Bookkeeping Services for Vancouver Small Businesses
Accurate, CRA-ready bookkeeping for small businesses across Metro Vancouver and BC. Monthly or quarterly — handled by an accounting firm that also prepares your T2 corporate tax return, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Small Business Bookkeeping in BC
Good bookkeeping is the foundation of good tax planning. When your records are accurate and current throughout the year, your accountant can advise you in real time — not just at year-end when it’s too late to act. AL Accounting provides ongoing bookkeeping services that integrate directly with your corporate tax preparation, payroll, and GST/HST compliance.
We work with owner-managed businesses across Metro Vancouver — from Richmond to Burnaby to downtown Vancouver — and most of our bookkeeping clients are served remotely through cloud accounting platforms.
📋 Why Bookkeeping and Tax Under One Roof Matters
When your bookkeeper and your tax accountant are the same firm, there’s no translation layer — no records that need to be “cleaned up” before filing, no miscommunication about expense categorization. Your books are built to CRA standards from the start, and we catch issues year-round instead of at year-end.
What’s Included in Our Bookkeeping Service
Monthly Bookkeeping
Transaction categorization, account reconciliation, and financial statement preparation on a monthly or quarterly basis. Your records stay current and CRA-ready all year.
Bank & Credit Card Reconciliation
Every bank and credit card account reconciled monthly. Discrepancies caught early, before they become year-end surprises. We ensure your ledger matches your statements.
Payroll Processing
Regular payroll runs, source deduction remittances to CRA, ROE preparation, and year-end T4 slip preparation and filing. Keeping you compliant with CRA payroll requirements.
QuickBooks & Cloud Accounting
We work with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and other cloud-based systems. If you’re not yet on a cloud system, we can set one up and train you on how to use it effectively.
GST/HST Filing
Quarterly or annual GST/HST return preparation and filing, based on your registration type. We ensure your input tax credits are properly claimed and your remittances are on time.
Year-End Preparation
Full year-end working papers prepared for corporate tax filing. When your year-end arrives, we’re ready — because the books have been kept clean all year. Seamlessly transitions into T2 preparation.
Our Bookkeeping Approach
We don’t treat bookkeeping as a low-value commodity. Good bookkeeping requires understanding your business — how you earn revenue, what your major expense categories are, how you handle inter-company transactions if you have multiple entities. At AL Accounting, your books are kept by the same CPA team that files your corporate tax return.
This means:
- Expense categorization aligned with CRA’s reporting requirements — no reclassification surprises at year-end
- CCA (depreciation) tracking integrated from the start
- Shareholder loan account maintained properly — a common audit trigger when poorly managed
- Proactive flagging of issues that could affect your tax position
- Monthly management reports if requested — P&L, balance sheet, cash position
Bookkeeping for Specific BC Business Types
Professional Corporations
Consultants, engineers, IT contractors with professional corporations in BC — we handle the full accounting stack from monthly bookkeeping to T2 and T4s.
Real Estate Rental Corporations
Rental property holding companies with multiple units, management fees, and complex ownership structures. Rental income, CCA, and mortgage interest tracked correctly.
Retail & Restaurant
Daily sales reconciliation, POS system integration, inventory tracking, GST/PST compliance for BC food service and retail businesses.
E-Commerce & Online Businesses
Multi-channel revenue tracking (Shopify, Amazon, Etsy), cross-border GST/HST implications, and payment processor reconciliation.
Frequently Asked Questions — Bookkeeping
How often do you need my records?
For monthly bookkeeping, we request bank statements, credit card statements, and receipts once per month — typically by the 5th of the following month. We handle everything electronically; no paper required.
Do I need to use QuickBooks?
QuickBooks Online is our preferred platform, but we also work with Xero. If you’re currently using spreadsheets or another system, we can migrate you to a cloud platform as part of onboarding.
My books are a mess — can you catch up several years?
Yes. We frequently take on clients who have fallen behind on their bookkeeping. We’ll assess the scope, provide a catch-up quote, and get your records current so we can file outstanding returns.
Do you handle bookkeeping for non-resident property owners?
Yes. For non-residents with Canadian rental properties, we track rental income, expenses, and CCA to support your Section 216 non-resident tax filing. Learn about non-resident tax services →
Is bookkeeping included with corporate tax preparation?
Bookkeeping and corporate tax are separate engagements with separate pricing. However, many clients use both services — and the coordination between them is seamless because it’s the same team. See corporate tax services →
Related Services
Ready for Clean, CRA-Ready Books?
Book a free consultation to discuss your bookkeeping needs and get a fixed-fee quote.
Book a Consultation