Question 1

What does Prairie Forge do?

Accepted Answer

Prairie Forge helps accounting and finance teams solve problems their current tools can't handle. We pair experienced CPAs with custom AI tools — running bookkeeping and month-end closes, supporting ERP migrations, building automation and custom tools, and documenting how your business actually runs. Our product, Blueprint, turns your company's institutional knowledge into a living, queryable layer your team can rely on. Based in Boise, Idaho and Chicago, Illinois.

Question 2

Who is Prairie Forge for?

Accepted Answer

Finance and accounting teams at three stages: early-stage companies ($500K–$5M revenue) that need reliable books and financial foundations; scaling companies ($2M–$20M) that need automation, custom tools, and part-time controller/CFO support; and established companies that need ERP migration, data cleanup, or flexible team augmentation. The common thread: teams whose current tools can't handle the problem in front of them.

Question 3

What is Blueprint?

Accepted Answer

Blueprint is our Institutional Knowledge as a Service product. It captures what your company knows — meeting transcripts, interview notes, SOPs, decision records, emails — and turns it into artifacts your team actually uses: process narratives and flowcharts, reconciliations, variance analysis, 13-week cash flows, operations scorecards, and month-end close trackers. Everything is source-cited, and the system is required to say [INSUFFICIENT DATA] rather than guess. See prairieforge.ai/blueprint.

Question 4

Can you help with physical inventory counts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We run physical inventory counts using OnHand, our own mobile count app — counters work from phones or tablets, progress is visible live, and variance analysis happens as counts land, not weeks later. We handle planning, count-day execution, and the post-count journal entries and reporting.

Question 5

What makes Prairie Forge different from other consultants?

Accepted Answer

Three things: (1) We combine CPA-level finance expertise with software engineering precision—we understand both the accounting and the code. (2) We build solutions that work with your existing systems, not replacements that require expensive change management. (3) We use value-based pricing with measurable outcomes, not hourly consulting that drags on forever.

Question 6

What is an Excel add-in?

Accepted Answer

An Excel add-in is custom software that lives inside Excel and extends what it can do. Think of it as giving Excel superpowers for your specific workflows. Examples include automating data validation, pulling live data from external systems, generating complex reports with one click, or enforcing company-specific business rules. Your team continues working in familiar Excel, but the add-in handles the repetitive, error-prone tasks automatically.

Question 7

Can you build automation for Google Sheets too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We build custom Google Apps Script solutions that automate Google Sheets workflows, just like we do for Excel. This includes custom functions, automated reporting, data syncing between systems, and workflow automation. Many of our clients use both Excel and Google Sheets, so we often build solutions that work across both platforms.

Question 8

What does a typical project look like?

Accepted Answer

Most projects follow this pattern: (1) Discovery - we map your current workflow and identify automation opportunities, (2) Prototype - we build a working version quickly so you can see results before committing fully, (3) Build - we develop the production solution with proper error handling and documentation, (4) Deploy - we roll it out to your team with training and support. Small projects take 2-4 weeks; larger automation platforms take 2-3 months. We also offer ongoing engagements for maintenance and enhancements.

Question 9

Do you offer ongoing support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many clients start with a project and then move to an ongoing engagement for support, enhancements, and new automation builds. Ongoing engagements are ideal if you want a dedicated partner who understands your systems and can respond quickly when needs arise. Clients on ongoing engagements receive priority support, monthly automation improvements, and strategic consulting on workflow optimization.

Question 10

What industries do you specialize in?

Accepted Answer

We work primarily with finance and accounting teams across multiple industries, but we've built solutions for SaaS companies, professional services firms, manufacturing, and nonprofits. The common thread is teams that rely heavily on Excel or Google Sheets and need to scale their operations without adding headcount. If your team spends hours each week on repetitive spreadsheet tasks, we can likely help.

Question 11

How much do your services cost?

Accepted Answer

We use value-based pricing — the price reflects the outcome an engagement delivers, not the hours it takes. Every engagement is priced up front after a discovery conversation: a fixed price for project work, or a flat monthly amount for ongoing engagements. You'll know the full cost before work begins — no hourly billing, no surprises.

Question 12

How do you charge - hourly or fixed-price?

