Hale & Mercer is a two-partner CPA practice serving Lake County's small businesses and families — bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and IRS representation with flat-fee transparency and a partner on every engagement.
Every engagement begins with a written, flat-fee quote — no hourly meter running quietly in the background.
Categorized books, reconciled accounts, and a one-page plain-English summary delivered by the 10th of each month.
S-Corp, LLC, and partnership filings built for Indiana owners — quarterly estimates handled with your monthly close.
W-2 to complex schedules — every return reviewed by a CPA, not software alone. Prior-year amendment audits included.
Full-service payroll with Indiana state filings, year-end W-2s, and direct-deposit onboarding for your team.
Chart-of-accounts design, bank feeds, and staff training — a two-week engagement that ends the spreadsheet era.
Audit notices, back-tax negotiation, and installment agreements — handled under power of attorney so you don't face the IRS alone.
Existing clients: upload documents, sign engagement letters, and message your accountant through the secure portal — one login, no fax machines.
18 years in public accounting, former regional manager at a national firm. Leads business tax and IRS representation engagements.
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Elite. Runs the bookkeeping and payroll practice; the "explain it in plain English" department.
Nothing. 30 minutes, phone or in-person, reviewing your situation and what we would charge — in writing — before you commit to anything.
That's our most common starting point. Catch-up bookkeeping is quoted per month-backlog at a flat rate. Most owners are fully current in 3–5 weeks.
Yes. About half our clients are elsewhere in Lake and Porter counties; most engagements run fully remote through the portal. In-person always an option.
Same-day if you email it over. IRS notices are reviewed free for existing clients, and for non-clients at no charge for the initial look.