Smart Bean, Inc.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-owner of MC Rustic Home LLC, an interior decorating and event business.

What challenge were you trying to address with Smart Bean, Inc.?

We hired Smart Bean, Inc. for accounting services.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Right now, the team primarily assists with our bookkeeping.

What is the team composition?

Lisa (CEO & Founder) and Kim (Onboarding Specialist) are our main points of contact. Now that we’re onboarded fully, we’re working with two others.

How did you come to work with Smart Bean, Inc.?

Another small business owner referred them to me. I was very unhappy with our previous service because of the price. It kept going up, even during the start of the pandemic.

She gave me Lisa’s email. Smart Bean, Inc. has a flat rate fee, which is a huge thing for us. It was a huge incentive for working with them as a small business.

How much have you invested with them?

Our first bill was $250, and now it’s a flat rate fee of $155 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2020.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Our biggest thing is transparency and communication. Our last company wouldn’t allow us to see our QuickBooks, and it seemed like we worked for them and not the other way around. They also charged us with a rate without receipts or a straight answer.

With Smart Bean Inc., I felt at ease from the first interview. They’re a reputable firm.

How did Smart Bean, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

There were no hidden fees, and their communication style is excellent. I now have full access to my books. They’re daily updating my books if needed. I can call Lisa anytime, and she always gets back to me. It’s nice to have the peace of mind that we’re not getting ripped off anymore.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication, definitely. As I mentioned, there are no hidden fees, so I know exactly what to expect each month. It helps me plan out my own business and payroll.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have much constructive feedback. Smart Bean, Inc. is knocking it out of the park. We’re still new working with them, but I’m very thankful for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would tell them to work with them immediately. I’d highly recommend them to any small business owner.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We own a junk hauling company named Toss Boss. My husband and I own it.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smart Bean, Inc.?

We hired Smart Bean to handle our accounting and bookkeeping.

What were your goals for this engagement?

We wanted to find someone that would take care of our books that we could trust.

How did you select Smart Bean, Inc.?

We found Smart Bean from a neighbor's referral.

Describe the engagement in detail.

First, I spoke with Lisa, the owner, multiple times over the phone. She went through all of their services and she listened to all of our needs. She then put together a clear and easy to read proposal for us to go over. Lisa was always available to answer our questions and concerns. The onboarding process was painless and effective.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

We pay Smart Bean a monthly fee which was lower than our previous bookkeeper, but they've been much more efficient.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with Lisa, and then we had an onboarding specialist. Once the onboarding was complete, we had two dedicated bookkeepers for our account.

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

Smart Bean redid our books for 2020 in about 2 weeks. They have been on top of our current month's books since!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The onboarding process was very easy. Our onboarding specialist, Kim, was always available for anything. Kim responded to emails immediately. She not only provided the completed reports, but also set up a video call to go over each item together to be sure I understood all of their hard work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The communication! Just the ability to speak to someone anytime I had a question. They make sure we are satisfied 100%.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None so far. There is literally nothing I would change.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a business called No Stress Mobile Massage.

What challenge were you trying to address with Smart Bean Inc?

I was a new business owner and didn’t know how to do a lot of the administrative tasks and paperwork that comes with owning a business. I didn’t know a lot about bookkeeping, which is also a big reason why I hired them.

What was the scope of their involvement?

My business is different because I am a mobile massage therapist, so I don’t have a lot of overhead or any rent to take care of. However, they keep track of all of my spending, profit and loss statements, gas expenses, and more. They keep everything organized for me and go over my statements.

They prepare my statements and send them to my tax person, as well, so I don’t have to do anything involving that. They give me snapshots of my business every quarter. They even helped me get my own business account and give me direction with that. 

What is the team composition?

I typically work with Chloe (Operations Manager), who is amazing. I’ve talked with a lot of them, though. 

How did you come to work with Smart Bean Inc?

I’m in a networking group and people said very positive things about Smart Bean Inc. They hold their value and everything is validated that people say about them. They actually helped me with my taxes ready for 2018 in the first year of my business before I even engaged them. I figured if they could help someone who wasn’t even a client of theirs yet like this, they must be amazing.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a couple of thousand dollars. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2019 and our engagement is ongoing. 

