Frequently Asked Questions

About TrueBlaze

What is TrueBlaze Accounting & Tax?

Trueblaze Accounting & Tax, often referred to as Trueblaze, is a CPA firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, that provides monthly accounting, tax planning, tax preparation, and business advisory services to small business owners.

While many accounting firms focus primarily on year-end tax preparation, our model is built around ongoing relationships. We believe business owners benefit most when accounting, tax planning, and financial decision-making happen throughout the year rather than in a rush after the year is over.

Our goal is simple: help business owners gain confidence in their numbers, make better decisions, reduce surprises, and spend more time focusing on growing their businesses.

Where is TrueBlaze located?

Our office is located on the south side of Indianapolis at:

8360 South Emerson Avenue
Suite 500
Indianapolis, Indiana 46237

We're conveniently located near Greenwood, Franklin Township, Perry Township, and Johnson County, and we work with business owners throughout Central Indiana and across the United States.

While many client meetings happen virtually today, we still believe local relationships matter. Being rooted in Central Indiana helps us understand the business community, economic environment, and challenges faced by many Indiana business owners.

How long has TrueBlaze been in business?

Trueblaze was founded in 2015.

Founder Adam Decker has been working with business owners since 1996, beginning his career at Arthur Andersen before helping build and lead another accounting and advisory firm prior to launching Trueblaze.

Over the years, our team has worked with hundreds of business owners throughout Central Indiana and beyond through growth, acquisitions, tax planning opportunities, staffing challenges, economic uncertainty, business sales, and succession planning decisions.

Who founded TrueBlaze?

Trueblaze was founded by Adam Decker, CPA.

Adam began his career with Arthur Andersen and has spent nearly three decades working alongside business owners. Throughout his career, he has advised hundreds of entrepreneurs, professional service firms, dentists, and closely held businesses on accounting, taxation, profitability, and business decision-making.

In addition to serving clients, Adam has presented educational programs to hundreds of dentists, business owners, and dental students on topics ranging from tax planning to business finances and profitability.

His philosophy has always been that accounting should help business owners make better decisions, not simply satisfy compliance requirements.

Who works at TrueBlaze?

Trueblaze is built around a team approach.

Our team includes Certified Public Accountants, accounting advisors, tax professionals, client service specialists, and business advisors with backgrounds in public accounting, higher education, corporate finance, controller services, CFO leadership, and small business advisory work.

Collectively, our team includes professionals with experience from organizations such as Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, ADP, Franklin College, and a variety of privately held businesses and nonprofit organizations.

We believe clients are better served when they have access to an entire team rather than relying on a single individual.

What industries does TrueBlaze specialize in?

While we work with a variety of businesses, we tend to be especially effective with owner-operated and service-based companies based in Indiana.

This includes businesses such as:

Dental practices
Medical practices
Chiropractic offices
Contractors and trade businesses
Law firms
Consultants
Marketing agencies
Recruiting firms
Insurance agencies
Travel agencies
Restaurants

What these businesses often have in common is that they are growing, becoming more complex, and looking for more proactive financial guidance than they have received in the past.

What makes TrueBlaze different from other accounting firms?

One of the biggest differences is that we do not view accounting as a once a year activity.
Many business owners come to us after experiencing delayed financial reporting, reactive tax conversations, difficulty getting questions answered, or feeling like they only hear from their accountant when documents are needed.

Our approach is intentionally built around ongoing communication, monthly financial reporting, proactive tax planning, and long-term relationships.

Could you find a less expensive accountant? Absolutely.

Could you find software that categorizes transactions? Of course.

The real question is whether you want someone helping you interpret the information, identify opportunities, avoid surprises, and think through important decisions throughout the year. That's where we believe Trueblaze creates value.

Is Trueblaze a CPA firm?

Yes.

Trueblaze maintains an active Indiana Firm Permit to Practice Accountancy and includes multiple actively licensed CPAs on its team.

In addition to CPA credentials, team members bring experience in public accounting, corporate finance, higher education, controller services, tax consulting, and business advisory work.

