What Doherty and Associates does

Doherty and Associates is a privately held professional services firm founded in 2001 and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. The firm delivers integrated accounting, tax, bookkeeping, IRS representation, payroll, and virtual CFO/financial controller services to small and mid-size businesses, individuals, and not-for-profit organizations across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the broader Philadelphia metropolitan area. It serves clients ranging from startups to businesses generating over $45 million annually, with documented vertical specialization across nine industries including restaurants, healthcare, construction, government, real estate, retail, manufacturing, and not-for-profit sectors. The firm operates with 1-10 employees and maintains long-tenured client relationships, several spanning a decade or more, evidenced through customer testimonials.

The firm operates a paperless office using cloud-based accounting platforms, including QuickBooks and Ultra Tax, with secure document exchange via ShareFile. This technology stack supports both in-person engagement at the Wilmington headquarters and a fully virtual/remote service delivery model that enables the firm to serve clients across the United States and internationally. The product portfolio is unified rather than modular: bookkeeping and accounting services form the operational foundation, tax preparation and IRS representation provide compliance expertise, and virtual CFO services deliver strategic financial leadership. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to client needs, with a free initial consultation as the primary lead-conversion mechanism.

The go-to-market is sales-led and referral-driven, leveraging an active blog, local SEO targeting Philadelphia and Delaware/Pennsylvania keywords, organic social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and formal affiliations with industry associations including DELREIA, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the Middletown Area Chamber, the National Society of Accountants, and MSATP. Revenue is generated through professional service fees across multiple billing arrangements (monthly retainer, per-service, and ongoing engagement). The firm underwent a leadership transition in 2019, with Jim McMahon assuming the Owner and President role; Debria G. Doherty currently serves as President/CEO of the Controller/CFO services division. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investment, funding, or M&A activity.

Name

Doherty and Associates

Legal name

Doherty & Associates

Website

https://dohertyandassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Doherty and Associates is a Wilmington, Delaware-based accounting, tax, IRS representation, and virtual CFO services firm serving small and mid-size businesses across nine verticals in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the broader U.S. market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accounting Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Fee-Based Advisory (FSAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Accounting services
• Tax preparation
• Bookkeeping services
• IRS representation
• Virtual CFO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Accounting Services: Comprehensive accounting services including day-to-day bookkeeping, payroll management, financial reporting, and outsourced accounting department management. Revenue is generated through professional service fees tailored to client size and service complexity.
2. Tax Preparation and Planning: Full-service tax preparation for individuals and businesses, including corporate tax, personal tax, sales & use tax, gross receipts tax, franchise tax, and estimated income tax. Real-time tax planning services provided year-round with electronic filing capabilities.
3. Virtual CFO/Financial Controller Services: Outsourced financial controller and CFO services providing strategic financial leadership, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management. Cost-efficient alternative to hiring full-time internal financial leadership.
4. Bookkeeping Services: Virtual and remote bookkeeping services including accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliation, payroll processing, and financial statement preparation. Monthly retainer or per-service pricing models.
5. IRS Representation Services: Tax resolution and IRS audit representation services including tax negotiation, penalty abatement, installment agreements, and federal tax lien management.
6. Business Consulting: Strategic financial consulting including business planning, growth strategies, incorporation services, and WBE/MBE/DBE certification assistance. Ongoing advisory engagement model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Doherty & Associates is a comprehensive accounting, tax, and financial services firm that provides outsourced accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation and planning, IRS representation, virtual CFO/financial controller, business consulting, and personal finance management services. The firm operates as a paperless office using cloud-based platforms to deliver both in-person and virtual services to small and mid-size businesses, larger enterprises, government entities, non-profits, and high-net-worth individuals across multiple industries.

