Accounts Payable Services & AP Automation Providers in Mount Pleasant, SC

Based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Apple & Odom, LLC is a compact certified public accounting and advisory firm whose clientele stretches throughout the Charleston region. The practice serves as a comprehensive financial resource for closely held businesses, charitable organizations, trusts, estates and private individuals. Between them, the two partners who founded the firm have logged upward of thirty years in public accounting.

Handling payables as part of outsourced finance

Organizations evaluating vendors for accounts payable will find the firm's outsourced client accounting service the closest match. Apple & Odom is not a seller of dedicated AP software. Rather, it steps in as an off-site finance department that manages routine money matters, freeing owners to concentrate on running and expanding the business.

Accuracy, streamlined workflows and adherence to regulations are central themes of this service. Because the firm's published materials do not identify particular AP automation applications or invoice-handling systems, prospective clients would do well to ask how supplier invoices, disbursement cycles and expense monitoring are handled under an engagement.

In addition, partner Patrick Odom assists companies with drafting budgets, forecasting cash flow and comparing traditional lending with nontraditional funding options, work that complements the oversight of outstanding obligations.

Services offered

• Tax strategy and filing for businesses, trusts, estates, charitable entities and individuals
• Bookkeeping and client accounting delivered on an outsourced basis
• Assurance work ranging from compilations and reviews up to full financial statement audits, plus engagements performed under agreed-upon procedures
• Valuation of businesses and strategic counsel, including due diligence when companies merge or are acquired
• Forensic investigations and litigation assistance in commercial disputes and domestic relations cases
• Advisory and audit services related to Title IV federal student aid for higher education institutions throughout the country

Sectors the firm supports

Apple & Odom serves a broad array of industries, each carrying distinct demands around expense management and financial reporting. Its client base takes in builders and specialty tradespeople, property investors, eateries and craft brewers, travel and hospitality businesses, and physician groups and other healthcare providers.

The firm also counts among its clients legal practices, architectural firms and similar professional service providers, along with producers and wholesale distributors, charities and congregations, online and brick-and-mortar retailers, community associations, farming enterprises and captive insurers.

Partners and qualifications

Derrick Apple, one of the two co-managing partners, brings over 17 years of public accounting practice. His focus is auditing and reviewing financial statements for smaller and midsize companies and nonprofit organizations, and he advises on tax strategy as well.

Charleston Southern University granted him his undergraduate accounting degree, and he went on to complete a master of accountancy at the College of Charleston. Charleston Southern's Nielsen School of Business has seated him on two of its advisory boards, and he also instructs there as an adjunct.

Fellow co-managing partner Patrick Odom has worked in the field for more than a decade. He holds the CPA credential along with the Accredited in Business Valuation designation, and he is a Certified Fraud Examiner. The College of Charleston awarded him both his bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting.

He has presented at seminars hosted by the National Business Institute and is a member of both the AICPA and the ACFE.

What distinguishes Apple & Odom is hands-on involvement from its partners and an approach shaped around the objectives and timelines of every client. Businesses seeking to fold payables management into a wider accounting arrangement, one that also spans tax, assurance and advisory services, gain a single nearby contact supported by credentials in auditing and fraud examination.

Overview

Based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Brian D Kurtz, CPA serves clients under the business name Brian D Kurtz PC. The practice is independent, with ownership rooted in the community. Its clients are individuals and small companies throughout the greater Charleston area, from North Charleston, Summerville and Goose Creek to Daniel Island, James Island, Johns Island and Folly Beach.

The firm deliberately stays small, so clients work with the same seasoned professionals over time rather than a rotating roster of staff. Businesses hoping to offload routine payables tasks are best served by treating the firm as an external accounting department. It is not a specialized vendor of AP automation tools.

