The Tools I Recommend for Kalispell’s Service-Based Business Owners
If you're a small business owner here in Kalispell — maybe you're a plumber, chiropractor, landscaper, or electrician — you're probably wearing a dozen hats already. Between taking care of customers, managing your crew, and staying on top of daily operations, it’s easy for the financial side of things to fall behind.
When I sit down with new clients, the first thing they often say is, “I know I should be more organized, but I don’t even know where to start.” That’s exactly why I recommend keeping things simple. The best tools are the ones that let you run your business efficiently, without needing five logins and a part-time IT degree.
Here’s what I use myself — and what I recommend to most of the service-based businesses we work with.
QuickBooks:
The Only Tool Most Business Owners Really Need
QuickBooks is my go-to recommendation. It’s what we use at Abundant Skies, and it’s what I help most of my clients get set up with.
There are plenty of free tools out there, but I’ve found that most of them are just registers. They don’t give you a true profit and loss statement, a balance sheet, or anything that helps you make real financial decisions. QuickBooks, on the other hand, gives you all of that — and more.
What I love about it:
You can upload receipts, run payroll, and send invoices all from the same place
It’s clean and simple to use, even if you’re not a “numbers person”
It integrates well with banks and credit cards, which makes reconciling a breeze
Whether you’re a solo operator or managing a growing team, QuickBooks is usually the best fit.
ADP:
A Great Standalone Payroll Solution
If you’re looking for a dedicated payroll provider, ADP is another good option I’ve seen. It handles everything you need — pay runs, tax filings, compliance, and even some HR tools.
While QuickBooks has a great built-in payroll feature, some larger or more complex clients prefer ADP for its all-in-one HR functionality. Ultimately, I still prefer Quickbooks, but if that’s where your business is heading, ADP is worth a look.
Keep It Simple, and Get Back to What You Do Best
My goal is always to simplify things for you — not add more layers. You don’t need ten different tools to run a healthy business. In most cases, QuickBooks (and maybe ADP) is all you’ll need to stay on top of things.
And if setting that up still sounds overwhelming, that’s what I’m here for. Whether you need help choosing the right software or you just want someone else to handle it for you, let’s talk. We’re local, we know what Montana businesses deal with, and we’re here to help you build something that lasts.
Want help getting started? Reach out anytime. First consultation is free.
