Established CPA work, in four areas.
Magnolia CPA serves Seattle small businesses and families across four core areas. Most engagements pull from more than one — bookkeeping that ties into tax planning, audits that surface advisory questions, estate work that touches the business.
Running the business side
For owners who need a CPA who understands the operating side of a business, not just its tax form.
Small business accounting
Day-to-day accounting handled in coordination with our sister firm Bee's Bookkeeping. Clean monthly books, real-time visibility, and the CPA on the other side of the wall.
Payroll
Payroll processing and management for small teams. WA-specific filings, employee onboarding, year-end W-2s and 1099s — all handled.
Part-time CFO services
For businesses that aren't ready for a full-time CFO but need the perspective. Monthly financial review, budgeting, cash-flow planning, and strategic conversations.
Cash flow management
Forecast, manage, and optimize the cash flow that actually keeps the business running. Tools and conversations, not just a spreadsheet.
Strategic business & succession planning
Long-term planning for growth, restructuring, ownership transitions, and succession. Often paired with valuation and estate work.
New business formation
Entity selection (LLC vs. S-corp vs. partnership), federal and state registration, foundational accounting setup so you start clean.
Internal controls
Establish systems that safeguard assets and operations — especially important once you have employees handling money.
Non-profit organizations
Specialized accounting and tax services for non-profits, including Form 990 preparation, fund accounting, and board reporting.
Business valuation
Defensible valuations for buy/sell, divorce, litigation, estate planning, or strategic planning purposes.
Bank financing
Lender-ready financial packages, projections, and the CPA-prepared documentation that loan officers actually want to see.
Litigation support
Forensic accounting, expert reports, and financial expertise for legal proceedings.
Audits, Reviews & Compilations
Financial statement assurance services at the level your lender, board, or regulator requires — from a full audit down through reviews and compilations, with documented procedures and clear conclusions.
Tax preparation, planning, and problem-solving
From routine returns to IRS resolution. If it touches federal or Washington tax, we work it.
Tax preparation
Individual and business returns — federal, Washington B&O, multi-state where needed. Filed accurately, filed on time, filed for what you actually owe.
Tax planning
Year-round strategy conversations to reduce tax owed legitimately — entity structure, timing, retirement contributions, business deductions, the things you can actually control.
IRS audit representation
Represent you in front of the IRS so you don't have to handle them yourself. Audit notice, document request, in-person examination — we handle the back-and-forth.
Non-filed and back tax returns
If you have years of unfiled returns or back taxes owed, we work through them methodically and bring you current. No judgment — most of these situations are fixable.
Payroll tax problems
Resolve employment tax issues, late deposits, trust fund recovery penalties, and the IRS collection actions that often follow.
IRS liens, levies, wage garnishment, seizures
If the IRS has taken collection action against you, we know the procedures to challenge or work through them.
Offer in Compromise
Negotiate a reduced settlement of tax owed where you genuinely can't pay the full amount. Strict eligibility rules; we evaluate honestly whether you qualify.
IRS payment plan
Set up an installment agreement so back tax doesn't escalate further. Sometimes the simplest right answer.
Tax implications of bankruptcy
The tax side of bankruptcy is its own area. We work with bankruptcy attorneys to handle the federal and state tax obligations cleanly.
Innocent spouse relief
If you've been hit with tax liability from a joint return your spouse mishandled, you may qualify for relief. We evaluate the situation and file the application.
QuickBooks done properly
From software selection to setup to ongoing tune-ups. Coordinated with our sister firm Bee's Bookkeeping for ongoing monthly work.
Why QuickBooks
Honest guidance on whether QuickBooks is right for your situation, and which version (Online vs. Desktop) fits.
QuickBooks setup
Initial setup done right: chart of accounts, bank feeds, opening balances, sales tax, payroll integrations. The hour you spend up front pays for itself a hundred times over.
QuickBooks training
Train your staff (or you) on the everyday tasks — invoicing, receiving payments, paying bills, running reports. Customized to how your business actually works.
QuickTuneup & tips
Annual review of an existing QuickBooks file — reconciliations, accuracy checks, performance, and cleanup of the workflow drift that creeps in over time.
Buy QuickBooks and save
As certified ProAdvisors we can sell you QuickBooks Online at discounted rates compared to retail.
Coordinated bookkeeping
For ongoing monthly QuickBooks work, our sister firm Bee's Bookkeeping handles the day-to-day so Magnolia CPA can focus on tax and advisory. Same ownership, same standards. Visit Bee's Bookkeeping →
Personal & estate
The financial side of life's bigger transitions — retirement, estate, elder care — done with the care of a family CPA.
Personal financial planning
A comprehensive look at where you are, where you're trying to get to, and the financial decisions in between — taxes, retirement, savings, insurance.
Estate planning
Succession and asset distribution planning. Coordinated with your attorney to make sure the financial structure matches the legal one.
Elder care
Financial planning for the aging years — long-term care costs, Medicaid planning, family conversations about money, and the tax considerations that come with all of it.
Not sure where you fit?
That's exactly what a consultation is for. Tell us about your situation and we'll point you to the right service — or to someone better suited if we're not.