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

They make my life convenient and much easier with the business. Their team takes the stress out of everything. It’s really nice to be able to provide my service and not stress about the business parts of it, since it isn’t my forte. I know they’ll take care of all the legal side of the business for me. The convenience and their services are perfect. 

How did Smart Bean Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

I can ask anyone at their team a question about my business and they can give me an answer, which I love. They don’t have to pass it off to anyone else and they always get back to me.

We mainly communicate through email, but they also reach out and call. We’ve never had any problems and they meet all of the deadlines. They have a great way of staying on top of things. They’re great and make my life so much easier.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Though they aren’t the biggest group of people, it’s great that everyone knows what everyone is doing in their office. It’s hard when you call a massive company and not one person knows what another is doing.

Their level of strong teamwork and high morale makes them stand out in the industry. The fact that I can talk to anyone on their team distinguishes them because it can be like an obstacle course working with other vendors. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything I need to be done, they do it. They’ve set the bar high, so I have had no issues and I’m satisfied. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Feel free to be as comfortable as you can with them. They’re so trustworthy. I give them everything I have with no fear anything will happen. Have an open mind. Though you have to be cautious with your business, you don’t need to be overly cautious with them. I trust them 100% — my business is my baby and they take care of it. Trust the process; they know what they’re doing. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Willenworks Technology Solution, a small MSP. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Smart Bean Inc?

We needed general bookkeeping services.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Smart Bean takes care of all of my bookkeeping. I upload my bank and credit card statements to the team, and they balance my books and do reporting for me.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Lisa (Founder & CEO), Chloe (Operations Manager), and a few others. 

How did you come to work with Smart Bean Inc?

I belong to an international business networking group. My CPA recommended Smart Bean to me through the network, so I took a meeting with Lisa and was very impressed. Ever since, I’ve had nothing but great service.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $1,200 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

My metrics are based on ease of use, ease of interaction, and general efficiency and productivity. Every time I need something, Smart Bean calls me right back. They’re very friendly, they’re easy to work with, and they fix any issues that might arise immediately. 

That’s important to me, because I don’t have to play phone tag or chase them down — I want to get to work for my customers and run my business. They allow me to do that and they make things easy. When they’re done with their work, I can hand it off to my CPA and do tax planning and tax returns with no issues.

How did Smart Bean Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed very well as far as communicating and meeting deadlines. We keep in touch over emails and phone conversations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Smart Bean is dependable. They’re also trustworthy, in the sense that they know what they’re doing and they’re on top of my books.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’ve noticed. I’ve had a great experience with Smart Bean.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Contact Lisa immediately and get started.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a skincare practice specializing in acne.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smart Bean Inc?

Monthly bookkeeping and filing monthly sales tax.

What were your goals for this engagement?

My goal is to have my books up to date and file my sales tax on time each month.

How did you select this vendor?

SmartBean came highly recommended from another colleague. Lisa was on a virtual call with my coaching group and after hearing about her and her practice I knew I had to hire them immediately.

Describe the engagement in detail.

I scheduled an intro call with Lisa and then once we figured out which plan was best for my business we scheduled a call with the accountant who would work on my books. We nailed down all of the accounts and what my needs are. My books are up to date daily and everyone is so friendly and helpful in every transaction I've had with them.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

They have very reasonable pricing structure. 3 different plans to accommodate any business. They actually saved me money right away.

What was the team composition?

Chloe is my contact and I forward all of my credit card charges to her telling her what their for. They remind me to send reports for sales tax and are always available if I have questions.

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

They've cleaned up my books so they make more sense because everything is categorized correctly. They have saved me money. And I know if I have a question or need anything I can reach out and someone will help me with my issue or point me in the right direction if they can't.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Onboarding was very easy. A little time consuming, but very simple. Getting a call scheduled was quick as well. Everyone has been very accommodating.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was thrilled with how easy they are to work with. Lisa is so knowledgeable and makes working with them a breeze!

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner of Eyelash Extensions Salon

For what projects/services did your company hire Smart Bean Inc?

I hired Smart Bean to manage my accounting along with preparing mybooks for Taxes.

What were your goals for this engagement?

My main goal is to have them prepare my taxes correctly and to be able to save me time on my bookkeeping which will allow me increase my efficiency.

How did you select this vendor?

I chose Smart Bean because they have a great Accounting team that’s very efficient and the price is very reasonable also I don’t have to do much work.

