From the Downtown Pedestrian Mall and the University of Iowa campus to the Northside Marketplace, Riverfront Crossings, and Towncrest, Tides Bookkeeping provides remote bookkeeping, payroll support, and monthly financial reporting for small businesses across Iowa City. Clean books. Real results. No commute required.
No setup fees · Cancel anytime · 100% Remote
Iowa City is home to the University of Iowa and its academic medical center — a UNESCO City of Literature whose economy runs on higher education, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (the state's largest employer here), biosciences and research, and a nationally known arts and dining scene. Its downtown Pedestrian Mall and Northside anchor a lively small-business economy.
Iowa's tax picture got a lot simpler in 2025 — the state replaced its old graduated income-tax brackets with a single flat rate of 3.8%, one of the lowest flat income-tax rates in the country. On the sales side, a 6% state sales tax applies, and most jurisdictions add a 1% local-option sales tax on top (about 7% combined). For Iowa City businesses, the work is keeping income, sales, and payroll records clean under the new flat-tax system — and that's exactly what we do.
Job costing, subcontractor payments, material expenses, seasonal flow
Commission tracking, rental income, investor portfolios, property expenses
COGS, tip payroll, vendor reconciliation, inventory management
Consultants, marketing agencies, attorneys — clean monthly P&L
Medical practices, gyms, spas — payroll and insurance billing support
Inventory costs, merchant fees, online and in-store reconciliation
SaaS, subscription revenue, runway tracking, investor-ready reports
Salons, barbershops, cleaners — simple, consistent monthly books
Seven core bookkeeping services, all delivered remotely — designed specifically for the pace and complexity of Iowa City's growing small business economy.
Your most important financial foundation. We categorize every transaction, reconcile every account, and deliver clean P&L and balance sheet reports to your inbox every month — so you always know exactly where your Iowa City business stands financially.
Got months or years of backlog? We clean it all up so you can move forward with an accurate set of books — ready for your CPA and ready for decisions.
Starting fresh or inheriting a mess? We configure QuickBooks, connect your accounts, and build a chart of accounts tailored to your industry and business model.
Every account reconciled every month — ensuring your books match your bank statements and every transaction is accounted for accurately.
P&L statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports that are easy to read, understand, and act on — delivered every month, on time.
We track what you owe and what's owed to you, keeping your cash flow picture clear and your vendor relationships organized.
We ensure payroll expenses hit your books correctly every pay period, syncing with your payroll processor to keep everything reconciled and tax-ready.
There's no shortage of bookkeepers in Iowa City — but most are local firms with hourly billing, slow turnarounds, and outdated processes. Tides was built differently.
We're not a local firm that went remote reluctantly. We were built remote-first from day one, which means faster delivery, better systems, and no overhead passed to you.
One flat rate based on your transaction volume. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no "extra work" fees. You know exactly what you're paying every month.
We don't just hand you a spreadsheet. Clean, readable reports with plain-language summaries — so you can make real business decisions from your financials.
Tax season gets dramatically easier when your books are maintained properly year-round. Most clients report lower CPA bills after working with Tides.
We earn your business every month. No lock-in agreements, no early termination fees. If we're not delivering, you can leave. That keeps us sharp.
All plans include monthly P&L, balance sheet, bank reconciliation, and dedicated support. Payroll bookkeeping support available as an add-on.
View Full Pricing & Sign Up →Book a free 15-minute call. We'll tell you exactly what your books need — no pressure, no sales pitch.
Schedule a Free Call →Official resources for Iowa City businesses — registering, filing state and local taxes, and staying compliant. Tides handles your books; these help with the rest.