About Vacation Rental Bookkeeping
Hi, I'm Ryan Gallagher, owner, and bookkeeper at VRB. I provide bookkeeping services that are specialized for the rental industry. I take a genuine interest in my clients' businesses and enjoy providing them with financial information that they can use to increase their profits.
I pledge to you my full commitment, honesty, and integrity.
How Do You Help Rental Businesses?
I take care of the tedious recordkeeping that has been wasting your time, and then I use the data that I have recorded to analyze your business and help you make more money. I make sure you have all of the information you need to make good financial decisions. I also keep detailed records that will allow you to save money on your taxes and justify your deductions to the IRS. Unlike other bookkeepers, I know the short-term and long-term rental business and will put my skills to work for you.
What Do You Do?
VRB provides everything from basic reconciling to complete bookkeeping service, customized for the rental industry and tailored to your specific business. I set myself apart by listening to my client's needs and seeking to meet those needs rather than offering a "one size fits all" type of service. I look at where you have been, where you are right now, and where you want to be in the future. I then do everything I can to help you meet those goals. I help you understand and use standard financial statements and create custom reports that show you the numbers that are important to you. I also work with your CPA or tax preparer to make sure you save as much as possible on your taxes.
What Is Your Background?
In high school, I developed a love for learning math and explaining it to others. In college, I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education. I continued to put my love of numbers to use by teaching algebra in Christian schools for thirteen years.
My love for vacation rentals started in 2003 when I graduated from college, and my extended family stayed in a vacation rental on Pensacola Beach to celebrate my graduation. We loved having our own place on the beach, and it was then that we realized that vacation rentals are the way to go when traveling. After I was married and graduated with my Master's, we repeated the celebration. Since then, my wife and I have stayed in vacation rentals throughout the eastern United States.
Every time we would stay in a vacation rental we would say, "We 
should own a rental someday." Well someday came in 2013 when we purchased what became known as Ridgecrest Cottage. My wife decorated and cleaned. I did maintenance and kept track of the finances, and we both worked with the guests. We really enjoyed getting to know guests from all across the world, fulfilling our dream, and receiving lots of five-star reviews.
In 2015-2016, we decided that we needed to make sure we were giving our four daughters the best childhood they could have. We decided to sell our vacation rental in order to purchase some property in the country where our girls could run and play and have some animals. By God's grace, we were able to make enough profit on the sale of the vacation rental to buy our own mini-farm.
I also decided to quit my teaching job to find some work that would allow me to spend more time with our children. I took a job as an office manager which included the task of tracking the business' finances. I decided to learn how to do the job right and began studying accounting. The more I learned, the more I saw my love for numbers coming out again. Before long, I caught up the six-month backlog and started producing financial reports for the owner.
In 2017, my dream to start my own bookkeeping business began. I couldn't think of a better way to combine my love for numbers and rental properties while also being able to work from home and spend time with my family. I completed formal bookkeeper training and hold certifications in QuickBooks Online, Xero, and HubDoc. I have had great training and experience and am ready to go to work as your bookkeeper today.
What Can I Expect When Working with You?
Before you become a client, I may offer, or you may request, a free consultation so that I can learn about your business and your desires for bookkeeping services. No training or advisory services are included in this free consultation. I will then create a proposal specifically for you that outlines what I can do to help your business. Most proposals will include a flat monthly fee that would be charged for the services listed. Training services are charged by the hour. Once you become a client, you will have email, phone, and video conference support. I will certainly be glad to lend an ear and make available my experiences to you when you get ready to make important business decisions. When you work with me, I'll never expect you to know the accounting lingo. I'll always try to explain things in terms that make sense to you. Finally, I will take a proactive approach to your business. Up-to-date records are great, but using those records to plan for a better future will be our strategy.
What Is the Next Step?
My story is not complete without you, the rental owner or property manager, who is ready to give up that nagging burden of bookkeeping and will put to great use all the helpful information I will send your way. I will gladly keep your records up-to-date and you will be free to enjoy what you do best and love. When you need help with your car, you call the mechanic. If you need help with your business's books, go to a bookkeeper. Don't choose any random bookkeeper though. I know the rental industry, I will take pride in your specific business, and I will work hard to see you be successful.
Vacation Rental Bookkeeping, LLC PO Box 885 Hillsdale, MI 49242