GUARDIANS CPAYour Financial Shield
(714) 254-5736 Free consultation
San Diego CPA · Tax, bookkeeping, payroll & CFO services

Your financial shield for taxes, bookkeeping and payroll.

Tax and accounting help for San Diego families, businesses and nonprofits, from a CPA with more than 30 years of experience.

Call (714) 254-5736 Email us
  • 5-star rated on Yelp
  • CPA, MBA · 30+ years
  • 100% remote or in person
  • English · Español · العربية

Key tax deadlines each year

  1. Jan 31Early Bird deadline — book with us and save
  2. Feb 1W-2 and 1099-NEC forms due to workers and the IRS
  3. Mar 15S-corp and partnership returns (1120-S, 1065, CA 100S, 565/568)
  4. Apr 15Individual and C-corp returns (1040, 1120, CA 540, CA 100)
Early Bird offer

Book your tax return by January 31 and save.

$50 off any individual return or 10% off any business return. New clients also get a free second-look review of last year's return.

Claim the Early Bird price
What we do

One firm for your taxes, books, payroll and CFO needs

Tax preparation

Individual, self-employed, rental, partnership, S-corp and C-corp returns, federal and California, filed electronically.

1040 · 1065 · 1120-S · 1120 · CA 540

Bookkeeping

Monthly reconciliations, clean financial statements and books that are ready at tax time.

QuickBooks · Xero · Zoho · NetSuite · Sage · + any other software

Nonprofit accounting

Fund accounting, grant tracking, Form 990 and board-ready reports that hold up at audit time.

990 · 199 · RRF-1

Payroll

Payroll runs, tax deposits, quarterly filings and year-end W-2s for your team.

941 · DE 9 · W-2

Fractional CFO

Cash-flow forecasts, budgets and a monthly review of your numbers, without hiring a full-time CFO.

Business formation

LLC and corporation setup, EIN, operating agreements and S-corp elections, done right from day one.

SS-4 · 2553

Compliance

California Statements of Information, license renewals and deadline reminders so nothing lapses.

Sales tax

Registration and returns with the CDTFA and other states where you sell.

Review and compilation

CPA-prepared financial statements for lenders, investors and landlords.

Software we work in:
  • SAP ERP
  • Zoho
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Thomson Reuters
  • FreshBooks
  • ClearBooks
  • Sage Intacct
  • Sage 50
  • Oracle NetSuite
Also: QuickBooks Desktop · Xero · Gusto · ADP Using something else? We'll work in your software, or help you choose the right one.
Pricing

Clear starting prices

Every tax fee includes your California return. We confirm the final price after a free review of your documents, before any work starts. All services can be handled 100% remotely, so you never need to visit the office.

Tax returns
ReturnStarting at
Individual, standard deduction1040 + CA 540$350
Individual, itemized deductions1040 + Sch A + CA 540$450
Self-employed, gig or 1099 income1040 + Sch C + Sch SE$650
Rental propertyPer property, added to your returnSch E+$150
Partnership or multi-member LLC1065 + CA 565/568$850
S corporation1120-S + CA 100S$950
C corporation1120 + CA 100$1,050

Monthly bookkeeping

Flat monthly fees. Every plan includes a dedicated bookkeeper and a CPA review, all handled remotely.

Essentials

$250/month

For businesses with up to about 200 transactions a month.

  • Bank and card reconciliation, up to 4 accounts
  • Monthly profit and loss and balance sheet
  • Receipts attached to transactions
  • Year-end package for your tax return
Most popular

Growth

$750/month

For growing businesses with payroll, bills and sales tax.

  • Everything in Essentials, up to 8 accounts
  • Accrual-basis books and class tracking
  • Bill pay, payables and sales tax support
  • 20% off your business tax return

Full-Service + CFO

$2,000/month

A full back office and a CFO for established companies.

  • Everything in Growth, unlimited accounts
  • Weekly updates and receivables support
  • Cash-flow statements and forecasts
  • Monthly CFO review meeting

Save 10% with an annual plan. Catch-up and cleanup work is quoted separately.