We believe technical expertise matters, but we also believe communication, responsiveness, and relationship-building are equally important.

Choosing an Accountant

When should a business hire an accountant?

Most businesses need an accountant sooner than they think.

Many owners initially assume accounting is primarily about taxes. In reality, good accounting helps owners make better decisions throughout the year.

If you're making hiring decisions, managing cash flow, taking on debt, considering growth opportunities, wondering whether you're truly profitable, or simply spending too much time managing financial details yourself, it's probably time to involve an accountant.

The earlier reliable financial information becomes available, the easier it is to make informed decisions.

When should a business hire a CPA instead of a bookkeeper?

A good bookkeeper can be extremely valuable.

A CPA and a bookkeeper simply serve different purposes. Bookkeepers are often focused on recording transactions, reconciling accounts, and maintaining accurate records, whereas CPAs bring additional training in taxation, financial reporting, planning, regulatory requirements, business structure, and strategic decision-making.

As businesses become more complex, most owners eventually need both. One of the biggest mistakes we see is business owners waiting until a tax problem, cash flow problem, or growth challenge appears before seeking CPA guidance.

What's the difference between a CPA and a bookkeeper?

A simple way to think about it is this:

Bookkeeping focuses on recording what happened, CPA advisory focuses on helping determine what should happen next - both roles are important.

Good bookkeeping creates accurate financial information. CPA expertise helps interpret that information, identify risks, reduce taxes, improve decision-making, and support long-term planning.

Neither role replaces the other and the strongest outcomes usually occur when both functions work together.

How do I know if I've outgrown my current accountant?

This is one of the most common questions we hear.

Some warning signs include:

Financial reports consistently arrive late
Tax surprises occur regularly
You struggle to get questions answered
Communication only happens around filing deadlines
Your business has become significantly more complex
You no longer feel like you're receiving advice
You're making important decisions without reliable financial information

Many business owners don't switch because their accountant is bad, they switch because their business has evolved and their needs have changed.

Why do accounting firms charge such different prices?

Because they often provide very different experiences. Some firms focus primarily on annual tax compliance while others provide ongoing accounting, reporting, planning, communication, and advisory support throughout the year.

A firm charging a few hundred dollars per month and a firm charging several thousand dollars per month may appear similar on the surface, but their service models, staffing structures, communication expectations, and deliverables can be dramatically different.

Price matters, but understanding what is included matters even more.

Should I choose a local CPA or a national online provider?

It depends on what you're looking for.

If your primary goal is finding the lowest-cost compliance solution, a large online provider may work well. If you value relationships, ongoing communication, proactive planning, and having someone who understands your business and local environment, many owners prefer working with a local CPA firm.

Technology has made remote service easier than ever, but relationships still matter. Most business owners eventually discover they need advice, interpretation, and perspective—not just software and forms.

Trueblaze serves communities throughout Central Indiana including Greenwood, Franklin, Plainfield, and Southport but also works with business owners throughout the US.

What questions should I ask before hiring an accounting firm?

Some of the best questions include:

How often will we communicate?
Who will I actually work with?
What is included in your monthly fee?
How do you handle tax planning?
How quickly are financial reports delivered?
What industries do you work with most often?
How do you measure service quality?
What does onboarding look like?
What happens if I have a question between meetings?

You are not simply hiring a service provider. You're choosing a financial partner.

Can I switch accountants in the middle of the year?

Absolutely. Many business owners assume they need to wait until January to make a change. That's rarely true.

In fact, some of the best transitions happen during the year because issues can be identified and addressed before tax deadlines arrive.

The process may involve obtaining records, reviewing prior work, and coordinating with your previous accountant, but a good onboarding process should make the transition manageable.

Why do some business owners eventually move away from annual-only accounting?

Because annual accounting often creates delayed visibility.

If you don't know how your business is performing until months after the fact, your ability to make adjustments becomes limited.

Business owners typically don't wait until year-end to review sales, staffing, operations, or customer service. Financial performance deserves similar attention.

Monthly accounting isn't necessary for every business, but for many growing businesses it provides clarity that annual-only accounting simply cannot.

