Pay Flow Bookkeeping | Small Business Bookkeeping & Payroll

Featured Service

QuickBooks Setup & Training for California Contractors

Flat-rate setup packages for contractors who need clean books, job costing, payroll workflow, and simple reporting — done right from day one. Every package includes hands-on training so you understand your numbers.

✓Set up for construction — Job costing, not generic categories. See profit by job from the start.
✓Built for California compliance — Payroll, certified payroll, prevailing wage, and EDD handled correctly.
✓You learn to run it — Every setup includes hands-on training so you understand your numbers.
✓QuickBooks ProAdvisor certified — Online and Desktop. Setup done right the first time.

Book a Setup Call

Starter Setup

$950

Solo, just licensed, no payroll yet

Job Costing Setup

$1,500

See profit by job — most contractors need this

Payroll Workflow Setup

$2,500

Hiring or paying a crew

Full Back Office Buildout

$3,500+

Wants the whole system organized

All packages include training sessions and email support. Not sure which fits? Book a free call.

Who We Work With

Bookkeeping & Payroll for Every Type of Business

Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, we provide accurate, reliable financial support tailored to your industry.

Contractors & Construction

New CSLB setup, prevailing wage, job costing

Consultants & Coaches

Clean books, expense tracking, quarterly taxes

Online Businesses

E-commerce, SaaS, digital products & services

Online Sales & Marketplaces

Amazon, Etsy, eBay — multi-platform reconciliation

Healthcare & Wellness

Medical offices, therapists, fitness businesses

Real Estate

Agents, property managers, investors

Trade & Service Businesses

Plumbers, electricians, landscapers, cleaners

Startups & New Businesses

Get your financial foundation right from day one

New Contractor Setup

Getting Your CSLB License? Get Your Financials Right from Day One.

The biggest mistake new contractors make is setting up their books wrong — or not at all — and paying for it later. Most contractors don't need complicated accounting. They need QuickBooks set up for how construction actually works: customers, jobs, labor, materials, subcontractors, receipts, invoices, payroll workflow, and job profitability.

As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and construction bookkeeping specialist, I build a simple system you can understand and maintain, and I train you to run it.

✓CSLB License Guidance — Navigate California contractor licensing with confidence
✓Tax ID (EIN) Setup — Get your federal Employer Identification Number established correctly
✓Bonds & Insurance Coordination — Understand what you need and when you need it
✓QuickBooks Setup & Training — Chart of accounts, job costing, workflows, and hands-on training
✓Payroll System Setup — Done right before you hire your first employee
✓Ongoing Monthly Support — Available after any setup package

Schedule Your Setup Consultation

New contractor business setup consultation

New Contractor Setup Checklist

Apply for CSLB License
Register business entity (LLC / S-Corp / Sole Prop)
Obtain Federal Tax ID (EIN)
Open business bank account
Set up contractor bonds (License Bond, Performance Bond)
Obtain General Liability & Workers Comp insurance
Set up QuickBooks for construction
Establish chart of accounts & job costing structure
Register for payroll taxes (if hiring)
Understand prevailing wage requirements
Set up certified payroll reporting

Ongoing Monthly Bookkeeping

Choose the Right Level of Support

Every package includes personalized service and a dedicated bookkeeper — no call centers, no handoffs. Contact us for custom pricing based on your business size.

Bronze

Essential Bookkeeping

Best for: Solopreneurs, freelancers, new LLCs

✓ Monthly bookkeeping (up to 75 transactions)
✓ Bank & credit card reconciliation (2 accounts)
✓ Monthly Profit & Loss report
✓ Accounts Payable & Receivable tracking
✓ QuickBooks chart of accounts setup
✓ Quarterly check-in call
– Payroll processing
– Job costing

Get Started →

Everything Your Business Needs to Stay Financially Sound

Accurate, timely, and compliant — so you always know exactly where your business stands.

Bookkeeping

Recording & categorizing all transactions
Bank & credit card reconciliation
Accounts Payable management
Accounts Receivable tracking
Monthly, quarterly & annual reporting
Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow

Payroll Services

Full payroll processing
Payroll tax calculations & filings
Workers Compensation reporting
Union Trust & Training fund reporting
Insurance premium audits
Labor compliance support

Job Costing

Project-level job costing & profitability
Custom reports per project or job
Work In Progress (WIP) reports
Budget vs. actual tracking
Estimate-to-invoice workflow

QuickBooks Setup & Training

QuickBooks Online & Desktop setup
Chart of accounts built for construction
One-on-one QuickBooks training
Workflow design & optimization
QuickBooks ProAdvisor certified
Cleanup of existing messy files — from $500

New Business Setup

Business entity guidance
EIN / Tax ID setup assistance
CSLB license process guidance
Contractor bond & insurance coordination
Initial bookkeeping system setup
Payroll system establishment

Compliance & Reporting

Certified Payroll Reports (LCP Tracker, eMars, Elations)
Prevailing wage compliance
Labor compliance documentation
Quarterly & annual tax filings support

Specialty Services

Construction & Prevailing Wage Experts

For contractors on California public works, prevailing wage compliance isn't optional — and getting it wrong is expensive. This is specialized work most bookkeepers can't do. Payflow handles the reporting platforms, union requirements, and compliance standards that California construction demands.

