Privacy Policy

Who we are

Balanced Books is a brand of Goodman Accounting PLLC, a licensed accounting firm providing bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, and related financial services to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits.

When we say "we," "us," or "our" in this policy, we mean Goodman Accounting PLLC. When we say "you," we mean anyone who visits our website or uses our services.

If you have questions about this policy, you can reach us any time at office@balancedbooks.net.

What we collect

We only collect information that helps us serve you well. This falls into two categories:

Information you give us directly

• Your name, email address, and phone number when you contact us or book a call
• Business name, type, and size when you inquire about services
• Financial and tax records you share with us as a client
• Any other information you include in messages or forms

Information collected automatically

• Basic website usage data (pages visited, time on site, referring URL)
• Device and browser type
• IP address (used for security and analytics only)

How we use it

We use your information to:

• Respond to your inquiries and schedule consultations
• Provide bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and related services
• Communicate with you about your account, deadlines, and filings
• Send occasional service updates or helpful tax reminders (you can opt out any time)
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including IRS requirements
• Improve our website and better understand how clients find us

We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling.

How we share it

We do not sell your information. Ever. We do not share your personal or financial information with third parties for marketing purposes.

We may share your information only in these limited circumstances:

• Service providers: Trusted tools we use to run our business (e.g., scheduling software, cloud storage, accounting platforms). These providers are contractually required to protect your data.
• Tax authorities: When filing returns on your behalf, we submit your information to the IRS and relevant state agencies as required.
• Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or regulatory authority.
• Your authorization: Any other sharing only happens with your explicit consent.

Data security

We take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. This includes:

• Encrypted file sharing and secure client portals
• Password-protected systems with two-factor authentication
• Limited internal access — only team members who need your information to serve you have it
• Regular review of our security practices

No method of digital transmission is 100% secure, but we do everything in our power to keep your data safe. If you ever have a concern about how information was shared, please contact us immediately.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct any information that is inaccurate or outdated
• Request deletion of your information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Opt out of any marketing communications at any time
• Ask questions about how your data is used

To exercise any of these rights, simply email us at office@balancedbooks.net. We'll respond within 10 business days.

Please note: some financial and tax records must be retained for a legally required period even after a client relationship ends. We'll always be transparent about what we hold and why.

Cookies

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your browser — to understand how visitors use the site. We use:

• Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand page traffic and improve the site (data is aggregated and anonymous)

We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time, though some site features may not work as intended.

Children's privacy

Our services are intended for adults and business entities. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 13. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we do, we'll update the "last updated" date at the top of this page. If changes are significant, we'll notify active clients by email.

We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed.

Contact us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this privacy policy or your personal data, we'd love to hear from you:

• Email: office@balancedbooks.net
• Business: Goodman Accounting PLLC

We're a real team of real people — not a legal department. If something here is confusing or you just want to talk through how we handle your data, reach out and we'll have an honest conversation.