What should I look for in a long-term accounting relationship?

Technical competence is important, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. The best accounting relationships are built on:

Trust
Responsiveness
Communication
Reliability
Consistency
Education
Shared expectations

Over time, a good accountant should become someone who understands your business, your goals, your challenges, and the decisions you're trying to make.

The longer that relationship develops, the more valuable it often becomes.

Monthly Accounting & Bookkeeping

What does monthly accounting actually include?

That depends on the firm, which is one reason business owners often become confused when comparing providers.

At Trueblaze, monthly accounting typically includes maintaining your books, reconciling accounts, reviewing transactions, preparing financial statements, providing tax planning support, and helping ensure you have reliable information available for decision-making.

What many business owners discover is that bookkeeping itself is only part of the value. The real benefit comes from having current financial information that helps you understand what's happening in the business before small issues become larger problems.

Good accounting should create visibility, not just reports.

Why is monthly bookkeeping important?

Many business owners know their bank balance but don't truly know their financial position. Those are not the same thing.

A business can have money in the bank and still have profitability problems, tax issues, cash flow concerns, or operational inefficiencies hiding beneath the surface.

Monthly bookkeeping provides a current picture of what's actually happening. It allows owners to identify trends, monitor profitability, manage cash flow, and make decisions using information rather than assumptions.

In our experience, most business owners become better decision-makers when they have timely financial information available.

How often should I review my financial statements?

At minimum, monthly.

Most business owners wouldn't wait until the end of the year to look at sales numbers, employee performance, customer complaints, or operational challenges. Financial performance deserves the same attention.

Monthly review allows you to spot trends, identify concerns, evaluate profitability, and make adjustments while there's still time to influence outcomes.

One of the biggest advantages of monthly accounting is not the reports themselves. It's having enough time to act on what those reports reveal.

What financial reports should business owners review every month?

Most business owners should regularly review:

Profit and Loss Statement
Balance Sheet
Cash Flow information
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Payable
Key performance indicators relevant to their industry

The exact reports vary by business, but the objective remains the same: understanding whether the business is becoming healthier or moving in the wrong direction.

The best report in the world has little value if nobody reviews it or understands what it's saying.

What happens if my bookkeeping falls behind?

The consequences are usually bigger than most owners expect.

Initially, it may simply feel like you're missing visibility. Over time, however, delayed bookkeeping can create tax surprises, cash flow problems, inaccurate financial statements, lending difficulties, and poor business decisions.

We've worked with businesses that thought they had a tax issue only to discover they actually had a bookkeeping issue. We've also seen businesses operating for months without realizing significant problems existed because their reporting wasn't current.

The longer bookkeeping remains behind, the more difficult and expensive cleanup often becomes.

Can inaccurate bookkeeping increase my taxes?

Absolutely. Many business owners assume bookkeeping and taxes are separate issues. In reality, they are closely connected.

Incorrect categorization, missing transactions, unreconciled accounts, and incomplete records can all impact tax reporting. In some situations, poor bookkeeping results in missed deductions. In others, it creates compliance problems or inaccurate filings.

Good tax planning starts with good accounting. Without reliable numbers, it's difficult to make reliable tax decisions.

Why do profitable businesses still struggle with cash flow?

This is one of the most misunderstood concepts in small business. Profit and cash flow are not the same thing.

A business can be profitable on paper and still experience cash shortages because of debt payments, inventory purchases, owner distributions, equipment investments, delayed customer payments, or rapid growth.

Many business owners discover this lesson the hard way. One reason we emphasize ongoing financial review is that cash flow challenges are often visible long before they become emergencies.

Do I still need accounting support if my business is doing well?

In many cases, success creates more need for accounting support, not less. As businesses grow, complexity tends to grow faster than revenue.

New employees, multiple locations, additional software systems, sales tax obligations, financing arrangements, expanded reporting needs, and tax planning opportunities all increase the importance of reliable financial information.

Some of the biggest accounting problems we encounter occur in successful businesses that simply outgrew the systems they started with.