Accounts payable and bookkeeping support

No separate accounts payable product is offered. Payables are handled within the firm's bookkeeping and in-house accounting services, which maintain the day-to-day records of supplier invoices, expenses and cash going out the door. Bookkeeping can be scheduled monthly, quarterly or annually. According to client testimonials, staff review profit and loss reports with business owners each month and help them control costs as sales increase. Services that relate to payables include:

• Bookkeeping performed monthly, quarterly or annually
• Maintenance of the general ledger and preparation of financial statements
• Payroll processing done by computer
• Management reports delivered each month
• Projections of cash flow
• Accounting system setup for start-up businesses
• Selection and rollout of accounting software
• Advisory support at the level of an outsourced CFO

As a registered QuickBooks ProAdvisor who also supports Peachtree, Brian Kurtz lets companies using either program continue managing their books and vendor obligations in a familiar system. Files are exchanged through a SmartVault portal, a secure channel for submitting invoices, statements and other supporting paperwork.

Broader services

The practice's work extends well past bookkeeping. It handles tax preparation and planning for individuals, corporations, partnerships, LLCs, estates, trusts and nonprofits. Sales and use tax returns and business property returns are also part of its work, along with representation in dealings with tax agencies and assistance resolving overdue IRS and South Carolina taxes.

On the consulting side, it advises on entity selection, business valuation, purchasing or selling a business, computer systems, and retirement and estate planning. Further specialties include mergers and acquisitions, audits, business loan assistance, asset protection, bankruptcy matters, employee benefit plans, litigation support and serving as an expert witness.

Background and approach

With over twenty years in accounting and business, Brian Kurtz previously worked as a controller for Nucor Steel and held the roles of treasurer and corporate controller at a Fortune 500 company. That corporate finance experience informs the practice's accounting for new ventures and its CFO-type advisory services.

A distinguishing feature is that the firm travels to clients' places of business. Engagements begin with a free initial consultation, either at the client's site or at the firm's Mount Pleasant office, which allows the team to observe how each business actually operates. Homeowners associations and nonprofit accounting are also among the areas where the firm reports experience.

Testimonials published by the firm come from the owner of multiple sandwich shops, a maritime group whose members include Charleston Navigation and the Charleston Branch Pilots Association, a co-owner of several fitness studios, and a corner market on Folly Beach.

These clients point to help with payroll, in-house accounting, government filings and some human resources matters, and they note fast responses. Buyers looking for a hands-on local partner to oversee payables within a broader bookkeeping arrangement, rather than an AP software platform, may find the firm a good fit.

Headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Fringe Advisory is a certified public accounting practice that works with small and mid-sized businesses throughout the Charleston region. The firm does not market a dedicated software product for vendor bills. Instead, it treats payables as one piece of a wider outsourced bookkeeping arrangement. That model suits business owners who prefer to have a licensed CPA watching over supplier invoices while also keeping the rest of the company's books in order.

Handling vendor bills as part of a bookkeeping engagement

Among the duties included in the firm's outsourced accounting service, managing money owed to suppliers and money due from customers ranks as a central task. Fringe Advisory presents this arrangement as a cheaper alternative to putting a full-time bookkeeper on staff. Alongside payables, the service covers a group of connected administrative jobs that companies shopping for invoice-processing help frequently prefer to have under one roof:

• Processing both outgoing vendor payments and incoming customer collections
• Sorting, entering and verifying the company's financial activity
• Matching bank and card account records against the books
• Posting adjusting entries and maintaining the ledger
• Closing the books each month and producing financial reports
• Running payroll and managing sales tax obligations
• Monitoring cash on hand, capital equipment and asset write-downs

Businesses that want higher-level guidance can engage Fringe Advisory for fractional chief financial officer or controller work. Other offerings include cash flow oversight, budgeting, compiled financial statements and help securing commercial loans. On the software side, the firm installs and configures QuickBooks, trains employees to use it and supports clients on an ongoing basis.

It also offers a complimentary guide to the more sophisticated capabilities of QuickBooks Online, a resource likely to interest companies that already pay their bills through that program.

Working style

Rather than selling a one-size-fits-all plan, Fringe Advisory assembles a customized mix of bookkeeping and tax services for each client. The firm stresses regular communication and close participation in the day-to-day money matters of the businesses it serves. Its stated goals are to cut costs, make accounting processes run more smoothly and reduce what clients owe in taxes. Prospective clients can start with a free introductory meeting, and current clients can log in to a secure web portal.

