Empire Professional Services in Baltimore: Tax and Bookkeeping for Small Businesses and Individuals

Empire Professional Services is a CPA firm based in Baltimore that handles tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll processing for small business owners and individual filers. The firm operates on an engagement basis, meaning clients contract for specific services rather than paying per-transaction fees, and serves the Baltimore region with in-person and remote consultation options.

What Empire Professional Services actually does

Empire Professional Services is structured around three core service lines: tax preparation and planning, ongoing bookkeeping and accounting, and payroll administration. The firm is staffed with at least one CPA and focuses on clients who need more than annual tax filing—typically small business owners managing multiple revenue streams, freelancers with complex deductions, or individuals with rental property income. Unlike large national chains that process returns quickly, or solo practitioners who may specialize narrowly, Empire positions itself between those extremes: large enough to handle multi-entity tax situations, small enough that clients work directly with a CPA rather than an associate.

The firm accepts both individuals and businesses as clients, with a particular focus on service-based businesses (consulting, contracting, professional practices) and e-commerce operators. This matters because those client types often have quarterly estimated tax obligations, sales tax compliance concerns, and inventory or contractor-expense questions that require strategic, not just reactive, tax advice.

Services and pricing

Pricing at Empire Professional Services follows an engagement model rather than a flat-fee menu. For tax preparation, the cost depends on return complexity: a straightforward individual return with W-2 income costs less than a return involving Schedule C self-employment income, investment gains, and rental property. A basic individual tax return typically ranges from $300 to $600; a small business return with bookkeeping integration costs between $1,500 and $4,000 annually, depending on transaction volume and number of entities. These figures should be confirmed directly, as rates vary by year and engagement scope.

Bookkeeping services are priced on a monthly retainer, usually $400 to $1,200 per month depending on transaction volume and whether the client uses accounting software (QuickBooks, Wave, etc.). Payroll processing, whether monthly or quarterly, typically runs $50 to $150 per payroll run plus per-employee fees. The firm also offers quarterly tax planning sessions, usually included in annual engagement agreements rather than billed separately.

The engagement model creates continuity: the same CPA reviews your books throughout the year, spots tax-saving opportunities before year-end, and builds familiarity with your business structure. This differs from drop-in tax-prep services where you file once annually with no planning, and from large firms where you might work with different staff members across multiple visits.

How Empire compares to other Baltimore tax services

Baltimore has three main categories of tax service providers: large national chains (H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt), independent CPAs and enrolled agents, and mid-sized local firms like Empire.

National chains offer the lowest base price for simple returns (often $100 to $200 for W-2-only filers) but charge significantly more for Schedule C, rental income, or business complexity. They are transactional: you file once, then have no relationship with the preparer. Choose a chain if you file the same simple return every year and want the lowest price.

Solo practitioners and enrolled agents typically charge $400 to $800 for individual returns and excel at personalized attention and niche expertise (foreign income, cryptocurrency, specific industries). They often lack bandwidth for ongoing bookkeeping and payroll. Choose a solo agent if you need deep expertise in one area and file only once a year.

Empire sits between these: higher prices than chains, but including ongoing bookkeeping and quarterly planning; more capacity for multi-entity clients than a solo practice, but smaller and more personal than a 50-person firm. The engagement model means you pay more upfront but save money by identifying deductions earlier and avoiding costly errors or audit exposure.

Other mid-sized Baltimore firms include Kelsey & Associates (accounting and tax planning, similar retainer model) and Armond Cohen & Company (audit-heavy but also offers tax and bookkeeping). Empire's advantage for small businesses is its focus on e-commerce and service-based freelancers; its disadvantage is less specialization in audit or nonprofit accounting if that is your need.

Who Empire suits and who it does not

Empire Professional Services is the right choice if you own a small business (under $2 million in revenue), file a complex individual return, or manage multiple income streams and want year-round tax planning. It also works well if you use QuickBooks or another accounting platform and want someone to review and clean up your books monthly.

Empire is not the right fit if you need only annual tax filing with no business operations, want the absolute lowest price, or require audit services or representation before the IRS (the firm offers tax planning and preparation, not audit or litigation). It is also not ideal for very large multi-entity enterprises; those typically need firms with more staff depth.

What the first visit involves

Most clients begin with an intake appointment, either in-person at the firm's Baltimore office or by phone or video. You will review your tax history (prior returns, income sources, major deductions), discuss business structure (sole proprietor, LLC, S-corp, C-corp), and outline any major changes from the prior year. The CPA will also assess your current bookkeeping system: if you have invoices and receipts scattered across email and bank statements, the firm may recommend moving to QuickBooks and will help set it up.

For ongoing clients, the relationship typically becomes a series of monthly bookkeeping reviews and a tax-planning meeting in the fall. You submit income and expense records (or grant access to your bank and credit card accounts), and the CPA reconciles them monthly and flags any issues.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Empire Professional Services is located in Baltimore and maintains standard business hours; confirm current hours by phone before visiting, as scheduling often occurs by appointment rather than walk-in. The office is accessible by car, and parking details depend on the specific building; this should be confirmed when scheduling. Remote consultations and document submission are available, so an in-person visit is not required for ongoing clients.

Empire Professional Services fills a genuine gap in Baltimore's tax-service landscape for small business owners who need year-round guidance rather than one-time filing, and for service businesses where tax planning is as important as tax compliance.