What's the difference between bookkeeping and advisory services?

Bookkeeping focuses on recording and organizing financial information where advisory services focus on interpreting that information and helping owners make decisions.

Think of bookkeeping as creating the map and advisory services help determine where you're going and how to get there. Both functions are valuable, but they solve different problems.

Business owners often discover that the real value isn't receiving reports. It's understanding what those reports mean and what actions should be considered next.

How does proactive accounting reduce surprises?

Most surprises are not actually surprises. They are issues that existed for months but weren't identified until later. Unexpected tax bills, cash flow problems, profitability concerns, and operational challenges often leave warning signs long before they become obvious.

Proactive accounting creates opportunities to identify those warning signs earlier. When financial information is current and communication is ongoing, business owners generally have more time, more options, and better information available when decisions need to be made.

That's one of the primary reasons we believe accounting should be an ongoing process rather than an annual event.

Tax Planning & Tax Strategy

What's the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?

Tax preparation looks backward, tax planning looks forward.

Tax preparation involves accurately reporting what already happened. Tax planning focuses on identifying opportunities before the year ends while decisions can still be made.

Many business owners assume they're receiving tax planning when they're actually receiving tax preparation. Both are important, but they serve very different purposes.

Most meaningful tax-saving opportunities occur before December 31st, not after.

Why is tax planning important for small business owners?

Taxes are often one of the largest expenses business owners will ever pay. Unlike many expenses, however, taxes can often be influenced through planning. Entity structure, retirement contributions, equipment purchases, timing decisions, compensation strategies, and numerous other factors can affect tax outcomes.

Good tax planning doesn't involve aggressive schemes or questionable strategies. It involves understanding the rules, planning ahead, and making informed decisions throughout the year.

When should tax planning happen?

Year-round.

Many business owners mistakenly believe tax planning begins in March when they meet with their accountant.

In reality, meaningful planning opportunities occur throughout the year.

Waiting until tax season often limits available options because many decisions have already been made and many deadlines have already passed.

The best tax planning conversations usually happen before major decisions are finalized.

How can a CPA help reduce taxes legally?

A good CPA helps identify opportunities that business owners may not know exist.

That might include evaluating entity structure, retirement planning opportunities, depreciation strategies, timing decisions, owner compensation strategies, state tax considerations, or other planning opportunities.

The goal isn't avoiding taxes. The goal is avoiding unnecessary taxes while remaining fully compliant with the law. There's an important difference.

Why do some business owners experience large tax surprises?

Most tax surprises result from one of three issues:

The books aren't current.

Nobody is projecting taxes throughout the year.

Major business changes occur without tax planning discussions.

Many surprises are avoidable when accounting, reporting, and tax planning work together. Business owners generally don't need perfect forecasts. They simply need reasonable visibility so they can prepare appropriately.

How often should tax projections be updated?

Should my business elect S-Corporation status?

Maybe.

This is one of the most common questions we receive, and unfortunately there is no universal answer. S-Corporation elections can create meaningful tax savings in some situations, but they also create additional compliance requirements, payroll obligations, and administrative complexity.

We've seen businesses save substantial amounts through S-Corp elections, and we've seen businesses elect S-Corp status before they were truly ready. The right answer depends on profitability, compensation levels, future plans, and several other factors.

Can poor bookkeeping create tax problems?

What records should I keep for tax purposes?

Why do some business owners pay more tax than necessary?

Usually not because they lack intelligence.

More often because nobody is helping them plan. Many business owners are incredibly skilled at serving customers, managing operations, and growing businesses. Tax strategy is simply not their area of expertise.

Without planning, opportunities get missed. The reality is that many tax-saving opportunities are time-sensitive. Once certain deadlines pass, those opportunities disappear. That's one reason we believe tax planning should be an ongoing conversation rather than a once-a-year event.

How does TrueBlaze make sure my business doesn’t overpay taxes?

Trueblaze uses a number of proven systems to make sure business owners are keeping their tax bills low but also staying compliant. First, as a part of your onboarding, your second meeting will include delivery of your tax plan. This will include the highest priority strategies you can start implementing immediately.

