5.0 out of 5 based on 41 reviews
Accounting Services for Small Businesses, Led by CPAs
CPA-led accounting that keeps your bookkeeping accurate, taxes proactive, and financial decisions grounded in clear numbers.
CPA-led accounting · Serving small businesses since 2017 · QuickBooks ProAdvisor · Based in Tampa and Lake Mary, serving clients across the US
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★★★★★“Since adding Alex with Stronghold Accounting for our bookkeeping, it has truly been a Godsend for our business.”Patty LeslieTampa
★★★★★“I like that you're helping me strategize, not just giving me numbers. I didn't think that was possible.”JoelService-business owner
★★★★★“Alex and his team helped bring the books current and continue to provide monthly support while helping plan for growth.”Dr. MaloneLake Mary
★★★★★“Alex is sharp, detail-oriented, and genuinely passionate about his work. He explains the numbers clearly.”Baxter McCoyOrlando
★★★★★“Since adding Alex with Stronghold Accounting for our bookkeeping, it has truly been a Godsend for our business.”Patty LeslieTampa
★★★★★“I like that you're helping me strategize, not just giving me numbers. I didn't think that was possible.”JoelService-business owner
★★★★★“Alex and his team helped bring the books current and continue to provide monthly support while helping plan for growth.”Dr. MaloneLake Mary
★★★★★“Alex is sharp, detail-oriented, and genuinely passionate about his work. He explains the numbers clearly.”Baxter McCoyOrlando
★★★★★“Since adding Alex with Stronghold Accounting for our bookkeeping, it has truly been a Godsend for our business.”Patty LeslieTampa
★★★★★“I like that you're helping me strategize, not just giving me numbers. I didn't think that was possible.”JoelService-business owner
★★★★★“Alex and his team helped bring the books current and continue to provide monthly support while helping plan for growth.”Dr. MaloneLake Mary
★★★★★“Alex is sharp, detail-oriented, and genuinely passionate about his work. He explains the numbers clearly.”Baxter McCoyOrlando
What is outsourced accounting?
Outsourced accounting services move your bookkeeping, close, and reporting to an outside team. When comparing outsourced accounting firms, choose one accountable outsourced accounting firm: the best outsourced accounting services own the full cycle and go beyond basic accounting outsourcing services by analyzing the results.
Who this is for
Stronghold is built for owner-operated businesses that have outgrown a part-time bookkeeper but are nowhere near needing a finance department.$200k+ revenueStronghold typically serves owner-operated businesses with at least $200,000 in annual revenue, with exceptions for startups on a strong growth path. Below that, DIY bookkeeping and a once-a-year tax preparer usually cover it.Service businesses, professional firms, and agenciesYour largest costs are labor and taxes. Without clear numbers and an active tax-reduction strategy, hundreds of thousands of dollars can be forfeited in missed profit.Owners who want clarityOwners who want clarity on the story their numbers are telling and actionable steps to improve the business.
See the industries we work in →Not a fitIt is not the right fit if you want bare-bones bookkeeping. Plenty of firms market affordable bookkeeping services without guidance or tax-reduction support.
What we do
Business accounting services at Stronghold run from the monthly close through to the planning conversation that follows it. Outsourced accounting and outsourced bookkeeping are the two most common ways clients arrive here. If you want the full finance function handled, start with the first card.'><rect x='0' y='0' width='300' height='308' rx='16' fill='%23ffffff' stroke='%23B9C6E0' stroke-width='3'></rect><rect x='34' y='44' width='150' height='16' rx='8' fill='%2316224A'></rect><rect x='34' y='96' width='232' height='12' rx='6' fill='%23D5DEEE'></rect><rect x='34' y='132' width='196' height='12' rx='6' fill='%23D5DEEE'></rect><rect x='34' y='168' width='216' height='12' rx='6' fill='%23D5DEEE'></rect><rect x='34' y='204' width='164' height='12' rx='6' fill='%23D5DEEE'></rect><rect x='34' y='248' width='120' height='14' rx='7' fill='%23AFC9F0'></rect></g><circle cx='536' cy='368' r='52' fill='%231977EE'></circle><path d='M512 368l17 17 33-35' fill='none' stroke='%23ffffff' stroke-width='9' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'></path></svg>)
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How it works: the CPA System™
1Free discovery callWe look for compliance red flags and missed profit opportunities before you commit to anything.
2Foundation buildoutWe clear the compliance risk and capture what was being left on the table. This is where cleanup happens if the books need it.
3Ongoing CPASystem™Clear numbers every month, and no surprises from errors or penalties.
Proof
Results
$10K–$100KStronghold's tax-planning work is designed to identify opportunities that can range from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the business and its circumstances. Results vary, and every recommendation is based on the client's actual books and tax position.
$784,000For a multi-location healthcare business, Stronghold identified and corrected more than $784,000 in accounting misstatements, rebuilt nearly two years of activity, and delivered reliable financial statements in about four weeks.
★★★★★“Since adding Alex with Stronghold Accounting for our bookkeeping, it has truly been a Godsend for our business. Alex cleaned up a difficult QuickBooks transition and became a game changer for our month-to-month bookkeeping.”Patty LeslieTampa
Alex M. Riccio, CPAFounder & CEO
Clean Numbers Set the Foundation.
Strategy Builds the Business.
