Bookkeeping for Small Manufacturers Who Need Clearer Numbers
You build quality products. We help you understand what they are truly costing—and what they are truly making.
Accounting & Computer Concepts provides bookkeeping, job-cost reporting, and CFO-level guidance for small manufacturers, fabrication shops, and machine shops in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana.
30 minutes. No obligation. You'll leave with 2–3 clear next steps.
Busy Shop. Tight Cash. Sound Familiar?
The machines are running, orders are coming in, and your crew is working hard. But when you look at the bank account, it doesn't feel like a great month.
That usually means the books can't answer the questions that matter most:
Which jobs actually made money?
Are your quotes covering materials, labor, and overhead?
Why does the P&L show a profit while cash stays tight?
Can you afford the next machine, the next hire, or the next big order?
You shouldn't have to guess at the health of a business you've worked this hard to build.
Do You Know Your True Shop Rate?
Many shop owners price work using an hourly rate they set years ago. Since then, wages have gone up, equipment payments have been added, and material prices keep changing.
Your true shop rate is what one hour of shop time actually costs once you include:
Wages, payroll taxes, and benefits
Equipment payments, repairs, and tooling
Rent, utilities, insurance, and shop supplies
Time that can't be billed, like setup, rework, cleanup, and downtime
If the rate you charge doesn't cover your true cost, a steady stream of work can still slowly drain your cash.
We help you find that number, then check it against your actual jobs every month.
What We Do for Manufacturers
Monthly bookkeeping
We record and categorize every transaction, reconcile your bank and credit card accounts each month, and review everything before you see it.
Payroll and labor cost support
We connect payroll to your jobs and your cash flow, so overtime and hiring decisions are based on real numbers.
Job-cost and margin reporting
We can track materials, labor, and outside services by job, customer, or product line, so you can see which work pays the bills.
QuickBooks cleanup and setup
We fix old balances, simplify your chart of accounts, and build reports that fit the way your shop works. Some features, such as project tracking and inventory, depend on which QuickBooks Online plan you have. We'll confirm your plan supports what you need before recommending changes.
Owner-ready monthly reports
Your P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and receivables, explained in plain English, including what the numbers mean and what to do next.
CFO-level guidance
Help with equipment purchases, hiring, pricing, and growth decisions, backed by current numbers.
Good Fit
Built for Shops Like Yours
Custom metal fabrication and welding shops
Machine shops and CNC operations
Made-to-order parts and assembly manufacturers
Metal sales and fabrication businesses
Small specialty product manufacturers
If your work involves materials, shop labor, equipment, and customer-specific jobs, your books should show what each job really costs.
Who You'll Work With
A Real Person Who Knows Your Numbers
I'm Christopher Starn, founder of Accounting & Computer Concepts in Ossian, Indiana. I work directly with owners of small businesses in Fort Wayne, Bluffton, and throughout Allen and Wells Counties. Remote clients are welcome too.
You won't be passed around a call center. You'll work with someone who knows your business, answers your questions, and explains your numbers without the jargon.
Shop Profit Checkup (free, 30 minutes)
We talk about your shop, your current books, and the questions you need answered.
Pricing
Process
How it works
Book review
We review your QuickBooks file and identify what needs to be cleaned up and what needs to be tracked.
Monthly rhythm
Bookkeeping, reconciliations, job-cost reporting, and a monthly review meeting.
Better decisions
Pricing, hiring, and equipment decisions based on current, trustworthy numbers.
What Does It Cost?
Monthly bookkeeping for small manufacturers typically starts at $250.00 per month, depending on transaction volume, payroll, and reporting needs. QuickBooks cleanup is quoted separately after we review your file. You'll know the price before any work begins.
Frequently asked questions
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Most manufacturing clients pay between $250 and $650 per month, based on transaction volume, the number of employees, and the level of reporting needed. We give you a firm quote after the Shop Profit Checkup.
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Yes. We set up your books to track costs by job, customer, or product line. How detailed we can get depends on the information you already collect and the QuickBooks plan you use.
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No. We keep your books clean and current all year, and we're happy to work alongside your tax preparer.
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Yes. We'll review the file, give you a cleanup plan and price, and then keep it current going forward.
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No. We're based in Ossian and serve the Fort Wayne area in person, but we work with clients remotely as well.
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
Stop Guessing. Start Knowing.
Find out what your jobs are really earning, where your cash is going, and what your next step should be.