Sectors served and additional offerings

Fringe Advisory has built out specific service pages for a handful of industries that are prominent in the Lowcountry:

• Builders and the specialty trade firms they hire
• Realty businesses, landlords and firms overseeing rental portfolios
• Restaurants
• Tourism and leisure businesses
• Chiropractic and physical therapy practices
• Salons and other beauty enterprises

Outside of bookkeeping, the practice files tax returns for corporations and limited liability companies, manages filings that span more than one state and prepares personal returns. It also designs strategies to lower tax bills and helps clients sort out disputes with the IRS.

In many cases the firm handles a business's return along with those of its owners and top executives. New ventures can get guidance on choosing a legal structure, forming an LLC, S corporation or C corporation, drafting a business plan, setting up accounting systems and seeking funding.

About the practice

The firm works out of a Mount Pleasant office under the leadership of Aaron Berson, CPA, who meets with prospective clients for their initial consultations. For Charleston companies weighing their payables options, Fringe Advisory offers a CPA-directed service model as opposed to an automation tool, pairing vendor payment processing with account reconciliation, payroll, financial reporting and tax strategy through a single locally based firm.

Gold Star Business Services is a bookkeeping and small-business advisory firm in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Its founder, Elaine Domin, runs the firm. It works with small and mid-size companies across the greater Charleston region, from Goose Creek out to Kiawah Island.

It acts as an outsourced back office for owners who would rather spend their time on operations than on ledgers. Clients range from very small teams to companies with about fifty employees, and the firm also helps some individuals with personal financial matters.

Accounts payable within a full bookkeeping relationship

Buyers looking for accounts payable help should know that Gold Star does not offer a standalone AP automation platform, and its site does not list a separate payables package. Any payables work falls under its wider bookkeeping engagements.

In those engagements the firm organizes company records, keeps the books in QuickBooks, and handles related tasks such as payroll and recurring business tax filings. This setup suits businesses that want one familiar advisor to handle their finances instead of several providers. Elaine's career is directly relevant.

Before starting the company she supervised accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll and HR. She later worked as an office manager and controller for businesses, nonprofits and government entities.

Core services include:

• Ongoing bookkeeping and record organization
• Managing QuickBooks for the client
• QuickBooks training for owners and in-house accounting staff
• Payroll processing and employment tax filings
• Business tax reporting
• Advisory help with incorporation, business structure, and setting up credit card and bookkeeping systems
• A new business kit for startups

Industries served

The firm works with many kinds of local businesses. These include construction companies, medical and dental offices, law practices, interior designers, sales organizations, auto repair shops, nonprofits, and HVAC and plumbing contractors. Client reviews mention help with monthly employment taxes, personal and business property taxes, and retail taxes. One reviewer also got help setting up a point-of-sale system.

Background and credentials

Elaine Domin has more than 25 years of bookkeeping experience. That includes 14 years as a bookkeeping specialist at a CPA firm, which prepared her to launch Gold Star. She is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and is qualified to teach others how to use the software.

She is also a South Carolina notary public and leads the Charleston chapter of the National Advisors Network. She belongs to the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, Scaling New Heights, the Woodard Alliance, the Mt. Pleasant Business and Professional Association, and Women at Work Charleston.

She has served on boards for groups such as the YWCA of Greater Charleston and Trident Literacy. She is bonded and offers client references on request.

For companies comparing AP providers, Gold Star's main appeal is its hands-on, owner-led service rather than software. Clients work directly with an experienced bookkeeper who knows QuickBooks well, adapts training to each business, and can take over day-to-day finance tasks. The firm also recommends outside tools, including Avalara, CorpNet, ChecksForLess and QuickBooks. The office is open Monday through Friday, and appointments can be booked.

James R. Tuten, Jr., CPA, LLC is a certified public accounting practice in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It works mainly with small businesses and individuals across the greater Charleston region. The firm was set up as a full-service CPA practice handling tax, accounting and advisory work. Its clients come from Mount Pleasant, Charleston, North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek and other communities in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

Relevance for accounts payable buyers

The firm does not advertise a separate accounts payable or AP automation offering, and it does not list any payables software of its own. Buyers who want help with vendor bills and outgoing payments would most likely hire the firm for its outsourced bookkeeping and accounting work. The firm pairs that work with cash flow management, payroll and QuickBooks support.