Describe the engagement in detail.

I met with Lisa and her team and we went over my books and we discussed how important it was for me to have everything intact for my taxes they will give me monthly reports of my profits in my cash flow.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

They bill me monthly and it’s very reasonable.

What was the team composition?

I mainly work with one person who is my main point of contact there are several members that also can support other task.

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

I am mainly very happy with the results in the progress that they do daily with my accounts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They are very efficient . I get my quarterly statements. I can call anytime to get my questions answered.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am very impressed with their financial expertise the staff is very well trained and very capable of doing what I need for my company they’re very professional.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No I think they are doing a fabulous job .

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Creative Juice, a branding, marketing, and web design agency located in Atlanta.

What challenge were you trying to address with Smart Bean Inc?

I was looking for help with bookkeeping, reporting, and bill pay.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Smart Bean Inc handles all of my bookkeeping. They reconcile my books every day via QuickBooks and make sure everything’s prepared and in order for tax season. They also give me monthly reporting so I can see the financials of my company as well as additional quarterly reports.

What is the team composition?

I typically interact with about three people from the Smart Bean Inc team, including the owner.

How did you come to work with Smart Bean Inc?

My CPA recommended them to me because of the hands-on customer service that they provide. They had a very thorough onboarding process that I liked. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invest about $4,000 a year.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Smart Bean Inc began in December 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Having good bookkeeping gives you some peace of mind. If I need financial documents, I know everything is already in order. 

How did Smart Bean Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done everything they said they were going to do at the appropriate deadline. They’re very thorough and upfront when it comes to the onboarding process. They’re great at communicating, setting expectations, and meeting deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s been incredibly helpful that they reconcile my books every day. They never have to ask me about different transactions that happened early in the month and I wouldn’t remember them as well. I can always easily identify the charges because they are fresh in my mind. The peace of mind they have given me is incredibly valuable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Smart Bean Inc could expand their services, but their main service line is bookkeeping, which they do a great job at. I do sometimes wish they had more financial consulting as well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them access to everything. Obviously, it was a situation where I trusted them with that information, but it was worth it. Listen to what they’re saying to make sure you understand it. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a Staffing provider for all industries President of the AtWork

For what projects/services did your company hire Smart Bean, Inc.?

Bookkeeping

What were your goals for this project?

weekly bookkeeping activities, upkeep of balance sheet

How did you select Smart Bean, Inc.?

referred by accountant.

Describe the project in detail.

bookkeeping

What was the team composition?

assigned team members to assist with all needs

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

responsive and professional

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

great

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The communication with the team is great. They really try to understand the company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

no

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-owner and growth director of Vizolutions.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smart Bean Inc?

They were hired for ongoing bookkeeping.

What were your goals for this project?

Tax season was the worst season for our business because our CPA had endless lists of questions we could never adequately answer and we knew we were leaving money on the table missing or misclassifying expenses. We needed someone to take care of all of it for us.

How did you select this vendor?

SmartBean's solution for bookkeeping is an easily implemented, high value, competitively priced solution for done-for-you bookkeeping.

Describe the project in detail.

SmartBean balances our books monthly and audits expenses real time and gives us quarterly reports as well as tax time reports to our CPA. It's a completely done-for-you solution.

What was the team composition?

SmartBean has a number of team members that solved everything from IT to bookkeeping to tax planning.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We went from spending 40+ hours around tax season and missing write offs to practically forgetting tax season is an issue because all the work is already done for us but to sign.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was seamless.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They offer multi-layered support that is quick, efficient, and responsive.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a boutique clinical skincare clinic.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smart Bean Inc?

For bookkeeping services.

What were your goals for this engagement?

To get all of my company’s bookkeeping in order and have a

How did you select this vendor?

A referral through a professional business club I’m a part of.

Describe the engagement in detail.

They were successfully able to go back through all my books for 2019 and get everything ready quickly to prepare taxes and and move my business forward in an organized fashion.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

Monthly billing for booking keeping.

What was the team composition?

2-3 people.

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

They are professional, fast and quality-focused. Lisa and her team are amazing and provide great customer service. I couldn’t be happier!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Response time. The personal service they provide and the thoughtful referrals to other business for professional services not performed by them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None yet that I can see.