Hi, I’m Sonya Neale. Before becoming a licensed Bookkeeper, I spent over 20 years managing a high-volume restaurant and banquet center, leading a team of up to 200 and overseeing the preparation of over 4,000 meals on major holidays. It was fast-paced, high-pressure, and deeply rewarding. That experience taught me how to listen to the needs of my customers, monitor my expenses, and adapt under stress.
Quite surprisingly, I was given the opportunity to transition into the world of bookkeeping by supporting a non-profit organization then helping a local television station. It was in bookkeeping that I discovered my desire to help others make sense of their numbers, organize their operations, and regain control of their business finances through bookkeeping. I found that what I loved most wasn’t just balancing books—it was empowering people to fulfill their dreams so I created 5 Stone Bookkeeping, LLC.
Today, I’m a Certified Public Bookkeeper licensed through the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB), a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a Sage 50 US Edition Certified Accounting Specialist. 5 Stone Bookkeeping is a U.S. based company serving U.S. based companies. I combine financial expertise with real-world management insight — giving my clients a practical, grounded approach that’s built for results.
As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a NACPB member, I’m supported by a nationwide community of experienced professionals, real-time technical guidance, and continually updated regulatory insight. When you hire 5 Stone Bookkeeping, you’re hiring a business with backing.
Certified Expertise
As a Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) licensed through NACPB, A QuickBooks Pro Advisor and a Sage 50 US Certified Accounting Specialist, we bring verified expertise to every ledger. With extensive certifications and ongoing training, we have a deep understanding of accounting principles to manage your books and we leverage the power of modern, cloud-based solutions like QuickBooks Online to streamline your financials, ensuring accuracy and efficiency, giving you confidence and peace of mind.
Stress Free Tax Prep
Having a Certified Public Bookkeeper drastically reduces or eliminates your stress by making tax preparation more efficient. Saving you time and potentially saving you money on your Tax Accounting fees.
With up to date books there'll be no more scurrying to locate receipts to hand over to your CPA hoping they can sort and figure them out. And no more fees or penalties for not paying your taxes on time.
Your partner in growth until you outgrow us!
As your business thrives and expands, so do your financial needs. Along with your Tax Accountant, we'll build a solid financial foundation together, setting you up for lasting success. And when your growth leads you to an in-house team, we are ready to assist you with training. We'll ensure a seamless transition, celebrating your growth every step of the way.
We can remain a cost-effective, go-to resource for continued support.
We are a U.S.-based company and are only able to accept clients located within the United States. We've designed our service delivery around a fully remote model, ensuring convenience and accessibility for our clients.
Upon contacting us, you'll receive a brief questionnaire to gather some initial information about your business. Once submitted, you'll have the opportunity to schedule a Discovery Call with us. This call helps us better understand your specific needs, allows you to ask questions, and helps us both determine if we're the right fit.
Following our conversation, the next step is a thorough Diagnostic Review. This is where we "look under the hood" of your current financial situation to identify areas for improvement and develop tailored recommendations. We'll present these findings to you, along with a Proposal outlining our suggested services and their associated costs.
To complete the Diagnostic Review, we'll need your last three years of tax returns, three months of business bank statements, and temporary accountant access to your QuickBooks Online. There's a minimal charge for this service (see our Service Packages for details).
Upon completion of the Diagnostic Review, you're welcome to use the report as you see fit. However, if you choose to continue with 5 Stone Bookkeeping, the cost of the Diagnostic Review will be applied to your first invoice. If you approve the proposal, we'll send you the Service Agreement and invoice to begin our ongoing partnership.
Please note: For all monthly bookkeeping services, we always start with a comprehensive Diagnostic Review and Cleanup to ensure your financial records are accurate and optimized from the outset.
Custom packages available for unique businesses
Clarity Starter
For solopreneurs who just need clean books and peace of mind.
Transaction categorization
Receipt management with audit-friendly recordkeeping
Bank & credit card reconciliation
Profit & Loss + Balance Sheet Reports
End of year Tax Accountant packet (no more worrying about meeting the tax filing deadline )
Email support
Starts at $300/month
Growth Builder
For business owners ready to make data-driven decisions.
Includes everything in Clarity Starter
More frequent updates for real-time visibility
Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable Aging monitoring
Monthly cash flow tracking
Customized monthly financial reports
Summary of the monthly financial reports with insights in a video or email walkthrough
Starts at $500/month
Insight Partner
For business owners in a rapid growth phase.
Includes everything in Clarity Starter & Growth Builder
1099 Tracking & Filing
Industry performance insight report
QBO Support for you & your team
Texting support added for priority response time
Starts at $700/month
Add-Ons
Diagnostic Review $100
Clean-up (starts at $500)
1099 Filing (starts at $150)
QBO Support (starts at $50/month)
“Your Accountant is only as good as your books. Make them count!”
Misconceptions About Bookkeeping
Have you thought or heard:
Bookkeeping is only important at tax time
Accounting software does all the work for you
Anyone can do bookkeeping
Think again!
Check out this article for more information.
CPB vs CPA
Many business owners have the misconception that tax accountants (CPA's) do their bookkeeping for them since they file their taxes and therefore they don't need to hire a licensed bookkeeper. But this generally isn't the case.
Let's dig deeper...
An extension to file taxes is not what you think...
An extension to file taxes is not an extension to pay them. This is a common misconception and one that can cost dearly over time.
I don't need a bookkeeper... do I?
May business owners do well at juggling everything their new business throws at them in the beginning. But when is it time to look to hiring help? And where should you start?
Outsourcing bookkeeping is one of the priorities businesses facing difficult financial circumstances should prioritize.