This fits owner-managed companies that want a CPA to keep the books up to date, track what is owed and keep an accurate view of cash. It is less suited to larger organizations looking for a standalone, high-volume AP platform. Prospective clients should ask the firm directly which payables tasks a given engagement covers.

Services

The firm builds each engagement as a custom package that matches a company's current needs and can grow or shrink as the business changes. Services listed on its site include:

• Outsourced bookkeeping and general accounting
• Cash flow management
• Payroll services
• Choosing, configuring and supporting QuickBooks
• Compilations, reviews and financial statement preparation
• Business and financial consulting, including reviews of operations and internal controls
• New business advisory, from business plans to choosing an entity type and setting up accounting systems
• Tax planning, tax preparation and IRS representation
• Retirement and succession planning

On the software side, the firm helps clients pick the QuickBooks edition that suits their operation, sets it up correctly and coaches staff to use it well. That groundwork can support a cleaner process for entering and paying bills. Its consulting work also looks at internal controls, which matters to businesses that want closer oversight of disbursements.

Tax and advisory depth

Tax work is a large part of the practice. The firm prepares returns for S corporations, C corporations, LLCs and individuals, and offers electronic filing. It also handles filings across several states, estate returns, Form 990 returns for nonprofits, and returns for expatriates, including FBAR reporting.

Its planning work covers tax reduction for small businesses, personal income tax strategy, alternative minimum tax, compliance in multiple states, and succession and estate matters. The team tracks changes in tax law that could affect clients. The firm also helps people resolve IRS problems and tax debt.

Industries and approach

The practice works with small companies in many sectors and names law firms and retail businesses among the industries it supports. It stresses getting to know each client personally and describes a client-first philosophy aimed at helping owners avoid common mistakes when starting and running a company. New clients can start with an initial consultation at no charge. The firm also offers a secure file-sharing tool for sending documents and a newsletter with tax deadlines and planning tips.

Moody & O'Neal CPAs LLC is a South Carolina certified public accounting firm with offices in Mount Pleasant and Summerville, serving companies, business owners, executives and households across the Charleston area. It is a traditional CPA practice rather than a dedicated AP automation vendor, so buyers looking for help with payables will mainly find it relevant through its outsourced bookkeeping and client accounting work, which keeps a company's books, ledgers and reconciliations current alongside year-round tax support.

Bookkeeping and client accounting

The firm runs a full bookkeeping department, with a Client Accounting Services Manager on staff. Engagements are built around each client: staff can work at the client's premises, connect to the client's systems remotely, or handle the books in-house at the firm.

Reconciliation of bank and credit card accounts and general ledger cleanup can be scheduled monthly, quarterly or on another cadence the client selects, with the goal of keeping records ready for reporting throughout the year. The team supports both Windows and Mac environments and works in QuickBooks as well as other accounting packages.

Because the bookkeeping is designed with taxes in mind, the same records feed directly into the firm's tax planning and return work. The firm does not publish a separate accounts payable or invoice-processing offering; bill tracking and vendor records would fall under this general bookkeeping scope.

• Outsourced bookkeeping for small businesses, on-site, remote or in-office
• Bank and credit card reconciliations and general ledger cleanup
• QuickBooks setup, advice and user training
• Preparation of sales and use tax returns
• Part-time CFO support for short or extended periods
• Cash flow management and broader management consulting

Financial statements, advisory and tax

Beyond day-to-day accounting, the firm prepares compilation and preparation engagements so owners have financial statements for monitoring performance and guiding strategy; preparation engagements are typically produced for internal management use when the firm already maintains the client's books. Advisory work covers issues such as compensation, leadership transitions, buy/sell agreements and cost/benefit analysis.

The firm also helps clients assemble the financial and tax information banks require, connecting them with lenders and preparing them for underwriting. Business valuation is another specialty, including valuations for tax compliance, gift and estate matters, succession and family wealth planning, and dispute advisory and forensic needs.

On the tax side, it handles return preparation and proactive planning aimed at lowering liability legally and improving after-tax income.

Team and background

The practice has served Lowcountry clients for more than ten years, and its staff together bring over eight decades of experience. Leadership includes managing partners Chris O'Neal, a CPA and Certified Valuation Analyst, and Lora Prevatte, a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, along with partner William T. Freeland II, CPA. The wider team includes several senior managers and managers who hold the CPA credential, a tax supervisor, an office manager and a client success manager.

