Why Businesses Choose Clarke

Most accounting firms focus on what happened.

We focus on what’s coming.

The traditional accounting model is built around deadlines: file the return, close the books, send the bill. It’s reactive by design.

Clarke works differently. You get ongoing financial support, proactive communication, and a team that understands your business well enough to help you plan ahead. Not just catch up.

30 Years in the Making

Clarke Professional Accounting has its roots in Chicago, where the firm was founded in 1993. Over three decades, it built a reputation on the things that still define it today: organized, proactive accounting and a genuine investment in the businesses it works with.

When Susan and Edward Clarke took ownership, they carried that foundation forward and made it their own. In 2025, Eric and Tara Fisher acquired Clarke with the same commitment in place. Keep what works, keep the people, and keep the standard of service clients had come to rely on.

Like Susan and Edward before them, Eric and Tara bring the same partnership-driven approach to running the firm that clients have always known. Headquartered in Chicago and now expanding into the DC, Northern Virginia market, Clarke serves small and mid-sized businesses and professional practices across the country.

The name on the door reflects that continuity. So does everything else.

Clarke By The Numbers

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What Sets Clarke Apart

Most accounting relationships are transactional. You send documents, they file returns, you get a bill. Clarke is built differently: around consistency, proactive communication, and financial support that goes well beyond tax season.

Transparent Pricing

One predictable monthly fee. No surprise invoices, no billable hours, no reason to hesitate before reaching out to us.

Consistent Communication

You won’t wait until tax season to hear from us. We’re in your books every month, sending reports, flagging issues, and available when questions come up.

Proven Processes

Every client follows the same structured workflow. Established systems, consistent delivery, and no reinventing the wheel every time something comes up.

Full Service

Bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, and advisory support all under one roof. One team, one relationship, no coordinating between providers.

Long-Term Partnership

You work with a consistent team that knows your business, your history, and your goals. Not whoever’s available when you call.

Deep Expertise

Our team stays current through ongoing professional development, so you get informed guidance, not guesswork.

Your First Year Working With Clarke

Month 1: Discovery & Onboarding

We get to know your business, assess your current books, and set up or clean up QuickBooks Online. Your dedicated Accounting Manager and supporting staff accountant are assigned, and you’ll work with our Operations Manager to get set up in our systems. Our Director of Tax and Accounting provides oversight throughout.

Months 2 and 3: Getting in Rhythm

Monthly bookkeeping begins. First financial reports go out. Any cleanup work is addressed and historical records are brought into order.

Ongoing Monthly Support

Books reconciled. Reports delivered. Tax planning conversations happen around the points in the calendar that matter: estimated tax deadlines, mid-year check-ins, and year-end planning.

Tax Season: No Surprises

Because we’ve been planning throughout the year, tax filing is organized and straightforward. You already know roughly what to expect before we file.

Year Two and Beyond: A Partner Who Knows You

The longer we work together, the more valuable the relationship becomes. We know your history, your patterns, and where you’re headed. No catching up, no re-explaining. Just a team that already knows the answer to half your questions before you ask them.

Most business owners don’t know what to expect from an accounting firm until they’re already in a bad relationship with one. Clarke has been helping businesses simplify their finances for over 30 years.

The difference comes down to how the relationship is structured. Fixed monthly pricing, comprehensive support from bookkeeping and taxes to payroll, and a team that treats your business as a priority rather than an afterthought.

What Could Your Business Look Like With Clarke?

Better accounting starts with one conversation. The discovery call is about 30 minutes. We’ll learn about your business, answer your questions, and put together a clear picture of how Clarke can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Every client has a dedicated Accounting Manager as their regular point of contact, supported by a staff accountant and overseen by our Director of Tax and Accounting. You get continuity and consistency, and a team structure that doesn’t create a single point of failure.

Most traditional firms are compliance-focused. They file returns, close the books, and bill by the hour. Clarke provides ongoing financial support built around visibility, planning, and consistent communication throughout the year. Fixed monthly pricing means you’re never charged extra for asking a question.

Monthly bookkeeping, regular financial reporting, proactive tax planning conversations, and year-round access to your accounting team. The specific scope is built around what your business actually needs.

Yes, growth is often exactly what brings clients to Clarke. When operations get more complex, financial systems, reporting, and tax planning become more important. We’re built to support businesses through that evolution.

All services are structured around fixed monthly pricing. After a discovery call, we put together a scope and a monthly fee. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no charges for routine communication.

Yes. Many of our clients have more than one business entity (an S-corp, C-corp, one or more LLCs, rental properties, and a personal return that connects everything). We look across the full picture to build a coordinated financial strategy. Not just manage each piece in isolation.