Lafayette's economy is powered by Purdue University, advanced manufacturing, and a growing tech corridor — and great books are the foundation of every business that grows with it. Tides Bookkeeping provides remote bookkeeping, payroll support, and monthly financial reporting for Lafayette business owners who'd rather focus on running their business than managing their books.
No setup fees · Cancel anytime · 100% Remote
Anchored by Purdue University and home to the only Subaru manufacturing plant in the United States, Lafayette and West Lafayette form one of Indiana's most dynamic economic corridors. From tech startups spinning out of Purdue Research Park to contractors, restaurants, and professional service firms — the greater Lafayette area is home to thousands of small businesses.
That growth creates opportunity — and financial complexity. Business owners in Lafayette need clean books, clear cash flow visibility, and a partner who can keep up with them as they scale.
A top-10 public university drives demand for startups, consulting firms, restaurants, and professional services across the metro.
Subaru, Caterpillar, and Wabash National anchor a deep manufacturing ecosystem with hundreds of suppliers and service companies.
Purdue Research Park — one of the nation's largest university-affiliated research parks — fuels a growing pipeline of tech and biotech startups.
Lafayette is more than a zip code — it's one of the Midwest's most dynamic metros. Understanding its neighborhoods, employers, history, and economy is how we serve our clients better.
Founded in 1825 on the banks of the Wabash River and named after the Marquis de Lafayette, the city grew as a trading post and river town before becoming a railroad hub in the mid-1800s. The founding of Purdue University in 1869 — just across the river in West Lafayette — transformed the region into an education and research powerhouse.
In the modern era, Lafayette attracted major advanced manufacturing investment. Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) opened in 1989 and now produces over 400,000 vehicles annually, making Tippecanoe County home to the only Subaru plant in the United States. Caterpillar, Wabash National, and dozens of supporting firms round out a robust industrial base.
Today Lafayette's small business economy blends manufacturing suppliers, university-adjacent tech startups, Franciscan Health, a revitalized downtown dining and arts scene, and a growing residential construction market.
Seven core bookkeeping services, all delivered remotely — designed specifically for the pace and complexity of Lafayette'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 Lafayette 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.
We work with business owners across every major industry in Lafayette — from downtown restaurants and breweries to Purdue-adjacent startups, manufacturing suppliers, contractors, and healthcare practices.
Inventory, raw materials, job costing, equipment — books built for the factory floor
Job costing, subcontractor payments, material expenses, seasonal flow
SaaS, subscription revenue, runway tracking, investor-ready reports
COGS, tip payroll, vendor reconciliation, inventory management
Consultants, marketing agencies, attorneys — clean monthly P&L
Medical practices, gyms, spas — payroll and insurance billing support
Commission tracking, rental income, investor portfolios, property expenses
University-adjacent services, tutoring centers, EdTech — subscription and session tracking
There's no shortage of bookkeepers in Lafayette — 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 →"I run a small manufacturing supply company near the Subaru plant and keeping up with inventory costs and vendor payments was a nightmare. Tides took it all off my plate. I get clean reports every month, my CPA is thrilled, and I actually understand my margins now. Best decision I've made for my business."
Based in or near Lafayette? We also serve these nearby communities throughout Tippecanoe County and the greater central Indiana region.
Purdue University · Across the Wabash
Montgomery County · 30 min S
Clinton County · 30 min SE
Carroll County · 25 min N
Fountain County · 30 min SW
White County · Lake Shafer
Boone County · Toward Indy
Howard County · 45 min E
It depends on how far behind you are, but most catch-up projects are completed within 2–4 weeks. We work methodically through each month, ensure everything is accurate, and give you a clean set of books before beginning regular monthly service.
We work in QuickBooks Online for your bookkeeping and Puzzle.io for real-time dashboards and an instant snapshot of your financials. If you're not on QBO yet, we can set it up as part of onboarding.
Absolutely. We can coordinate directly with your CPA or tax preparer — sharing access to QuickBooks, exporting reports in whatever format they need, and making tax season as smooth as possible for everyone involved.
No setup fees. You pay your first month's rate after onboarding is complete and we've begun your first month of bookkeeping. We also offer a satisfaction guarantee on your first month of service.
Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll review your current situation, walk you through our process, and give you an exact quote. If it's a fit, we'll start onboarding right away — most Lafayette clients are up and running within a week.
Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. We work month to month and believe our results speak for themselves. If for any reason Tides isn't the right fit, you can cancel with 30 days' notice and we'll ensure a smooth transition.
Not at all. We serve businesses across all of Tippecanoe County, the greater Lafayette-West Lafayette metro, and small businesses nationwide. Location doesn't matter — our process is 100% remote and works just as well anywhere in the country.
100% remote bookkeeping for small businesses across Indiana and throughout the United States.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We'll review your current situation and give you a clear, honest picture of what it will take to get your Lafayette business financially clean.
No setup fees · Cancel anytime · First month guaranteed
Official government resources for registering, filing, and staying compliant. Tides handles your books; these help with the rest.