Seattle & Washington State
Seattle Accounting, Bookkeeping & Tax Services for Service & Software Businesses
Remote, cloud-first accounting built for Seattle agencies, consultancies, SaaS companies and professional-service firms — clean books, on-time taxes, and CFO-level insight without the in-house cost.
- Washington has no state income tax, but service businesses owe the B&O (Business & Occupation) tax on gross receipts — we plan for it year-round.
- We work 100% remotely in QuickBooks Online and Xero, so your books are real-time and audit-ready.
- Specialized in service & software businesses: agencies, consultants, SaaS, IT/MSPs, and professional services.
- One team for bookkeeping, tax, and fractional CFO — locally headquartered at 506 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.
A Seattle CPA firm that actually understands service & software businesses
CPA CloudBooks is headquartered in downtown Seattle and serves growing businesses across King County and Washington State — from South Lake Union software startups and Bellevue consultancies to Tacoma agencies and Spokane professional-service firms. Unlike generalist bookkeepers, we focus on the businesses that sell time, expertise, and software: recurring-revenue SaaS, marketing and creative agencies, IT and managed-service providers, consultancies, and licensed professionals.
That focus matters because service and software businesses have accounting needs a retail-oriented bookkeeper often misses: deferred and recurring revenue, project profitability, contractor (1099) management, multi-state nexus as you sign out-of-state clients, and the Washington B&O tax that surprises new owners every year.
Washington State tax, handled the right way
Washington is unusual: there is no personal or corporate income tax, which is great for owners — but the state raises revenue through the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, levied on your gross receipts rather than profit. Service businesses typically fall under the “Service & Other Activities” B&O classification, which carries one of the higher rates, and many owners under-accrue for it.
On top of B&O, Seattle businesses navigate the Seattle business license tax, city B&O thresholds, and Washington’s economic-nexus rules once you sell across state lines. We build all of this into your monthly close and quarterly planning so there are no April surprises — and we file the returns for you.
What we do for Seattle businesses
Monthly Bookkeeping
Real-time QuickBooks Online / Xero books, reconciliations, AP/AR, and a clean monthly close you can actually read.
Tax Prep & Planning
Federal returns, Washington B&O and city filings, S-corp elections, and proactive planning to keep your effective rate low.
Fractional CFO
Cash-flow forecasting, pricing and margin analysis, board-ready reporting, and fundraising support — on a fraction of a full-time salary.
Payroll & Contractors
Payroll setup and run, 1099 management, and benefits/withholding compliance across Washington and other states.
Common challenges for Seattle service & software owners
“I got blindsided by the B&O tax.”
We accrue for B&O monthly and file on schedule, so it’s budgeted — never a shock.
“My books are months behind.”
We do a catch-up/clean-up, then keep you current with a same-week monthly close.
“I can’t tell which clients or products are profitable.”
We set up class/project tracking so you see margin by client, service line, or SaaS product.
Why Seattle businesses choose CPA CloudBooks
- ✔ Seattle-headquartered — a local team, not an overseas call center.
- ✔ Niche-fit — built for service & software businesses, not generic retail.
- ✔ One partner for the whole stack — bookkeeping, tax, and CFO under one roof.
- ✔ Cloud-first & transparent — QuickBooks/Xero, flat monthly pricing, no surprise bills.
- ✔ Proactive, not reactive — we plan for B&O and taxes year-round.
How to get started
- Free consultation — a 30-minute call to understand your business and books.
- Custom proposal — flat monthly pricing scoped to your needs.
- Onboarding & clean-up — we get your books current and connected.
- Monthly rhythm — close, reports, and proactive tax/CFO guidance.
Book your free Seattle consultation
Frequently asked questions — Seattle accounting
Do you have to be local to do my Seattle business’s accounting?
No — we work 100% in the cloud (QuickBooks Online / Xero), so you get real-time books and reporting from anywhere. We’re headquartered in Seattle, so we also understand Washington B&O and city tax firsthand.
What is the Washington B&O tax and will I owe it?
The Business & Occupation tax is a state tax on your gross receipts (not profit). Most Seattle service and software businesses owe it under the “Service & Other Activities” classification. We calculate, accrue, and file it for you.
How much do your services cost?
We offer flat monthly pricing scoped to your transaction volume and service mix (bookkeeping only, or bookkeeping + tax + CFO). Book a consultation for a custom quote.
Do you work with SaaS and software companies specifically?
Yes. We handle recurring/deferred revenue, SaaS metrics, R&D considerations, and investor-ready reporting for software businesses.
Can you clean up books that are months behind?
Absolutely — catch-up and clean-up work is a common starting point. We get you current, then keep you current with a fast monthly close.
Which areas around Seattle do you serve?
All of Washington — including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Tacoma, Everett, and Spokane — plus clients in California and Texas.
Washington cities we serve
Local accounting, bookkeeping and tax for service & software businesses across Washington — from the Eastside and South Sound to Spokane and the coast:
Bellevue → Redmond → Kirkland → Renton → Tacoma → Everett → Spokane → Olympia → Bellingham → Vancouver →
Also serving
California Accounting & CPA Services → Texas Accounting & CPA Services →
Ready for clean books and a calmer tax season?
Talk to a Seattle-based team that knows service & software businesses.