Bookkeeping & Tax Services for New Bern Businesses
Bookkeeping, tax, and consulting for New Bern small businesses. Monthly books, tax-ready records, and clear reporting from a local firm.
Bookkeeping and Tax for New Bern
New Bern has a different feel from most small cities in North Carolina. The historic district draws steady tourist traffic, the waterfront supports a real marine economy, CarolinaEast anchors a healthcare cluster, and there’s a steady flow of military families coming through from Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune. That mix produces a wide range of small businesses, each with its own accounting quirks.
We provide bookkeeping, tax and consulting services to New Bern business owners who want their numbers handled properly without bringing someone in-house. We’re based in Jacksonville, about 45 minutes south on Highway 17, which keeps us close enough to meet when it matters and removes any reason to pay for downtown overhead.
Full-Service Bookkeeping
Full-Service Bookkeeping
Monthly transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliations, and financial reports you can actually read. Full-service bookkeeping means the books close every month, not when you finally have time to look at them.
Catch-Up Bookkeeping
Catch-Up Bookkeeping
Six months behind? Two years? We sort through bank feeds, receipts, and whatever exists, then rebuild the records in order. You end up with clean books and a starting point that holds up at tax time.
Business Tax Returns
Business Tax Returns
Federal and state returns prepared by an Enrolled Agent who has been doing this for more than 15 years. Schedules done correctly, deductions captured, and a return that ties back to the books we maintained all year.
Sales Tax Management
Sales Tax Management
North Carolina sales tax, including the prepared food and beverage rates that hit New Bern restaurants and bars. Rates tracked, filings submitted on time, no late penalties from the Department of Revenue.
New Bern Businesses We Work With
The businesses we work with in New Bern tend to be owner-operated, established enough to need real bookkeeping, and small enough that hiring a full-time accountant doesn’t make sense. Most have been doing the books themselves or working with someone whose attention has drifted, and they’re ready for something more dependable.
Tryon Palace, the waterfront, and the historic district keep tourism revenue flowing. The military communities to the south and Cherry Point to the east bring steady demand for services. Underneath all of that, there’s a layer of contractors, professional service firms, and trades that keep the local economy running. We work across that spectrum.
Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants and Bars
Downtown New Bern has built a real food scene, and the surrounding area has its share of long-standing local spots. We handle restaurant bookkeeping, including high-volume daily sales, tip reporting, food and beverage cost tracking, and the prepared food sales tax filings.
Medical and Dental Practices
Medical and Dental Practices
Independent practices working alongside the CarolinaEast network. We reconcile what you billed against what insurance actually paid, track patient balances properly, and keep the books in shape for partnership distributions and year-end planning.
Tourism and Retail
Tourism and Retail
Shops, galleries, bed and breakfasts, and tour operators serving visitors to the historic district. Seasonal revenue patterns, inventory tracking, and books that reflect how the business actually runs through the year rather than a generic monthly template.
Contractors and Trades
Contractors and Trades
Residential and light commercial builders, marine contractors, and trades working New Bern, James City, and the surrounding county. Job costing, progress billing, and clean records that hold up when a lender or bonding company asks for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You're based in Jacksonville. How does that work for a New Bern business?
New Bern is about 45 minutes up Highway 17, so we're close when meeting in person matters. Most day-to-day work happens through secure document sharing, email, and phone, which keeps things efficient regardless of where you're located.
What does monthly bookkeeping cost?
Full-service bookkeeping starts at $225 per month. Final pricing depends on transaction volume and the complexity of your business. We give you a flat monthly quote after we look at what's involved.
Can you help if my books haven't been touched in a year or more?
Yes. Catch-up bookkeeping is a regular part of what we do. We reconstruct what's missing, clean up the categories, reconcile the accounts, and hand you back a set of books you can actually use going forward.
Do you handle North Carolina sales tax for restaurants and retail shops?
Yes. We manage sales tax calculation and filings, including the prepared food and beverage rates that apply to New Bern restaurants. We use TaxJar when it fits, and we handle filings directly when that's a better option.
Do you prepare business tax returns too, or just keep the books?
Both. Gina is an IRS Enrolled Agent, which means she can prepare your federal and state returns and also represent you before the IRS if a notice or audit comes up. Having the same firm do bookkeeping and taxes removes a lot of friction at year end.
Trusted Accounting for Small Businesses
First Step:
Start With a Call
Tell us about your business and what you need help with. We'll ask a few questions, evaluate your current situation, and let you know how GMJ can support your books, taxes, and day-to-day operations.
Nearby Areas