For buyers comparing payables providers, Moody & O'Neal is best suited to small and mid-sized businesses that want accounts maintained by a local CPA firm that also handles their taxes, financial statements and advisory needs, rather than a standalone AP software platform. Clients can exchange documents through a secure file transfer portal and pay invoices online.

Palmetto Accounting, LLC is a CPA-led, woman-owned firm that started in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It works mainly with small and mid-sized companies around Charleston. It is not a software vendor. Buyers looking for accounts payable help will find AP handled as part of a wider outsourced accounting service. That service also covers bookkeeping, controller and CFO-level advice, and tax work.

Accounts payable and managed accounting

The firm's managed accounting service is built for owners who want their books recorded, kept up to date and reported correctly without building a full internal finance team. Payables are part of that day-to-day work, and the firm also covers the rest of the routine accounting cycle:

• Management of both payables and receivables
• Reconciliation of bank statements
• Preparation of financial statements
• Payroll processing
• Bookkeeping adjustments, from small fixes to ongoing upkeep

The firm presents outsourcing as a way to improve accuracy and lower overhead, so owners can spend their time running the business. It mentions that it uses accounting software and holds certifications but does not name specific AP automation platforms. Buyers who need a particular tool should ask about it directly.

Controller and CFO support

For companies that need more than transaction processing, Palmetto Accounting offers part-time CFOs and outsourced controllers. This lets a business get senior finance expertise without hiring full-time staff. The firm says it has deep experience with owner-managed and legacy companies in roughly the $5 million to $15 million revenue range.

Work at this level includes forecasting and cash management, building and tracking budgets, analyzing key performance indicators, and using past results to project trends. The team also offers quarterly planning sessions where it walks clients through their financial reports and tax estimates in plain language.

Tax planning and compliance

Tax work covers both businesses and individuals. The firm prepares returns and quarterly filings and focuses on planning ahead so clients aren't caught off guard at filing time. It says it keeps up with changes to tax law and adjusts its approach to suit each client's industry and business structure. Client reviews mention help with returns in more than one state and quarterly tax advice that is coordinated with the client's financial advisor.

Background and approach

Founder Kylie Grieco, CPA, has lived in the Lowcountry since childhood. She started her career at a private CPA firm and then worked in both public and corporate accounting, eventually serving as Controller for a chain of nursing homes.

She decided she most enjoyed working with many different businesses, and after the birth of her third child she started Palmetto Accounting. She built a team of advisors who help local companies with financial and strategic problems. Her work with clients has focused on improving reporting and on managing and forecasting cash so problems can be spotted early.

The firm bases its work on planning. It aims to give owners clear, easy-to-follow reports and metrics rather than dense technical output. It runs remote offices but also visits clients on site to learn how their operations work. For buyers comparing AP providers, it is a good fit for companies that want payables handled within a full outsourced finance function with local, CPA-level oversight. It is less suited to buyers looking for a standalone automation product.

Supporting Strategies | Coastal South Carolina is the Lowcountry office of Supporting Strategies, a national provider that has delivered outsourced bookkeeping, controller services and back-office accounting since 2004. The local team works with growing companies across the greater Charleston region, including Charleston, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston and Summerville.

For Goose Creek companies weighing their choices for accounts payable help, it is worth noting that this provider views AP as one piece of a full outsourced accounting function rather than as a standalone software product.

Accounts payable and expense control

Supporting Strategies places its AP services within a category it calls Expenses. Its accountants design an approval workflow that sends every bill to the right people for authorization before money leaves the company, so that vendors are paid promptly. Organizations with heavier transaction loads can move up to a more flexible tier of AP and expense assistance.

At the top level, the firm takes over day-to-day monitoring of outgoing spend and keeps vendor accounts current. Because AP lives in the same ledger as all other accounting activity, the data flows directly into monthly financial statements and cash flow reporting.

