Basic
Fees start at $950
- Individual return + 1 state return
- Return review video by Loom
- Email-only help desk
- Tax projection not included
Virtual CPA firm · Durham, NC
The CPA firm built by an entrepreneur, for owners ready to scale.
Bookkeeping, tax planning, tax returns and IRS help from a team that has run businesses of its own. You get clear numbers, a real plan, and someone who picks up the phone.
- Licensed in NC & NY
- Xero Certified Advisor
- Tax packages from $950
Licensed in North Carolina & New YorkCredentials & partnerships
The track list
Two sides. One firm that knows both.
Most owners need help on both sides of the record: the business and the personal return it feeds. Flip it over.
Small and mid-sized businesses get services designed to increase productivity and decrease tax liability.
- A1 Small business accountingAccurate monthly books and financial statements you can make decisions from.
- A2 Outsourced accounting & bookkeepingHand off the day-to-day bookkeeping and get your evenings back.
- A3 Outsourced CFOCash flow, budgets and forecasts from a CFO-level advisor, without the full-time salary.
- A4 Business tax planning & preparationStrategies built to lower your tax liability, then returns filed with attention to detail.
- A5 Payroll servicesPay your team accurately and on time, every pay period.
- A6 Cloud accounting & XeroSetup, training and support from a Xero Certified Advisor.
- A7 New business advisoryEntity choice, setup and the systems a new company needs from day one.
- A8 Business consultingAdvice on sales, marketing and operations, not just the ledger.
Individuals get tax planning, tax preparation and tax problem resolution, with the same attention to detail.
- B1 Individual tax preparationYour federal return and one state return, reviewed with you on a short Loom video.
- B2 Tax planningTaxes shouldn’t be something you only think about once a year. Plan ahead and keep more.
- B3 IRS problem resolutionBack taxes, unfiled returns, liens, levies, wage garnishments, payment plans and penalty relief.
- B4 Tax packages from $950Basic, Plus and Premium packages with clear prices and response times.
Liner notes
From a hot dog wagon in Queens to your books.
James E. Heyward grew up working his family’s hot dog wagon and doing bookkeeping in his father’s practice. Before he was a CPA he was a DJ, a marketer and a record label owner. That is why the advice goes beyond the ledger, into sales, marketing and operations.
“As an entrepreneur myself, I have a unique perspective on running a business.”
- 1982
Oscar L. Heyward founds A-OH Business Services in New York after five years as a senior accountant in audit and tax.
- 1995
James E. Heyward, a Duke student and WXDU mixshow DJ, launches TakeTwo Entertainment, a marketing and DJ company.
- 1999
He starts Madd Waxx Records and learns first-hand what it takes to run a small business.
- 2008
After public accounting and a publicly traded multinational, James earns his CPA license.
- 2010
Heyward CPA launches in a spare bedroom to help small businesses grow.
- Today
A virtual CPA firm based in Durham, licensed in North Carolina and New York.
Packages & prices
Know the price before you start.
Published packages with clear inclusions and response times. Every tax package includes your individual return and one state return, a Loom video walking you through it, and access to the online portal.
Plus
Fees start at $1,500
- Individual return + 1 state return
- Return review video by Loom
- Email & call help desk, 48-hour response
- Annual tax projection & estimation
Premium
Fees start at $2,500
- Individual return + 1 state return
- Return review video by Loom
- Email & call help desk, 24-hour response
- Quarterly tax projection & estimation
- 30-minute meeting to discuss your return
For business owners
BYOB Be Your Own Bookkeeper
Minimum monthly investment $299
- Monthly bookkeeping monitoring
- Quarterly review meeting
- 12 months of Xero + Hubdoc included
- Accounting system setup & Xero training
Industries
Accounting tuned to how your industry gets paid.
No matter what industry you’re in, the firm pairs professionalism with a highly customized approach to your accounting and tax needs. And yes, a CPA who once spun records really does understand mobile DJs.
All industries servedThe crew
Real people, with 30+ years of entrepreneurial and accounting experience.
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James E. Heyward, CPA
Principal Associate
Founder. Duke graduate, former DJ and record label owner, CPA since 2008.
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Oscar L. Heyward
Founding Associate
Almost forty years advising small businesses; former controller and CUNY adjunct professor.
-
Tanya D. Ayscue, Ph.D.
Operations Manager
Keeps client work moving. With the firm since 2015.
-
Nicole R. Cooper, MBA
Senior Associate
More than two decades of accounting experience. Invoice Sherpa Advisor.
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Kory Franklin
Director of Business Development
Leads BizTherapy group coaching and co-hosts HEYWARD CPA LIVE!
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LaTarsha Pough
Marketing Coordinator
Duke and UNC graduate. Co-host of the Financial Flipside podcast.
Free resources
Stop flying blind with your business finances.
The Heyward CPA newsletter
Bi-weekly insights for owners ready to scale past six figures: tips, tax due dates, tax strategies and reminders for the next livestream.
Subscribe freeFrom the blog
- Unfiled Business Returns: A No-Judgment Guide to Getting Current
- 7 Mistakes You’re Making with 2026 Tax Planning (and How to Fix Them)
- Hustle vs. Strategy: Do You Have a Northstar Number?
Tax center & calculators
Track your refund, run financial calculators and browse a library of tax and accounting articles.
Open the resource libraryBizTherapy group coaching
A 12-week group coaching program for owners, led by Kory Franklin.
Watch the overviewQuestions, answered
Before you book.
Do I need to come into an office to work with Heyward CPA?
No. Heyward CPA is a virtual CPA firm, so meetings, document sharing and reviews happen online and by phone. The firm is based in Durham, North Carolina, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
How much does tax preparation cost?
Published tax packages start at $950 (Basic), $1,500 (Plus) and $2,500 (Premium). Each includes your individual return and one state return, a Loom video walking through your return, and access to the online portal. Plus and Premium add tax projections and faster call support.
What is the BYOB (Be Your Own Bookkeeper) package?
BYOB is for owners who want to keep their own books with a CPA in their corner. For a minimum of $299 a month you get monthly bookkeeping monitoring, a quarterly review meeting, 12-month subscriptions to Xero and Hubdoc, plus accounting system setup and Xero training.
Can you help if I owe the IRS or have unfiled returns?
Yes. IRS problem resolution covers back taxes, unfiled returns, audits, liens and levies, wage garnishments, installment agreements, offers in compromise and penalty abatement.
Do you work with Xero?
Yes. Heyward CPA is a Xero Certified Advisor and helps businesses set up, learn and get more from cloud accounting.
Which states is Heyward CPA licensed in?
Heyward CPA is licensed in North Carolina and New York.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Heyward CPA offers a free initial consultation to individuals and businesses. Book online or call to get started.
Watch & listen
Tune in to HEYWARD CPA LIVE!
James E. Heyward and Kory Franklin break down taxes, entity choice and growth for small business owners. Start with the episode on when to move from Schedule C to an S-Corp.
- Why accounting & bookkeeping are your business growth engine
- Lonely at the top: implementation, patience and entrepreneurship
Drop the needle
Get a CPA in your corner this week.
Book a free consultation to talk through your books, your taxes or an IRS letter. Prefer to talk now? Call the office during business hours.