Quick Comparison
| Firm | Credentials | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| <a href="https://www.belmontshorebookkeeping.com/">Belmont Shore Bookkeeping</a> | Founder Eva Kjoss launched the firm in 2009 after a San Francisco corporate accounting career; she holds Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor status and a Business/Accounting bachelor's degree | Full-charge bookkeeping, reconciliations, financial reporting, and Accounting 101 coaching for Long Beach small business owners across all industries |
| <a href="https://oaktreeowlbookkeeping.com/">Oak Tree Owl Bookkeeping</a> | Founder Katrina Woehlcke established the practice in 2014; Full Service Certified Bookkeeper plus Certified QuickBooks Online and Desktop ProAdvisor, with American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers membership | Outsourced fixed-fee monthly bookkeeping for locally owned independent Long Beach small businesses, with cleanup, catch-up, and CPA liaison work |
| <a href="https://ratherbebookkeeping.com">Rather Be Bookkeeping</a> | Founder Lea Delorenzis launched the company in August 2020; she holds Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor status and certified tax preparer registration | Remote bookkeeping, payroll, invoicing, bill pay, receipt management, and managerial reporting for Long Beach entrepreneurs and small business owners |
1. Belmont Shore Bookkeeping
- Address: 4712 East 2nd Street #739, Long Beach, CA 90803
- Phone: (562) 900-0500
- Founder / Owner: Eva Kjoss
- Operating Since: 2009 (17 years)
- Credentials: Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor; Bachelor’s degree in Business/Accounting from University of Phoenix; prior Senior Auditor role at an Oakland CPA firm; over 20 years of accounting experience
- Service area: Long Beach, Belmont Shore, and the broader South Bay
- Industries served: Small businesses across multiple sectors, including service providers, retail operators, and professional practices
- Website: belmontshorebookkeeping.com
Belmont Shore Office Address
Belmont Shore Bookkeeping runs from a 4712 East 2nd Street suite in Long Beach 90803, inside the Belmont Shore corridor that anchors the shop’s brand. The Second Street address and (562) 900-0500 phone match across the practice’s own website, the Yelp business profile, the LinkedIn company page, and third-party directory entries, which puts the contact details on multiple independent sources rather than a single self-reported listing.
From San Francisco Corporate to Long Beach Independent
Eva Kjoss started her accounting career in 1996 at a boutique staffing firm in downtown San Francisco, where she moved from bookkeeper to Accounting Manager once she finished her Business/Accounting bachelor’s degree. She later took a Senior Auditor role at an Oakland CPA firm before leaving corporate work in 2009 to launch Belmont Shore Bookkeeping in Long Beach. The 17-year run under named founder control sits well past the five-year minimum this directory applies.
Full Charge Scope and Coaching
Published services span full-charge bookkeeping that covers sales recording, account reconciliations, and monthly or quarterly transaction reviews, along with financial report generation and accounting process streamlining. Eva also offers Accounting 101 sessions for clients who want to learn the fundamentals rather than hand the function over completely, which fits owner-operators who prefer to stay close to their numbers while outsourcing the routine work.
2. Oak Tree Owl Bookkeeping
- Address: 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90813
- Phone: (562) 743-8972
- Founder / Owner: Katrina Woehlcke
- Operating Since: 2014 (12 years)
- Credentials: Full Service Certified Bookkeeper; Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and Desktop systems; member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB)
- Service area: Long Beach and surrounding Los Angeles County communities
- Industries served: Locally owned independent small businesses, with focus on community-rooted operators
- Website: oaktreeowlbookkeeping.com
7th Street Long Beach Base
Oak Tree Owl Bookkeeping works from a 7th Street location in Long Beach 90813, inside the downtown area that the firm calls home base. The address, the (562) 743-8972 phone, and the [email protected] email match across the company’s own website, the Yelp business listing, the Expertise.com regional review, and the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce directory, which gives the contact data multi-source verification.
Mission Tied to Long Beach Independents
Katrina Woehlcke founded Oak Tree Owl Bookkeeping in 2014 to back the locally owned shops and service businesses that give Long Beach its independent character. The firm states its mission as supporting these independent operators with bookkeeping help so they can keep doing what they do best, and the engagement model uses fixed monthly rates rather than hourly billing so owners can predict their bookkeeping cost line.
Two-Platform QuickBooks Plus AIPB Backing
Katrina holds Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor status across both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop, which lets the shop work in whichever platform the client already runs rather than forcing a migration. She also holds Full Service Certified Bookkeeper status and membership in the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, the national certifying body for bookkeepers who work outside the CPA pathway. Services include new business setup, bank reconciliations, monthly close, year-end tax packages, and coordination with the client’s CPA or tax preparer.
3. Rather Be Bookkeeping
- Address: 924 Redondo Avenue, Apt 4, Long Beach, CA 90804
- Phone: (562) 726-2742
- Founder / Owner: Lea Delorenzis
- Operating Since: August 2020 (5 years)
- Credentials: Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor; California certified tax preparer registration; client testimonials published on Intuit’s ProAdvisor directory
- Service area: Long Beach and remote service to clients across California
- Industries served: Small business owners and entrepreneurs across multiple sectors
- Website: ratherbebookkeeping.com
Redondo Avenue Long Beach Address
Rather Be Bookkeeping operates from 924 Redondo Avenue in Long Beach 90804, with (562) 726-2742 as the published contact number. The Redondo Avenue address, the 562 phone, and the [email protected] email match across the practice’s own site, the LinkedIn founder profile for Lea Delorenzis, the Facebook business page, and tax preparer directory entries, which gives the contact data independent confirmation outside the firm’s own marketing.