From there, our team is monitoring your monthly accounting and in turn keeping an eye out for new opportunities as they arise. That is the value in monthly reporting.

Finally, we meet with our clients annually to review their business finances and look for any new strategies that can be implemented – from new tax laws to changes in situation, we find it important to have an annual session to stay ahead of planning and keeping the tax bill down.

Pricing & Fit

How much does monthly accounting cost?

The honest answer is: it depends.

Two businesses with identical revenue can require dramatically different levels of accounting support. One may have a single bank account, no employees, and straightforward operations. Another may have multiple locations, payroll, sales tax filings, inventory, financing arrangements, and several software systems that need to work together.

At Trueblaze, pricing is generally driven by two primary factors:

Transaction volume
Operational complexity

We use fixed monthly pricing because we believe business owners should know what to expect and shouldn't feel like every phone call creates a new invoice.

Most business owners are not simply buying bookkeeping. They're investing in visibility, planning, communication, and confidence.

Why is TrueBlaze more expensive than some accountants?

Sometimes we're not. Sometimes we are.

The more useful question is usually:

"What experience am I comparing?"

Some accounting firms focus primarily on annual tax preparation. Others operate high-volume service models with limited proactive communication. Some bill hourly and provide support only when requested.

Our model is intentionally built around ongoing accounting, tax planning, communication, and long-term relationships. That requires systems, training, processes, technology, and people to provide meaningful responsiveness, communication, planning, and proactive support.

Why do some accountants charge significantly less?

In some cases, they simply operate a different business model. There is nothing inherently wrong with that.

Some firms focus on annual tax filing or rely heavily on automation or maintain very high client volumes or provide a more limited scope of services. The challenge for business owners is that accounting services can look similar from the outside while being very different in practice.

We've met business owners who thought they were receiving monthly accounting support only to discover their books were months behind. We've met owners who thought tax planning was included when they were actually receiving tax preparation. The lowest price is not always the lowest long-term cost.

Why doesn't TrueBlaze charge by the hour?

Because we don't believe business owners should hesitate to ask questions. Hourly billing often creates unintended friction. When every phone call, email, or conversation has a meter running, people naturally communicate less.

We prefer predictable monthly pricing because it allows clients to reach out when questions arise rather than waiting until a problem becomes bigger. Business owners throughout Indiana and beyond don't want surprise accounting bills any more than they want surprise tax bills.

What causes accounting fees to increase over time?

Growth, complexity, and /or additional responsibilities. As businesses evolve, accounting requirements often become more sophisticated.

Examples include:

More transactions
Additional employees
Multiple locations
Sales tax compliance
Inventory management
Multiple entities
Additional software integrations
Expanded reporting requirements

One of the interesting realities of accounting is that complexity often grows faster than revenue. The accounting requirements of a $2 million business are rarely twice as complicated as a $1 million business. They're often significantly more complex.

Who is the best fit for TrueBlaze?

We tend to work best with business owners who want an ongoing relationship rather than a transactional service. Typically, our strongest client relationships involve owners who:

Value proactive communication
Want current financial information
Appreciate tax planning
Are interested in improving decision-making
Want a long-term accounting partner
Respond reasonably promptly to requests
View accounting as an investment rather than simply a compliance requirement

Many of our clients tell us they were looking for greater visibility, more guidance, and fewer surprises. That's where we tend to create the most value.

Who is probably not a good fit for TrueBlaze?

Not every business is a good fit for our model.

If your primary goal is finding the lowest-cost tax return preparation available, we're probably not the right firm.

If you're only interested in connecting with an accountant once a year, there may be better options.

If you prefer highly reactive, last-minute accounting support, our process-driven approach may feel frustrating.

We would rather be honest about fit than try to be everything to everyone. The best client relationships occur when expectations, communication styles, and service philosophies align.

Do you only prepare tax returns?

No. In fact, we intentionally built the firm around ongoing monthly relationships rather than annual tax preparation. Tax returns are important, but most meaningful financial decisions occur throughout the year.