• AP workflow management, bill approvals and scheduled vendor payments
• Expense monitoring for organizations with high transaction counts
• Day-to-day bookkeeping along with controller services
• Financial reporting, cash tracking, forecasting and budget analysis
• Accounts receivable, invoicing and collections
• Compliance assistance with 1099 preparation, sales tax filings and audit readiness
• Payroll administration, management of benefits and PTO, and employee onboarding and offboarding

How a client relationship unfolds

Every engagement starts with an introductory conversation about the obstacles a company is dealing with. Afterward, the firm proposes a package of services along with a corresponding price. It then assembles a team of accounting staff sized to the volume of work, agrees on workflows, contacts and deadlines, and moves the client's bookkeeping onto a remote, cloud-based system.

When a company grows, more staff are added, and the dedicated team remains available to answer questions or handle new projects. Technology replaces fragmented, manual approaches, and all employees work from within the United States.

Background and local management

Nationally, Supporting Strategies reports more than 100 locations and upward of 4,000 clients. Managing Director Brad Strickland launched the Coastal South Carolina office in 2014. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Boston College and an MBA from NYU.

His memberships include a Charleston-area peer forum for CFOs and other senior finance leaders, ACG (an international association of deal professionals and middle-market advisors), a trade association for asset-based lending, and the TMA, a group for turnaround and restructuring professionals. He is also involved in the local business community.

In addition to serving small companies broadly, Supporting Strategies offers dedicated programs for law firms, healthcare practices and nonprofits. Potential clients should understand that the firm is not a CPA practice. Instead, it keeps books clean and orderly so that a client's outside accountant can operate more smoothly, particularly during tax season. The office distinguishes itself through its U.S.-based staff, a locally connected leader and a tiered service model that lets AP and other functions scale alongside each business.

Overview

Tideline CPA Group LLC is a certified public accounting practice in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It works with businesses and individuals across the Charleston region and beyond. The firm is locally owned and focuses mainly on private companies whose owners also run daily operations. For buyers looking for accounts payable help near Goose Creek, Tideline is a CPA firm that offers bill payment handling together with bookkeeping, payroll and tax work. It is not a stand-alone AP software vendor.

Accounts payable and accounting services

The firm's accounts payable service is client bill pay, where its staff help manage payments to a client's vendors. This is part of a wider set of outsourced back-office functions, so a business can keep its payables, ledger upkeep and payroll with one provider. Tideline lists these services:

• Client bill pay
• Bookkeeping and bookkeeping consulting
• Payroll processing
• Sales tax filings
• Compiled financial statements and reviews
• Tax planning, compliance and controversy work at the federal, state and local levels
• Business valuation, succession planning, strategy and growth consulting, and financial and accounting advisory
• Family wealth services

The website does not name an AP automation platform or software product. Companies that need a specific invoice-capture or approval-workflow tool should ask the firm how it handles bill pay and which systems it supports.

Industries served

Tideline names a set of sectors where it focuses its tax and accounting knowledge. These include real estate, retail, building contractors, manufacturing and distribution, restaurants and hospitality, professional service firms, privately held companies and investment partnerships. Some of these, such as construction and hospitality, usually pay many vendors and suppliers. For those businesses, combining bill pay with bookkeeping and sales tax support can work well.

Team and approach

The firm's team page lists more than twenty people. Four partners hold the CPA credential: Melonie Hammond-Trace, William Prevost, Kris Reed and Brandon Renaud. CPA managers Jon Geske, Cole Henderson, Justin Prairie and Shannon Tant support them, along with a seasonal tax manager, associates, accounting specialists and client service specialists. Because the firm has dedicated accounting specialists, routine transaction work such as paying bills is handled by people who also understand the tax side.

Tideline says it aims to be easy to reach and quick to respond. It combines tax expertise with help on financial decisions and tries to build lasting personal relationships with its clients. The firm names knowledge, timeliness and integrity as its core values. Clients use a secure online portal and can pay invoices online.

The office is open on weekdays and closes for a midday break. The firm also sends clients letters about tax law changes, such as its 2025 summaries of new federal legislation for individuals, employers and businesses.

Location

The firm works from a single office on Chuck Dawley Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, within driving distance of Goose Creek and the wider Berkeley County area. Tideline may suit buyers who want their payables handled by a local CPA firm that also does their other accounting work, rather than through a self-service software subscription.