I can’t tell you how many times a small business owner has called us in for help with their books—only for us to uncover something much bigger.

They often think it’s just a reconciliation issue or a miscategorization. But once we start digging, we almost always find gaps in internal controls—some small, some serious. And in most cases?

Running a business of any size is no small feat. When it’s a small business, the buck stops with you— you’re in charge of all decisions, putting out fires, and wearing more hats than you ever imagined. It makes sense that internal controls often get overlooked, but failing to put a system in place can cost you in a big way.

I’ve worked with countless small businesses, and I can tell you that most don’t realize they have an internal controls problem until something goes horribly wrong. Maybe an employee has too much access, an account is tied to the wrong person, or fraud goes undetected for months.