Wedding & event vendors

Books and taxes for balloon artists and decorators.

Helium that swings in price, balloon inventory, install assistants for big garlands, and the buffer stock every install needs for the ones that pop. Gus sorts all of it, an accountant checks every transaction, and you get one number a month.

Book a call What we handle
  • From $197 a month
  • An accountant on every transaction
  • Cancel whenever
AprilExample month
$3,900
what you made

April came in at $3,900. The new arch frame is reusable for every install, so I logged it as equipment, not a one-time supply.

  • April 12 garland install balanceInstallation fees
  • Helium tank refillHelium and gas
  • Wholesale balloon orderBalloon inventory
  • Install assistant feeInstall labor
  • Balloon arch frame purchaseEquipment and frames
Money in$9,800
Money out$5,900
Set aside for taxes$850
An example month. Yours will have your numbers.

Why your books are different

A balloon artist's books go wrong in the same handful of places.

A generalist sees supply receipts and installation invoices. Your business is helium prices that swing, buffer stock for the balloons that always pop, and a reusable arch frame that isn't a one-time buy. When the books do not know that, your real margin gets lost in the noise.

  1. 1

    Helium costs get treated like a flat supply line

    Helium prices and tank rental fees can swing, and lumped into general supplies, you cannot tell how much helium alone is really costing you against what you charge per installation.

    What we doKeeps helium and gas costs in their own line, apart from balloon inventory.
  2. 2

    Buffer stock for pops looks like waste

    Every install plans for a few balloons popping during setup, and that extra stock is a real cost of doing the job, not a mistake, but untracked, your margin looks worse than expected.

    What we doTies buffer stock costs to the install, so it reads as a normal cost of the job, not an unexplained loss.
  3. 3

    A reusable frame looks like a one-time supply

    An arch frame or balloon wall structure gets reused install after install, and filed as a supply, it wrecks the month it is bought and misses the chance to write it off differently.

    What we doFlags reusable frames and structures as equipment.
  4. 4

    Install assistants blend into your own pay

    A big garland or balloon wall install needs an extra set of hands for a few hours, and if that pay is not kept apart from your own take, you cannot tell what a big job actually cost you to produce.

    What we doTies assistant pay to the specific install it supported.
  5. 5

    The deposit is not spending money yet

    A client books an install months out and pays a deposit, and if it is treated like this month's earned income, the books overstate what has actually been worked.

    What we doFlags booked deposits for installs not yet done, so you always know how much of the balance is spoken for.

Your categories

The categories Gus keeps for a balloon decor business.

Set up once for how you get paid and what you spend. You never pick a category. He does, and an accountant checks it.

Money in

  • Installation feesThe charge for a garland, arch, or balloon wall install.
  • Booking depositsHeld when a client books, often months out.
  • Garland and arch packagesBundled installations sold as a set price.
  • Custom color matchingFees for matching a client's exact palette.
  • Delivery and setup feesCharged apart from the balloon decor itself.

Money out

  • Balloon inventoryLatex and foil balloons bought wholesale.
  • Helium and gasTank refills and rental fees.
  • Install laborAssistants hired for bigger installs.
  • Equipment and framesArches, stands, and structures reused install after install.
  • Vehicle and deliveryGetting supplies and finished pieces to the venue.
  • MarketingInstagram ads, website, and bridal shows.
  • InsuranceLiability coverage for on-site work.

What we watch for you

  • Booked deposits on hand

    How much of the balance belongs to installs not yet done, so it is never mistaken for spare cash.

  • Helium cost per install

    What gas alone is costing against what you charge, since prices can swing.

  • Cost per install

    Labor and buffer stock against what each job actually billed.

  • The set-aside

    What you will owe, tracked every month, so April is a number you already knew.

Ask Gus

Things balloon artists ask Gus.

Text him like you would text anybody. He answers in plain English, and when a question is above his pay grade, an accountant looks and gets back to you.

Helium prices went up this month. How do I know if I'm still pricing right?

I keep helium and gas costs in their own line, so you can see exactly what it is costing against what you charge per install.

A few balloons always pop during a big install. Is that a loss?

It is a normal cost of the job. I tie buffer stock to the install itself, so it reads as part of doing the work, not an unexplained loss.

I bought a new arch frame that I'll reuse for every job. Is that a supply expense?

No, that is equipment. I flag it so it does not wreck the month, and the accountant decides how it is written off.