From your first public works bid to managing a full union crew — we've seen it all and know how to keep you compliant and profitable.

Prevailing Wage Certified Payroll LCP Tracker eMars Elations Union Trust Workers Comp Job Costing WIP Reports Labor Compliance

Construction and prevailing wage services

What We Handle for Construction Clients

New CSLB contractor license guidance
Contractor bond & insurance setup
Construction chart of accounts
Job costing & profitability tracking
Certified Payroll Report preparation
Prevailing wage rate compliance
Union fringe benefit reporting
LCP Tracker, eMars, Elations submissions
Workers Compensation audits
Insurance premium audits
WIP reporting

QuickBooks Specialist

QuickBooks ProAdvisor — Desktop & Online

We don't just use QuickBooks — we're certified in it. Whether you need a clean setup, team training, or a full file cleanup, we handle it all. Works with both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop/Enterprise.

QuickBooks Desktop

Full setup, customization, and support for QB Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise.

Specialist

QuickBooks Online

Cloud-based setup, integrations, and ongoing management for flexible businesses.

ProAdvisor Certified

QuickBooks Training

One-on-one training for business owners and staff — learn QuickBooks confidently. $150–$250/hr.

Training Available

QuickBooks Cleanup

Messy books? We'll reconcile, categorize, and get your file clean and accurate. From $500.

Cleanup Service

Why Pay Flow Bookkeeping

A Bookkeeper Who Speaks Contractor

Jenni Hernandez is the owner of Payflow Bookkeeping, a California bookkeeping practice specializing in construction accounting. Not a generalist. Not a big firm. Your dedicated financial partner — local, experienced, and invested in your success.

1

Construction Specialist

Deep experience in job costing, certified payroll, prevailing wage, and new contractor setup — not just generic bookkeeping.
2

Local & Personal

Based in Brentwood, CA. You work directly with Jenni — no handoffs, no call centers, no waiting on hold.
3

QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certified

Certified in both QuickBooks Desktop and Online. Your books — and your training — are in expert hands.
4

You Learn to Run It

Every setup includes hands-on training so you can code expenses, invoice from estimates, and read a job profitability report yourself.
5

California Compliance Ready

EDD, DIR, CSLB, workers' comp, prevailing wage — handled correctly from the start.
6

Setup to Scale

Start with a setup package, stay for monthly advisory. We grow with your business.

Client Stories

What Our Clients Say

Add your client testimonial here. Ask happy clients for a 2–3 sentence review about your services, responsiveness, and results.

— Client Name, Business Type

Contractor or construction client testimonials are especially powerful given your specialty in prevailing wage and CSLB setup.

— Client Name, Contractor / Business Owner

A new business setup or QuickBooks training success story works great here — something showing the transformation from chaos to clarity.

— Client Name, New Business Owner

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to what most small business owners and new contractors want to know.

I already have QuickBooks. Do I still need this?

Usually yes. Most contractors have QuickBooks, but it isn't set up for construction — so jobs, labor, and materials aren't tracked correctly. A Cleanup Review or Job Costing Setup makes it actually tell you which jobs are profitable.

Why does job costing matter?

A contractor can be busy and still not profitable. When labor, materials, subs, equipment, and permits all land in one expense pile, you can't see which jobs make money and which quietly lose it. Job costing in QuickBooks shows gross profit per job.

Do you handle payroll?

Yes — payroll setup, time tracking, job-costed payroll, EDD, workers' comp coordination, and for public-works contractors, certified payroll and prevailing wage.

Do I have to know accounting?

No. Every setup includes hands-on training so you can code expenses, invoice from estimates, capture receipts, and read a job profitability report yourself.

Do you work with QuickBooks Desktop or just Online?

Both. Setup packages are built around QuickBooks Online; Desktop and Enterprise are supported for clients who need them.

What is prevailing wage and certified payroll?

Prevailing wage is a state-mandated pay rate for workers on public works projects in California. Certified Payroll Reports (CPRs) are weekly documentation submitted to verify compliance. We prepare these reports using LCP Tracker, eMars, and Elations.

Are you a CPA or tax preparer?

No. Payflow is a bookkeeping and QuickBooks setup practice. For tax filing and legal questions, work with your CPA or attorney — Payflow keeps your books clean and your systems running so that work is easier and less expensive.

Where are you located and do you work remotely?

Based in Brentwood, CA, serving the East Bay and beyond. Everything can be handled virtually through QuickBooks Online, secure file sharing, and video calls.

Expert Bookkeeping & Payroll for Every Small Business