Kennedy Billing Service in Baltimore: Small-Business Bookkeeping Without the Firm Markup

Kennedy Billing Service handles the day-to-day accounting work that small business owners in Baltimore cannot ignore but often cannot afford to pay a full CPA firm to manage. The firm offers bookkeeping, payroll processing, and accounts reconciliation on an hourly or monthly retainer basis, positioning itself as a middle ground between DIY software and the overhead of a traditional accounting practice.

What Kennedy Billing Service actually is

Kennedy Billing Service is a sole proprietor or small team bookkeeping operation that takes responsibility for transaction entry, bank and credit card reconciliation, payroll tax filing, and financial statement preparation. It does not hold CPA credentials and does not provide tax strategy or audit services, but it prepares books clean enough that a CPA or tax preparer can work from them efficiently. The firm works primarily with contractors, service businesses, and small retail operations in the Baltimore area that generate $250,000 to $2 million in annual revenue.

Services and pricing

Kennedy Billing Service charges on an hourly basis (rates typically $40 to $65 per hour, depending on task complexity and engagement length) or offers a flat monthly retainer for ongoing clients. A typical monthly retainer for a small business with under five employees and moderate transaction volume ranges from $200 to $500 per month. Payroll processing adds $50 to $150 per month depending on frequency and employee count. Year-end reconciliation and financial statement preparation are usually billed separately at hourly rates. Call the firm directly to confirm current rates, as bookkeeping pricing adjusts with local labor costs and service scope.

How Kennedy Billing Service compares to other Baltimore bookkeeping options

Baltimore has two primary alternatives: large CPA firms (Moss Adams, Clark Nuber, Womble Bond) and cloud-based DIY platforms (QuickBooks Online, Wave). CPA firms charge $150 to $300 per hour and often require retainers starting at $1,000 per month, making them cost-prohibitive for startups and sole proprietors. Kennedy Billing Service eliminates the markup and fixed overhead of a firm without requiring the business owner to learn accounting software themselves. DIY platforms are cheaper upfront ($15 to $60 per month) but demand consistent, accurate data entry by the owner and offer no human support for reconciliation or payroll setup. Kennedy Billing Service suits businesses that have grown past spreadsheets but cannot yet justify a full-service firm. Choose a large firm if you need tax strategy, audit readiness, or multi-entity consolidation. Choose DIY if you have time and accounting knowledge. Choose Kennedy Billing Service if you have monthly transaction volume that matters, payroll complexity, or loan requirements that demand credible financial statements.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Kennedy Billing Service works well for Baltimore service contractors (HVAC, plumbing, landscaping), small e-commerce sellers, real estate agents, and consulting practices that generate irregular income and need clear year-end reporting. It also suits business owners managing multiple revenue streams or those with sales tax compliance needs in Maryland. It does not suit nonprofits, which require specialized fund accounting, or multi-location businesses that need consolidated reporting across entities. It is not appropriate for firms in heavily regulated industries (banking, insurance) that need audit-ready controls, nor for businesses that expect to seek venture capital.

What the first visit involves

An initial consultation typically covers the firm's review of your current bookkeeping method (QuickBooks, spreadsheets, nothing), your monthly transaction volume, payroll structure, and tax filing deadlines. Kennedy Billing Service will usually request three months of bank statements and recent profit-and-loss data (if any exists) to estimate scope. The firm will propose either an hourly arrangement or monthly retainer and may charge a one-time setup fee ($300 to $600) to configure software, reconcile back statements, or clean up legacy data. Most clients then provide monthly bank statements, invoices, and expense receipts (digitally or by mail) and receive a reconciled balance sheet and income statement before quarter-end or year-end.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Kennedy Billing Service operates by appointment and phone/email communication; verify current hours and availability by calling directly. Many bookkeeping firms in Baltimore operate hybrid models with limited in-person availability. If in-person meetings matter to you, confirm location and parking options during your initial inquiry.

Kennedy Billing Service fills a gap in Baltimore's accounting market where business owners have outgrown spreadsheets but lack the transaction volume or budget to engage a traditional firm. Clean, timely bookkeeping is the foundation of every loan application and tax return; this service delivers it without the cost of CPA overhead.