Founder Background and Advanced ProAdvisor Status
Lea Delorenzis launched Rather Be Bookkeeping in August 2020 to help entrepreneurs maximize cash flow and return to working on their core business rather than chasing their books. She holds Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor status, the higher of Intuit’s two ProAdvisor tiers, which signals deeper technical training than the standard certification. Lea is also a California registered tax preparer, which means a single relationship can cover both monthly bookkeeping and basic tax-season filings for clients who want one point of contact.
Remote Engagement Model and Service Mix
The firm runs as a remote bookkeeping practice, using current cloud software so clients can hand over data without shipping paper or driving to a downtown office. Published services include catch-up bookkeeping that brings books current for tax preparation, ongoing transaction recording, payroll, invoicing, bill payment, receipt management, and monthly managerial reports for owners who want to see the numbers behind their business decisions. The one-on-one support model fits solo founders and very small teams who would otherwise route around a rotating bookkeeper pool at a national firm.
Reference Notes
The Long Beach bookkeeping market is shaped by the city’s mix of port-driven logistics, healthcare anchors at MemorialCare and Long Beach Medical Center, the California State University Long Beach campus economy, an independent retail layer in Belmont Shore and Naples, and a wide base of solo professionals and trade contractors across the 90801 through 90815 zip codes. National rollups have moved into the area through QuickBooks Live and remote-first competitors, but a layer of founder-led local firms continues to serve owners who want a named contact and a same-city phone number.
California’s regulatory layer adds weight to firm selection. The California Board of Accountancy licenses CPAs and disciplines tax practitioners, while the California Tax Education Council registers paid tax preparers (CRTPs) who are not CPAs, attorneys, or Enrolled Agents. Bookkeeping itself is not a state-licensed activity in California, which makes QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, AIPB Certified Bookkeeper status, Xero advisor designation, and IRS Enrolled Agent credentials important third-party signals for buyers. Sales and use tax administration sits with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, payroll tax with the Employment Development Department, and entity filings with the Secretary of State, so a competent Long Beach bookkeeper has to coordinate filings across multiple agencies.
The three firms profiled above were chosen because each is founder-led, each holds documented QuickBooks ProAdvisor or equivalent certification, and each has a verifiable Long Beach operating presence dating back at least five years. Firms based in nearby cities such as Lakewood, Garden Grove, Downey, or Fullerton were excluded so the directory keeps a strict Long Beach focus. Los Angeles firms profiled in entry 002 of this directory were also excluded to avoid duplication.
Selection Methodology
Selection follows four criteria. First, family-owned or founder-led independent bookkeeping firm outside national rollup pattern. Second, QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification or equivalent (Xero, Sage, AIPB). Third, BBB listing or equivalent third-party recognition such as Expertise.com or Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce membership. Fourth, minimum 5-year continuous Long Beach service record with documented local presence. Firms acquired by or operating as national rollups (Bench Accounting, Pilot, QuickBooks Live, BELAY, Bookkeeper360, Bookminders, Supporting Strategies, Bookkeeper.com, 1-800Accountant) are excluded. Pure CPA tax-only firms are excluded; this directory profiles bookkeeping and managerial accounting firms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a Long Beach bookkeeper’s credentials?
Start with Intuit’s ProAdvisor directory at proadvisor.intuit.com to confirm QuickBooks certification level and current standing. For AIPB Certified Bookkeeper status, check the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers at aipb.org. For CPA-led firms, run the founder’s name through the California Board of Accountancy license lookup at cba.ca.gov, and verify Enrolled Agents with the IRS at irs.gov/tax-professionals. Cross-check with a Better Business Bureau profile at bbb.org and the California Secretary of State business search at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to confirm entity status, registered agent, and years in operation.
What credentials should a Long Beach bookkeeper hold?
At a minimum, look for active QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, with Advanced ProAdvisor status preferred for clients running QuickBooks Enterprise or multi-entity files. AIPB Certified Bookkeeper status adds an independent national credential that sits outside Intuit’s program. Xero advisor designation matters for firms that prefer that platform. For tax-adjacent work, an Enrolled Agent or California CPA license signals deeper regulatory training. Industry-specific add-ons such as construction job costing, restaurant POS integrations, or medical office accounts receivable workflows all add value depending on client mix.
How can I tell if a Long Beach bookkeeper is independent versus a national rollup?
Check whether the company has a named founder still actively involved, a single physical office or clearly identified team, and a website that names individual staff rather than a generic pool. National rollups typically route inquiries through standardized intake forms, assign a rotating account manager, and operate under brand names such as Bench, Pilot, BELAY, Bookkeeper360, or QuickBooks Live. The California Secretary of State entity search will show the registered agent and filing history, which often clarifies whether the local presence is a true small firm or a subsidiary of a larger out-of-state operator.
When should a Long Beach business hire a bookkeeper versus a CPA?
A bookkeeper handles day-to-day transaction recording, bank reconciliation, payroll processing, invoicing, accounts payable, and monthly financial reports. A CPA typically focuses on tax planning, tax return preparation, audit and attest services, and high-level advisory work. Most Long Beach small businesses benefit from a recurring bookkeeping engagement plus a separate annual or quarterly relationship with a CPA for tax filings. Some firms profiled above also hold tax preparer registration, which can collapse two relationships into one if the shop offers both services.
Editorial Note
Compiled by the editorial team. Firm details cross-verified through QuickBooks ProAdvisor directory, AIPB membership records, Expertise.com, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce listings, BBB business profiles, and firm-published websites where available. Credentials should be re-verified through Intuit’s ProAdvisor lookup before engaging. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-11.