Product overview

Doherty & Associates is a comprehensive accounting and financial services firm offering a portfolio of integrated professional services rather than a single software product. The core offering centers on accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation services, supported by specialized Virtual CFO/Financial Controller services for strategic financial leadership. Additional services include IRS representation, business consulting, payroll processing, and personal finance management. The firm delivers services through both in-person and virtual/remote delivery models, with specialization across industries including restaurants, healthcare, manufacturing, construction, real estate, retail, and non-profits. The portfolio operates as a unified service offering where bookkeeping and accounting form the operational foundation, tax preparation and IRS representation provide compliance expertise, and Virtual CFO services deliver strategic financial leadership—all coordinated to serve clients from startups to businesses generating over $45 million annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accounting Services Comprehensive accounting solutions including outsourced and remote accounting, bookkeeping, payroll management, financial reporting and analysis, serving businesses from startups to established companies in Philadelphia and the Delaware region.
• Bookkeeping Services Virtual and remote bookkeeping including accounts payable/receivable management, payroll processing, bank reconciliation, expense categorization, monthly financial statement preparation, and tax return preparation.
• Tax Preparation Services Real-time tax planning and preparation for individuals and businesses including corporate taxes, sales and use tax, gross receipts tax, franchise tax, estimated income tax, and electronic filing.
• IRS Representation Services Complete IRS and state tax agency representation including tax negotiation, settlement, audit defense, wage garnishment prevention, tax lien release, and penalty abatement for individuals and businesses.
• IRS Tax Penalty Services Expert tax relief and resolution services helping clients reduce or remove IRS penalties through penalty abatement, first time penalty relief, reasonable cause relief, and payment plan options.
• Virtual CFO / Financial Controller Services Outsourced financial leadership providing cash flow management, financial planning, budgeting, risk management, strategic planning, job cost analysis, and GAAP compliance without hiring a full-time executive.
• Business Consulting Services Strategic financial consulting including business planning, growth plans, incorporation packages, registered agent services, and WBE/MBE/DBE certification assistance for small to mid-size businesses.
• Personal Finance Management Comprehensive personal asset management including bill payments, banking, retirement planning, estate planning, trust management, fiduciary income tax returns, and coordination with financial advisors.
• CPA Services Certified public accountant services for businesses and individuals including year-round bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, tax planning, IRS representation, and audit protection.
• Payroll Services Complete payroll processing including electronic pay stubs, direct deposit, quarterly and yearly payroll tax returns, W-2s and 1099s, and compliance management.
• Remote CFO Services Virtual chief financial officer services providing financial oversight, capital expenditure guidance, strategic planning, cash flow optimization, and business advisory support for Wilmington businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tax refund of over $20,000 achieved through expert tax knowledge
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and minor.

• DELREIA (Delaware Real Estate Investors Association)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoherty & Associates maintains an active partnership with DELREIA, participating in association meetings and providing educational content on tax issues and real estate investment protection. The firm guides clients through real estate tax matters and business protection strategies through this affiliation.
• Middletown Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce supporting local business community engagement and networking opportunities in the Delaware region.
• National Society of Accountants (NSA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the National Society of Accountants, providing access to industry resources, continuing education, and professional development standards for accounting professionals.
• Delaware State Chamber of CommercemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, supporting business advocacy and economic development initiatives across Delaware.
• Maryland Society of Accounting Technology Professionals (MSATP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated professional organization providing technology and accounting best practice resources for professional development.
• Northern Delaware Cultural Consumer Co-op (NCCCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting local cultural and consumer initiatives in northern Delaware.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kreischer Miller: Horsham, PA-based regional CPA and business advisory firm serving closely held businesses in the mid-Atlantic with accounting, tax, and outsourced CFO services—directly comparable geography, size, and service mix to Doherty & Associates.
• Concannon Miller: Pennsylvania-based regional CPA firm providing accounting, tax, audit, and advisory services to SMBs and mid-market clients across multiple verticals—closely analogous business model, regional footprint, and target customer profile.
• Boyer & Ritter: Central Pennsylvania CPA and business advisory firm serving small to mid-size businesses with accounting, tax, audit, and consulting—overlapping in regional market, vertical mix (healthcare, construction, manufacturing, nonprofits), and outsourced finance offerings.
• Belfint Lyons Shuman: Wilmington, Delaware CPA firm providing accounting, tax, audit, and advisory services to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits in the same local market—directly competing with Doherty for DE-based clients and government/nonprofit engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Withum: Mid-Atlantic-headquartered national CPA and advisory firm with significantly larger scale; serves SMB and mid-market clients across similar verticals with accounting, tax, and outsourced CFO services—a broader incumbent competitor.
• Cherry Bekaert: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving mid-market clients with tax, audit, and outsourced finance services across similar verticals—a larger, multi-region competitor with overlapping SMB and government/nonprofit practices.
• RSM US: Global mid-market-focused accounting firm providing audit, tax, and consulting to U.S. middle-market companies—a large-scale incumbent offering overlapping outsourced CFO/controller services to similarly sized clients.
• BDO USA: Top-5 U.S. accounting firm with DE/PA offices serving middle-market clients across the same verticals with tax, audit, and advisory—a broad incumbent competitor for larger clients Doherty serves.

Emerging players

• Pilot: Tech-enabled bookkeeping, accounting, and CFO services company targeting venture-backed and growth-stage SMBs—an emerging, software-native competitor pressing on the same outsourced bookkeeping/CFO niche.
• Xendoo: Cloud-based bookkeeping and financial management platform serving small businesses with subscription-based monthly accounting—an emerging tech-enabled peer competing for Doherty's core bookkeeping and virtual CFO customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dohertyandassoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/DohertyAssociates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2227776

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Doherty and Associates