Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Fort Wayne, IN

SBS CPA Group is a Fort Wayne, Indiana accounting practice, organized as SBS CPA Group, LLC and licensed in the state. It focuses on owner-operated small companies, along with individuals whose personal returns involve more than the basics. Most of its clients are in the greater Fort Wayne region, but the firm also prepares returns for taxpayers in other states.

For employers comparing payroll providers, it offers a CPA-led option. Payroll is handled by the same firm that keeps the books and files the taxes.

Payroll Services

The firm runs payroll for a significant portion of its business clientele and manages the related tax obligations. The goal is to get employees paid on schedule and to file and remit payroll taxes accurately.

SBS describes several payroll arrangements, so an employer can pick a level of support that fits its budget and stay compliant with federal and state rules. Partner Brent Bracht, a CPA, lists payroll among his main areas of focus. He also works on business and individual returns, consulting, and QuickBooks.

Because payroll sits beside the bookkeeping and tax work, the wage figures feed into year-end filings and tax planning without being passed to a separate vendor.

Other Business Services

Payroll is one part of a wider set of accounting services for small companies:

• Bookkeeping, including help with deciding which bills to pay first
• Hands-on QuickBooks instruction and ongoing software support
• Business tax planning and return preparation, with an emphasis on corporate taxes
• Fractional CFO work, such as custom financial statements, cash flow improvement, budgeting, tax projections, internal control reviews, and succession or sale planning
• New business formation, starting with a no-cost first meeting
• Business and management consulting
• Sales and use tax filings and business personal property tax returns

The firm highlights small businesses, real estate professionals, and restaurant bookkeeping as particular niches.

How They Work With Clients

SBS reports serving more than 500 business clients. Each company is paired with a single CPA, so one accountant gets to know that client's operations over time. The firm says it is reachable throughout the year rather than only during filing season. It also tries to resolve most questions in a single phone call.

All work is done in its own office and none is sent offshore, which the firm presents as a privacy safeguard. For businesses that want to handle some tasks in-house, SBS will train internal staff on the work they are qualified to take over.

Team and Credentials

The practice is led by three partners. Mike Sylvester holds an MBA and the CPA/ABV credential, and he concentrates on complex returns and planning for high-net-worth clients and businesses. Karena Sylvester, a CPA, focuses on small business filings for S corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors. Brent Bracht covers payroll and QuickBooks.

The staff includes Jennifer Thonert, a senior accountant and CPA with more than a decade of tax experience. Senior accountant Shane Lengerich handles cryptocurrency and multi-state returns, and Michael Salazar is also a senior accountant. Michelle Felger is a bookkeeper who previously spent 25 years managing a Fort Wayne small business office, and Nikkie Reyes provides administrative support.

The firm also offers a client portal for exchanging documents.