Frequently Asked Questions

ICNU provides hands-on back-office support for nonprofits, churches, and small businesses through a flat monthly subscription. We handle the financial and administrative details that often overwhelm leaders: bookkeeping oversight, payroll review, board reporting, and compliance. So you can focus on what you actually built the organization to do.

We serve three audiences: nonprofits, churches, and small businesses. Most of our nonprofit and church clients have 2 to 50 employees and annual budgets under $5 million, though we can support larger organizations on a case-by-case basis. For small businesses, the fit is less about size and more about whether you are ready to stop guessing at your numbers and start leading with clarity.

Most organizations cannot afford a full-time CFO, and bookkeepers rarely provide the strategic guidance that leaders actually need. High-cost consulting firms bill by the hour and disappear between engagements. ICNU bridges that gap. You get expert financial oversight, staff training, and board-ready reporting for a predictable monthly cost, without adding another employee to your payroll.

We work alongside your existing accountant or CPA, not in place of them. We handle the day-to-day clarity your board needs. Your CPA handles tax filings and audits. Everyone stays aligned.

Most accounting firms focus on taxes and year-end compliance. ICNU focuses on clarity and confidence: helping you understand your numbers, make better decisions, and keep your team aligned throughout the year. We are proactive partners, not just year-end processors.

Pricing is transparent and based on your audience and the scope of your engagement.

Nonprofits and churches receive preferred pricing. Rates are based on the number of non-program support staff (FTEs) in your organization:

Small businesses are priced on a flat retainer scoped to your engagement. Starting rates are $675, $1,200, and $1,875 per month for Nearby, Alongside, and At the Table respectively. Your actual rate is confirmed together before anything is finalized.

All subscriptions include a one-time setup fee equal to your first month's payment. No surprise hourly invoices.

Each tier builds on the one before it. Start where you are and move up when you are ready.

Nearby gives you bookkeeping oversight, plain-English highlights on your financials, quick-turn email support, and a quarterly pulse check so nothing sneaks up on you.

Alongside adds payroll oversight, narrative board reporting, cash flow forecasting, and regular check-ins built around the decisions you are actually facing.

At the Table includes everything above, plus a monthly strategy call, grant and audit support, board meeting participation, custom dashboards, and workflow design so the right work lands with the right people.

See the full breakdown on the nonprofit, church, or small business pricing pages.

There are no long-term contracts. We do ask for a minimum of three months at the start of the engagement. That gives us the continuity to deliver meaningful value and gives both sides time to assess the relationship properly.

After those first three months, you are free to cancel at any time with at least 10 days written notice before your next billing cycle. No cancellation fees. Most clients stay long-term because the support saves them time, money, and stress.

We use full-time equivalent (FTE) counts based on your non-program support staff: finance, HR, admin, and development roles. A part-time staff member counts as a fraction of an FTE. This approach scales our work fairly to the complexity of your organization without overcharging smaller teams. Your actual FTE count and starting rate are confirmed together before you sign anything.

Yes. If your needs fall between tiers, we will tailor a plan so you are only paying for the services that actually benefit you. Our goal is to make sure your back office is covered, not to sell you extras you do not need. That conversation starts with the intake form.

We handle the finance and operations essentials that most organizations struggle to manage consistently:

• Bookkeeping oversight (ensuring accuracy, not data entry)
• Payroll review and staff training
• Board-ready financial reporting
• Budget creation and cash flow planning
• Audit and grant readiness support
• QuickBooks Online best practices and coaching
• Investor and lender prep for small businesses

We are not a tax preparer or audit firm, but we make sure you are ready for both.

We work alongside your accountant or CPA, not in place of them. We handle the day-to-day clarity, reporting, and systems your board needs, while your CPA focuses on tax filings and audits. Our role keeps everyone aligned and your books in shape year-round.

Yes. Many of our clients come to us specifically because they feel unprepared for audits, grant applications, or board reviews. We help clean up your books, structure your reports, and create the systems funders and auditors expect. For small businesses, we offer similar support for lender conversations and investor prep.

In the first 30 to 45 days, we will:

• Review your current systems and pain points
• Set up a shared drive for documents and reporting
• Host a discovery call to define priorities and goals
• Deliver an action plan with clear next steps

The goal is quick wins and immediate relief, not a slow ramp-up.

We use secure cloud-based systems, encrypted document sharing, and strict internal protocols to protect your information. Only authorized team members access your data, and we never share information without your permission.

Yes. One of our goals is to build your team's capacity. We train staff in QuickBooks Online, coding, and best practices so you can operate confidently, even if we scale back our involvement later. We want to be a resource, not a dependency.

Absolutely. Many organizations hire us when they are behind on reconciliations or overwhelmed by messy records. We specialize in cleanup and getting you audit-ready and grant-ready, without judgment. That is often how the relationship starts.

Probably. Many clients keep their bookkeeper for data entry but rely on ICNU for oversight, reporting, and strategy. We make sure the books are accurate, the staff is trained, and the board gets the information they need. The bookkeeper handles the inputs. We make sure the outputs are trustworthy.

Start with the intake form for your audience. We will review your staff size, current systems, and pain points, then recommend the tier or custom plan that fits. You will not be pressured to upgrade or commit before you are ready.

Most clients are fully onboarded within 2 to 3 weeks, though we can move faster if your needs are urgent. Cleanup projects may take longer, but we will give you a clear timeline upfront before anything is finalized.

Yes. We offer a no-obligation discovery call to discuss your needs, walk through our tiers, and answer your questions. The intake conversation lets us understand your situation, confirm the right scope, and set your actual rate before anything is finalized.

Yes. Reference calls are available on request. Current clients have agreed to speak with prospective organizations about their experience working with ICNU. If you would like to connect with someone before your first call with us, just ask when you reach out and we will make the introduction.

Choose the intake form that matches your organization:

• Nonprofit intake form
• Church intake form
• Small business intake form

Or reach out directly at connect@inspiringchurches.com if you want to have a conversation first.