Forty years of books, and a pastor’s view of what they’re for.
I'm Chris Starn. I've spent four decades keeping books for individuals, families, and businesses — insurance agencies, construction crews, retail shops, manufacturers, and churches.
I'm also a pastor. That combination shapes everything about how I work. I've sat with families deciding which bill to pay, and I've sat with owners deciding whether they can afford one more truck. Both conversations are about numbers. Neither one is really about numbers.
You shouldn't have to carry this alone
I work with small business owners who are overwhelmed, behind, or simply done trying to figure it out themselves. If your books feel like a burden instead of a tool, you're exactly who I'm here for.
Nobody starts a business because they wanted to do bookkeeping. You started it because you're good at building something, fixing something, making something, or serving people. The books came with the territory, and they've been quietly stacking up ever since.
That's not a character flaw. It's a job that belongs to someone else.
What forty years actually teaches you
I've worked through economic cycles, tax law rewrites, business booms, and business failures. What that time buys isn't just technical skill — it's pattern recognition. I've usually seen your situation before, which means I'm rarely alarmed by it and I generally know what it takes to fix it.
The industries have taught me their own languages:
Contractors and builders — job costing, retainage, progress billing, and the cash-flow whiplash of project work.
Insurance professionals — commission structures, compliance requirements, and regulations that keep moving.
Small manufacturers — material costs, payroll, and the margin math that decides whether a product is worth making.
Retailers — inventory, seasonal swings, and cash flow that never quite lines up with sales.
Churches and ministries — fund accounting, designated giving, and reporting a congregation can trust.
Each one has its own rhythm. What carries across all of them is knowing what it's like to serve people who are counting on you.
"A good shepherd doesn't just count the sheep — he knows them, walks with them, and makes sure none are lost. That's how I approach your finances."
How I work
Every week, not every month. I'm in your books weekly — reconciling accounts, coding transactions, catching what slipped. Most bookkeepers close your month around the 15th of the next one, which means you learn about a problem six weeks after you could have fixed it.
Statements that mean something. Each month you get an income statement, balance sheet, and a plain-English summary of what it all says. If you need something specific — cash flow modeling for a big purchase, a package for a loan application — I build it. *
A real response time. Text or email me and you'll hear back within 2 to 12 hours on a business day. Your business doesn't wait, so neither do I.
Plain language, always. Financial information should make you more confident, not less. I explain things until they're clear, and I don't mind being asked twice.
I use modern tools and secure platforms because they make the work better. I don't let them replace the part where an actual person knows your situation.
*additional charges may apply
Who this works well for
You're probably a good fit if:
Your books are months or years behind and the pile keeps growing
You're frustrated with an accountant who doesn't communicate, doesn't explain, or doesn't show up
You don't fully understand your own finances, and it keeps you up at night
You want someone who will walk with you, not just file for you
You're ready to get organized and build something that lasts
I'm probably not your best option if:
Price is your main criterion and you're looking for the cheapest available
You have 50+ employees and need a full in-house accounting department
You want to stay completely hands-off and never talk to your bookkeeper
You're not willing to change how things are organized over time
You've had repeated IRS problems and aren't committed to doing it right going forward
I'd rather tell you that now than three months into a relationship that isn't working.
What I'm actually promising
After forty years I still find this work meaningful. I still like the moment a contractor sees which jobs made money, or a church gets through budget season without dread, or an owner stops guessing.
When you hire me, you're getting four decades of experience, a pastor's read on what money does to people, and someone who will tell you the truth about your numbers. I'll stand beside you, protect your interests, and help you build a financial foundation that holds.
Let's talk.
Thirty minutes, free. We'll look at where your books are, what's missing, and what it takes to get them right. You'll leave with a written one-page plan whether or not you hire me.
Or call or text 260-246-7803. You get me, not a phone tree.
Based in Ossian, Indiana. Working with businesses across Northeast Indiana and remotely throughout the Midwest.