Payroll$85/month + $6 per employee
Sales tax filing$75 per filing
Business formation$399 + state fees
Annual compliance$149 per year
Fractional CFOCustom quote for your business
Review and compilationQuoted per engagement

Prices are starting fees. The final fee depends on the complexity of your situation and is always confirmed with you before work begins. Additional states, amended returns and IRS notices are quoted separately.

How it works

From first call to filed return

  1. Free consultation

    A short call to understand your situation and quote a fee.

  2. Secure upload

    Send your documents through your private client portal instead of email.

  3. We prepare and review

    We prepare everything and walk you through it before anything is filed.

  4. File and stay supported

    We e-file, then stay available all year for questions and notices.

Client reviews

Rated 5 stars by our clients on Yelp

Here are some of their reviews.

★★★★★
“Ismail is incredibly diligent, competent, and prompt. He made untangling an error by a previous accountant as effortless as it could be.”
Hunter J.Yelp
★★★★★
“Ismail responded promptly to my initial inquiry, provided me with a very reasonable quote, and genuinely seems to care about my business growth.”
Doris P.Yelp
★★★★★
“Amazingly professional and efficient. All communication was clear and extremely responsive.”
Martyn H.Yelp
★★★★★
“Super responsive, efficient, and helpful throughout the whole process. The easiest way I have ever done my taxes and book keeping.”
Sarah L.Yelp
★★★★★
“He is highly knowledgeable, patient with assisting us, and breaks everything down into manageable steps.”
Alexandra B.Yelp
★★★★★
“Ismail has been so helpful with getting our taxes on track. He is easy to work with and prices are very reasonable!”
Justine G.Yelp

Quoted from our Yelp page in our clients' own words.

Read all reviews on Yelp
Ismail Kabook, CPA, MBA
Ismail Kabook, CPA, MBAFounder, Guardians CPA
About

Big-firm expertise, small-firm attention

Guardians CPA is led by Ismail Kabook, CPA, MBA, with more than 30 years of accounting experience. He leads a team of professional bookkeepers who turn messy financial records into clear, tax-ready reports.

Clients count on our accuracy, responsiveness and commitment to results, with no long-term contracts. We work with businesses, startups, nonprofits and individuals across San Diego and California, in English, Spanish and Arabic.

  • 30+years of accounting experience
  • 5star rating on Yelp
  • CPA · MBAlicensed in California

Who we work with

  • Businesses and startups
  • Self-employed and 1099 earners
  • Real estate investors and landlords
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Families and individuals

We work in QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, NetSuite, Sage and more.

Questions

Common questions

Don't see your question? Call or email us and we'll answer it.

How much will my tax return cost?

Our starting prices are listed above. After a free look at your documents, we confirm the exact fee before we begin, so there are no surprises.

Do I have to come to the office?

No. Most clients work with us remotely through our secure client portal, by phone and by video call. You're welcome to visit our Rancho Bernardo office by appointment.

What should I bring or upload?

Last year's return, your W-2s and 1099s, and records of deductions such as mortgage interest, property taxes and donations. Business owners should add their bookkeeping reports. We'll send you a checklist made for your situation.

I'm behind on filing or got an IRS letter. Can you help?

Yes. We prepare past-year returns, respond to IRS and California notices and help set up payment plans.

Can I work with you in Spanish or Arabic?

Yes. We serve clients in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Ready to hand off your taxes and books?

Call or email today. Your first conversation is free.

(714) 254-5736 Email us
Contact

Book a free consultation

Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you by email or phone.

Please don't send Social Security numbers or tax documents here. We'll share a secure upload link.

Office
17190 Bernardo Center Dr, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92128
Mailing address
11956 Bernardo Plaza Dr #131
San Diego, CA 92128
Phone
(714) 254-5736
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Fax
(888) 338-4497
Existing clients: open the client portal