The tax side

The tax side of a balloon decor business.

Most of what goes wrong here is treating reusable gear the same as everyday supplies, and letting a swinging helium bill hide the real story.

What your return has to get right

Your accountant signs it, so it gets done right the first time.

  • Reusable frames and structuresArch frames, balloon walls, and other reusable equipment are usually treated as business assets rather than a one-time supply cost. The accountant decides how it gets written off.
  • Contractor 1099sAn install assistant not on payroll gets a 1099-NEC if paid $2,000 or more in 2026, due January 31. Gus keeps that list running.
  • Sales tax on balloon decorMost states tax balloon decor and installations as tangible goods or a taxable service. Rules vary by state, so the accountant checks what applies to you.
  • The pass-through deductionMost owner-operators can deduct up to 20 percent of business profit off their taxable income. It comes out right when the books are right all year.

Deductions balloon artists and decorators miss

Your bookkeeper knows what to look for in your statements. You never have to.

  • Balloon inventory
  • Helium and gas refills
  • Install assistant fees
  • Arch frames and stands
  • Vehicle and delivery costs
  • Liability insurance
  • Website and Instagram ads
  • Bridal show booth fees
  • Balloon pumps and tools
  • Storage bins and organization
  • Business cards and branding
  • Card processing fees

General information about 2026 federal rules, not advice for your business. Your accountant looks at your actual numbers before anything gets filed.

All year, not just April

A balloon decor business's year, kept every month.

Installs pick up around spring and fall weddings and holidays in between. Gus keeps the return on its own schedule. Every month in between, your bookkeeper closes the books and speaks up the moment something looks off.

  1. January

    Plan the year

    Last year's return gets started, the 1099 list for install assistants is ready, and a monthly set-aside is planned before booking season floods your calendar.

  2. April

    Filed and signed

    Your return is filed and signed right as the spring install season hits, so tax season never competes with your busiest weekends.

  3. July

    Halfway check

    Where you stand midyear, what you will owe, and whether this year's install count is on pace.

  4. October

    Before the last fall installs

    The busiest fall dates are still ahead. Gus looks at equipment worth buying before December and what the winter months need to cover.

What you get

Starts at$197a month

What you pay depends on what your business needs, and it does not move after that, busy season or slow. No hourly bills, no surprise invoices, no setup fee.

Book a call
  • Monthly bookkeeping

    Every transaction sorted into categories set up for balloon artists and decorators. You never categorize a thing.

  • An accountant checks every transaction

    Real review, every month, before your books close. Not a spot check.

  • Your business tax return, filed

    Prepared, reviewed, and signed by that same accountant every year.

  • The monthly number

    What you made, what you spent, what to set aside for taxes.

  • Your own bookkeeper

    A real person assigned to your business, in the app whenever you need them. No hold music.

  • On your books all year

    Every month, not just in April. Your team speaks up whenever something is worth your attention.

  • Cancel any time

    No contract. No cancellation call. Your books are yours.

Straight answers

Questions balloon artists ask first.

Does helium get tracked separately from balloon inventory?

Yes. Helium and gas stay in their own line, so you can see exactly what it costs against what you charge per install.

Are popped balloons during setup a loss?

No. Buffer stock is tied to the install itself, so it reads as a normal cost of the job, not an unexplained loss.

Is a reusable arch frame a supply expense?

No. It is treated as equipment, and the accountant decides how much of the cost to write off in the year you buy it.

Can Gus track pay for an install assistant I bring on big jobs?

Yes. Their pay is tied to the specific install, so you can see the real cost of any job that needed extra hands.

My books are behind from a busy season. Can Gus catch up?

Yes. Send what you have and Gus sorts it. Most artists know where they stand within a week.

Is a real accountant checking my books?

Yes. You get your own bookkeeper, Gus does the first pass on every transaction, and an accountant checks every one before your month closes. That same accountant prepares, signs, and files your business return. Goatkeeper is not a CPA firm, and we never pretend a person looked when they did not.

What does it cost, and can I cancel?

It starts at $197 a month, depending on what your business needs. No setup fee, no hourly bills, no contract. Cancel any time from the app, and your books go with you.

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Book a call

Pick a time. That's the whole signup.

Fifteen minutes with a real person on our team. They look at where your books are, tell you straight what it takes to get caught up, and get you set up on the spot if it fits.

  • $197 a month to start
  • An accountant on every transaction
  • Cancel whenever