I started Stronghold in 2017 after auditing Fortune 500 companies at two of the largest accounting firms. Those companies knew their numbers, but the small businesses I met were left in the dark.
This gap costs business owners overpaid taxes, profit leakin, and an entity structure that stopped fitting two years ago. So every set of books gets analyzed by a CPA, and every client gets a conversation about what the numbers mean.
If you only see your numbers at tax time, you're making decisions blind. Let's fix that.
Book a call with Alex →Faces Behind Stronghold
Some of the dedicated professionals of our small Florida firm.
You'll always know exactly who is handling your books.
You'll always know exactly who is handling your books.
Alex M. Riccio, CPAFounder & CEO
Alex leads the strategic component of our CPASystem™, which includes the Profit & Tax Strategy Meetings, where profit leaks and overpaid taxes are identified. Alex also helps owners evaluate key financial trends, establish performance targets, and understand the numbers driving their business. His focus is ensuring clients receive more than accurate financial statements, but they have a clear strategy for improving profitability, minimizing taxes, and making confident financial decisions.
Mariela O. GonzalezAccounting Manager
Mariela oversees the quality and accuracy of our clients’ financial reporting including the weekly bookkeeping, monthly financial statements, account reconciliations, and other key financial processes to ensure each client’s books are complete and reliable. In addition to providing controllership-level oversight, helping identify reporting issues, improving accounting processes, and ensuring financials are structured to give business owners a clear picture of their company’s performance.
Luisito Jr. A. Tinagsa, CPASenior Accountant
Luis manages the day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping operations for our clients, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded, reconciled, and up to date. He oversees the weekly accounting workflow, reviews activity for accuracy and consistency, and works directly with clients to resolve questions, gather needed information, and keep their books moving smoothly. His focus is maintaining clean, reliable financial data so clients always have an accurate foundation for reporting, analysis, and strategic decision-making.What it costs
Pricing is flat-rate and weekly. No hourly billing, so the cost does not move when a month is busy. Pricing is custom and flat-rate. The quote reflects company size, industry, headcount, bank and credit-card accounts, locations, entity count, transaction volume, and any cleanup required.
CPA System™ PlusCPA-analyzed financials, monthlyExpert bookkeeping, weeklyUnlimited CPA accessSame-day response timeMonthly Profit & Tax Strategy MeetingsStrategic Tax & Profit AdvisoryGet a quote →
CPA System™ (Most Chosen)CPA-analyzed financials, monthlyExpert bookkeeping, weeklyUnlimited CPA access24-hour response timeQuarterly Profit & Tax Strategy MeetingsStrategic Tax & Profit AdvisoryGet a quote →
EssentialsCPA-analyzed financials, monthlyExpert bookkeeping, weeklyNo advisory or tax planningGet a quote →
How CPA services differ from basic bookkeeping
Stronghold is an accounting firm with CPA-led bookkeeping. Unlike a CPA firm offering audit or attestation work, Stronghold focuses on bookkeeping, accounting, and advisory with CPA-level guidance, clarity, and protection.
Clear NumbersNo more lack of clarity. Financials every month.ProtectionNo more costly surprises. CPA-analyzed books.AdvisoryNo more unanswered questions. Guidance monthly.Most small businesses do not need CPA-level guidance on day one. You need it when the cost of a wrong answer starts to exceed the cost of a right one: an S-corp election that was never made, an owner salary that invites scrutiny, or books that will not support a loan application.CPA-led services cost more than bookkeeping alone because they add guidance, clarity, and protection to the monthly numbers.Our offices
Virtual, nationwideAll clients are served virtually. The Tampa and Lake Mary locations provide local contact points while the accounting work is delivered remotely across the US.Both locations →
Common questions
What does outsourced accounting cost?
Pricing is custom and flat-rate. The quote reflects company size, industry, headcount, bank and credit-card accounts, locations, entity count, transaction volume, and any cleanup required. Full detail is on the pricing page.
Do we have to switch accounting software?
Stronghold specializes in QuickBooks Online. If you use another platform, we can scope a migration to QuickBooks Online during discovery.
How fast is onboarding?
The Foundation Buildout typically takes 2-4 weeks. Monthly financials are delivered by the 10th business day of the following month after the ongoing cycle begins.
Do you work as a CPA for small business owners specifically?
Yes. Owner-operated small businesses are the whole practice, not a segment of it.
Do you work with businesses outside Florida?
What if our books are months behind?
That is common and it is fixable. Cleanup happens during the foundation buildout, before ongoing work starts. See bookkeeping cleanup and catch-up.
Should I hire an accountant or a CPA?
If you need someone to record what already happened, a bookkeeper or an accountant is enough. Hire a CPA when the numbers are being used to make a decision, or when a wrong answer carries a cost: entity structure, owner compensation, a loan application, an IRS letter. A CPA is licensed by a state board and accountable to it. An unlicensed accountant is not.
What does a small business accountant actually do day to day?
Records the month, reconciles it, and tells you what changed. The last part is the one worth paying for. The right accountant for small business owners should also explain the numbers, not just record them.
Do you prepare tax returns?
Stronghold handles proactive tax planning and works with an integrated tax-preparation partner for filing. We coordinate the year-end handoff so the books, planning, and return preparation stay connected.
Book a free discovery call
Thirty minutes. We look at your books, tell you what we see, and you decide what to do with it.