland, Oregon, and work with firms remotely by video call, email and shared files.
Why Felis? It's Latin for the cat family: quiet, attentive, and always keeping an eye on things. That's how I look after your numbers.
Common questions
Do I still need a CPA?
Yes. I'm not a CPA and don't prepare taxes or do audits. You keep your CPA for tax work, and I keep your books clean and organized all year, which usually makes tax time faster and less expensive.
What software do you use?
I work directly in QuickBooks Online or Xero. If your books live in another system, we can talk about moving them over, quoted as a separate project.
Do you only work with Portland firms?
No. I'm based in Portland, but the work is done remotely, so I can work with firms anywhere in the US.
Why do you only take a few clients?
So I can actually know your business. I work with a small number of firms at a time, and each one gets my full attention.
My firm isn't in architecture or engineering. Can you still help?
Very possibly. If you run a small service business and want clear books and real advice, book a call and we'll see if it's a fit.
Ready to see your numbers clearly?
Book a free 30-minute intro call. We'll talk about your firm and whether Felis is a good fit.