Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What does SBK do?

SBK Accounting & Advisory provides fractional accounting and CFO support for churches and ministries. We put the right finance team in place so your leaders can stay focused on the mission. That can mean running your accounting function, adding Controller Oversight beside the people you already have, coaching leaders through CFO Advisory, providing Fractional CFO leadership, or running Ministry Payroll. Most ministries start with a $495 Diagnostic Review.
Better systems. Stronger ministries. SBK.

Who does SBK work with?

Churches and ministries. We serve ministry leaders and executive pastors, usually at organizations with budgets of roughly $500K to $5M, and especially where the books are makeshift or the finance seat keeps turning over. Our team has served inside ministries, so we understand fund accounting, designated giving, clergy pay, and board reporting. If you run a business outside ministry, you're welcome to book a free Right-Fit Meeting, and someone on our team will tell you honestly whether there's a fit.

How do I get started?

Start a Diagnostic Review. It's $495, and you can buy it directly with no call needed first. We review your finance function and walk you through the roadmap. If SBK is the right fit, we'll recommend the right level of ongoing support. If you'd rather talk first, book a free Right-Fit Meeting.

What is the Diagnostic Review?

It's a focused review of your ministry's current accounting and finance function, completed in less than a week. You get the most important problems and risks, recommended priorities, a 90-day cash flow forecast, a clarity roadmap, and our recommendation for what to do next, whether or not it involves SBK. It costs $495 and is credited back if you start an ongoing plan. It isn't cleanup or ongoing work.

Start a Diagnostic Review

What happens on a Right-Fit Meeting?

It's a free conversation of about 45 minutes with our team. We learn about your ministry, where the financial picture feels blurry, and what you want your role with the numbers to be. It's a fit conversation, not a free diagnostic and not a sales pitch. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so.

Book a free Right-Fit Meeting

What if I'm not sure we're big enough for this?

If finance work is sitting on a leader who should be leading the ministry, that's the signal, not size. The Diagnostic Review or a free Right-Fit Meeting will give you an honest answer, including "not yet."

Pricing

How much does SBK cost? Is the Diagnostic free?

The Diagnostic Review is $495, paid upfront, and credited back if you start an ongoing plan. It isn't free. The Right-Fit Meeting is the free option. Clergy Filing Review is $200 per person per year. Ongoing services are a flat monthly fee based on scope with no hourly billing, and we set that fee after the Diagnostic or a Right-Fit Meeting, once we understand your situation. Any cleanup is scoped and priced up front.

How long until I see results?

It depends on where your books start. The Diagnostic Review is completed in less than a week, and its clarity roadmap lays out what comes first. We don't promise specific timelines or outcomes before we've seen the books.

Accounting & CFO Support

My books are a mess. Can you still help?

Yes. Most ministries start there, and messy books are a starting point, not a disqualifier. The $495 Diagnostic Review shows the real state of things and gives you a clarity roadmap and a 90-day cash flow forecast. If cleanup is needed, it's scoped and priced separately and up front, and we do cleanup when our team will keep the books afterward.

We already have a bookkeeper or volunteer. Will you replace them?

No. Keep your people. Through Controller Oversight, SBK adds experienced review, a stronger monthly close, better controls, and support around the people you already trust. We fill the gap you actually have.

What's included in Fractional Accounting?

We run your accounting function: weekly bookkeeping, reconciliations, the full monthly close, clean financial statements and reporting, and donor restriction tracking, along with stronger systems and processes. Bill pay, AP management, and payroll can be added. If you already have accounting staff, we can provide Controller Oversight instead. Pricing is a flat monthly fee based on scope.

What's the difference between Fractional CFO and CFO Advisory?

CFO Advisory is coaching. Your leader keeps the finance seat, and we meet with leadership (typically twice a month) to help read the numbers, track key metrics, and think through cash, staffing, and big decisions. Fractional CFO is finance leadership. We lead and direct the accounting function, handle forecasting, budgeting, and scenario planning, support the board, and coordinate with your CPA, auditors, and lenders. Fractional CFO needs stable books first. If the books aren't stable, the Diagnostic Review is the better first step.

What software do you use?

Primarily QuickBooks Online, Sage Intacct, and Xero. We handle migrations from older or legacy church software and TechSoup transitions, and we work in fund accounting when your ministry needs it.

Payroll, Clergy, and Tax

Do you do church payroll? What is ClergyCadence?

Yes. Ministry Payroll covers payroll processing, clergy compensation and housing allowance workflows, minister withholding and SECA coordination, and year-end support. ClergyCadence is included with ongoing payroll. It's an annual and as-needed rhythm for clergy pay that covers a housing allowance check-in, a withholding review, SECA awareness, and a year-end plan, so pastors aren't guessing each quarter. ClergyCadence is education and scenario planning, not tax advice.

What is Clergy Filing Review?

It's an optional annual add-on, $200 per person per year. It includes intake, a review of a pastor's personal tax filing with their preparer in mind, and a one-on-one session with an SBK advisor to help catch issues or confirm proper handling. A church can prepay it as a staff benefit. It's a review only, not tax preparation, an audit, or representation, and it is separate from ClergyCadence.

Do you prepare tax returns for pastors?

Yes, and clergy tax preparation is waitlist only right now. Join the Clergy Tax Waitlist and a team member will follow up. We can't promise timing yet. Clergy Filing Review ($200 per person per year) is available now if you'd like a pastor's prepared return reviewed.

Can you file our Form 990?

Form 990 filings (990-N, 990-EZ, full 990, and 990-T) are waitlist only right now. Join the 990 Waitlist and a team member will follow up. We can't promise timing yet. Churches generally aren't required to file a 990, though a 990-T can apply to unrelated business income. Your preparer can confirm what applies to you.

What is ClergyPay? Is it available?

ClergyPay is tax planning and payroll planning software for ministers that we're building. It isn't available yet, and we don't have a launch date to share. For church payroll today, we offer Ministry Payroll with ClergyCadence included.

Working with SBK

Do I have to be in Springfield to work with you?

No. SBK is based in Springfield, Missouri, works remotely, and serves churches and ministries anywhere.

Still have questions?

Send us your question and someone on our team will get back to you.

Ready to take the next step? Start a Diagnostic Review