Our goal is to help business owners make better decisions before issues arise rather than simply documenting what already happened after the fact.

That's why monthly accounting, communication, reporting, and planning are such important parts of our model.

Why does TrueBlaze focus on ongoing monthly relationships?

Because we've seen the difference it makes. Business owners generally don't make important decisions once a year. They make decisions every day.

The businesses that tend to operate with the greatest confidence usually have reliable information available throughout the year. They know where they stand, understand emerging issues, and have opportunities to adjust course before problems become expensive. Monthly relationships create that visibility.

Working With TrueBlaze

How do I get started with TrueBlaze?

The process begins with a conversation. We'll learn about your business, discuss your current situation, understand what's working and what isn't, and determine whether we're a good fit for one another.

If it appears there's a potential fit, we'll develop a proposal based on your specific circumstances and accounting needs. Our goal is not to sell everyone. Our goal is to find the right relationships.

What does the onboarding process look like?

Most onboarding projects follow three broad phases.

First, we get current. That often involves reviewing existing records, cleaning up issues, organizing information, and creating a reliable starting point.

Next, we establish a plan. This includes understanding your goals, identifying priorities, reviewing tax considerations, and building the foundation for ongoing service.

Finally, we transition into the recurring monthly relationship where reporting, communication, planning, and advisory support become part of the normal rhythm.

The first month usually requires the most effort. After that, things become significantly smoother.

In addition, for our new clients located in Central Indiana we prefer to meet on your site for one of our onboarding sessions. We have found owners in Greenwood, Monrovia, Fishers, Greenfield, and throughout Central Indiana appreciate the in person connection and we appreciate the added understanding of your business operation.

How difficult is it to switch accountants?

Usually much easier than business owners expect.

Many owners delay making a change because they assume the process will be painful or disruptive. A well-managed transition should not feel that way.

There may be some information gathering, record transfers, and coordination with your previous accountant, but these situations happen regularly within the profession. Most clients tell us the anticipation was worse than the actual transition.

Who will I work with?

You'll work with a team.

That doesn't mean you'll be bounced around to strangers. It means multiple people understand your business and can support you when needed. You will get to meet your team very early on and be able to put faces and names to your interactions.

One of the risks of relying entirely on a single individual is that availability becomes limited whenever that person is unavailable. We believe clients are better served when they have access to a coordinated team rather than a single point of failure.

How often will we communicate?

Do you handle personal tax returns?

Yes.

Many of our business clients also engage us to prepare their individual tax returns.

Business and personal tax planning are often interconnected, especially for closely held businesses and owner-operated companies.

While personal tax preparation is typically handled through a separate annual engagement, coordinating both sides of the picture often creates better planning opportunities.

What accounting software does TrueBlaze use?

QuickBooks Online serves as our primary accounting platform.

We believe it provides a strong combination of functionality, accessibility, integration capability, and scalability for many small businesses.

That said, accounting software is only a tool. The software itself rarely solves financial problems. Reliable processes, accurate information, thoughtful review, and informed decision-making remain the most important factors.

What happens during the first 90 days?

The first 90 days are typically focused on building a strong foundation.

That may include:

Organizing records
Cleaning up historical issues
Reviewing systems
Establishing reporting processes
Addressing tax planning opportunities
Clarifying expectations and communication preferences

One of the biggest goals during onboarding is helping clients gain confidence that they finally have a clear picture of where things stand.

Many business owners tell us the greatest benefit isn't simply cleaner books. It's the relief that comes from knowing someone is helping them stay organized and informed.

Can TrueBlaze work with businesses outside Indiana?

Absolutely.

While we're proud of our Indiana roots and continue to work extensively with businesses throughout Indianapolis, Greenwood, Franklin, Johnson County, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Central Indiana, technology allows us to work effectively with clients throughout the United States.

Most accounting work today can be performed remotely without sacrificing communication, responsiveness, or service quality.

That said, we still value relationships and strive to provide the same level of communication and accessibility regardless of where a client is located.

Last updated: July, 2026