At STL Tax, led by St. Louis CPA James Coats, we act as an all-in-one financial back office for small business owners across the Greater St. Louis area and Missouri. We combine proactive tax strategy, monthly bookkeeping, streamlined payroll, and entity advisory into one seamless, predictable monthly relationship.

Your time as a business owner is best spent serving clients, managing operations, and growing your company… not wrestling with messy spreadsheets, balancing ledgers, or stressing over missed tax deadlines.

Small Business Accounting Services:

  1. Small Business Accounting & Bookkeeping
  2. New Business Formation
  3. QuickBooks Setup & Training
  4. Payroll Services
  5. Small Business Tax Preparation

The Advantage of a Unified CPA Back Office

Many business owners make the mistake of splitting their financial services across multiple software applications or separate vendors—using one software for payroll, an independent bookkeeper for ledger entry, and a seasonal tax preparer once a year. This fragmented approach leads to communication gaps, missed tax write-offs, and unexpected tax bills.

Partnering with STL Tax brings your entire financial ecosystem under expert CPA oversight:

  1. Eliminate Tax Season Surprises: Proactive, year-round tracking means tax strategy is implemented every month, eliminating year-end tax scrambles.
  2. Predictable Monthly Investment: Flat-fee accounting and payroll packages mean no surprise billing rates or hidden charges.
  3. Direct Access to a Dedicated CPA: Get responsive, personal support from a local St. Louis accounting firm that understands your business model.
  4. Maximum Tax Savings: Clean monthly books feed directly into tax planning, ensuring every legal deduction, credit, and S-Corp distribution is optimized.

How We Work With Your Business

  1. Discovery Consultation: We review your current entity structure, existing accounting software, and financial goals to identify cash leaks and tax opportunities.
  2. System Streamlining & Onboarding: We connect your accounts, clean up existing ledger data, and implement automated bank and payroll workflows.
  3. Ongoing Retainer Management: Every month, we reconcile your books, process payroll, track sales/payroll tax liabilities, and provide clear financial reports.
  4. Year-Round Tax Optimization: We continuously adjust tax strategies and quarterly estimates so your annual tax filing is seamless and stress-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I outsource accounting rather than hire an in-house bookkeeper?

Hiring a full-time or part-time in-house bookkeeper requires paying wages, benefits, and payroll taxes—and they may still lack strategic CPA tax knowledge. Outsourcing to STL Tax gives you full CPA expertise and complete back-office coverage at a fraction of the cost.

What types of small businesses do you serve in St. Louis?

We work with a wide range of local industries, including trade contractors, professional service providers, real estate investors, medical practices, retailers, and single-owner S-Corporations throughout Greater St. Louis and Missouri.

Can I bundle bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation into one monthly plan?

Yes! Our integrated monthly retainers bundle ongoing bookkeeping, payroll management, quarterly tax strategy, and annual tax return preparation into one flat monthly price.

Partner with St. Louis’s Trusted Small Business CPA

Take the clutter and stress off your desk so you can focus on building a profitable company. Contact St. Louis CPA James Coats at STL Tax to build your customized small business accounting package.