Accepted Answer

We price the engagement, not the hours — value-based pricing, as a fixed price for project work or a flat monthly amount for ongoing engagements. We don't bill hourly because it creates the wrong incentives—we'd rather deliver fast, high-quality solutions than drag things out. After understanding your needs, we'll give you a clear price tied to the outcome. You'll know exactly what you're paying before work begins.

Question 13

Do you require a long-term contract?

Accepted Answer

No. Projects are one-time engagements with a clear scope and deliverable. Ongoing engagements are month-to-month with 30-day notice—you can pause or cancel anytime. We earn your continued business by delivering results, not by locking you into long contracts.

Question 14

How long does a typical project take?

Accepted Answer

Small automation projects take 2-4 weeks from kickoff to deployment. Medium-sized Excel add-ins or multi-workflow solutions take 6-10 weeks. Large automation platforms can take 2-3 months. Timeline depends on complexity, the number of systems we're integrating with, and how quickly you can provide feedback during the build process.

Question 15

What happens after the project is done?

Accepted Answer

You own the solution we build—it's yours to keep and modify. We provide documentation and training so your team can use and maintain it. Many clients move to an ongoing engagement for support, but it's optional. We're here if you need enhancements, bug fixes, or additional automation work, but you're not locked in.

Question 16

What technologies do you use?

Accepted Answer

For AI: Anthropic's Claude is our primary platform. We build with the Claude API and the Claude Agent SDK, and our own delivery work runs on Claude Code. Long-running AI jobs run on Trigger.dev, a durable job platform. For web applications: Next.js deployed on Vercel, with Supabase (Postgres) as the database layer — encrypted, access-controlled, SOC 2 compliant infrastructure. For mobile: our inventory count app is built with React Native (Expo) and runs on iOS and Android. For Excel: add-ins built on the Excel JavaScript API and Office.js — Windows, Mac, and web. For Google Sheets: Google Apps Script. For integrations: secure APIs into QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Xero, and other accounting systems, CRMs, and databases. For more on our AI tooling and data handling, see our AI Policy at prairieforge.ai/legal/ai-policy.

Question 17

Will your solutions work on Mac and Windows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our Excel add-ins use Office.js, which runs on Excel for Windows, Mac, and Excel on the web. We test across all platforms to ensure compatibility. Some legacy Excel features (VBA macros) only work on Windows, but we don't build with those—we use modern technologies that work everywhere.

Question 18

Do I need to install anything?

Accepted Answer

For Excel add-ins: Your team loads the add-in once through Excel's Add-ins menu, and it's available whenever they use Excel. For Google Sheets: We deploy scripts to your Google Workspace, and they run automatically. No external software to install, no IT approvals needed (in most cases). Everything runs inside the tools you already use.

Question 19

Is my data safe? Where does it go?

Accepted Answer

Security is a priority. Our solutions process data within your own systems—Excel, Google Sheets, or your own cloud infrastructure. When we do store client data, it's held in encrypted, access-controlled environments (see our AI Policy for specifics). All API connections use encrypted protocols (HTTPS/TLS), and we follow best practices for credential management. The AI platform we use (Anthropic's Claude) operates under commercial terms that prohibit training on client data. We never sell or share client data—full stop. For complete details, see our AI Policy at prairieforge.ai/legal/ai-policy.

Question 20

Can you integrate with our accounting software?

Accepted Answer

Most likely, yes. We've built integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Xero, and other major accounting platforms. If your system has an API (most modern software does), we can usually connect to it. During discovery, we'll verify that your specific systems can integrate and design the data flow accordingly.

Question 21

What do you need from us to get started?

Accepted Answer

We need a clear understanding of the problem you're trying to solve: What manual process is causing pain? Who on your team is affected? What does success look like? We'll also need access to sample data (anonymized if needed) and examples of your current workflows. The more context you provide, the better we can design a solution that actually fits your needs.

Question 22

Do you provide training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every project includes user training and documentation. We'll walk your team through how to use the solution, answer questions, and provide written guides they can reference later. We want your team to feel confident and capable, not dependent on us for basic tasks.

Question 23

What if we need changes after launch?

Accepted Answer

If it's a bug or something not working as specified, we fix it at no charge—that's warranty support. If you want to add new features or change the scope, we'll quote those enhancements separately. Many clients keep an ongoing engagement for continuous improvements, but you can also engage us project-by-project as needs arise.

Question 24

Can we see examples of your work?

Accepted Answer

Due to client confidentiality, we can't share live client solutions publicly. However, during a discovery call, we can discuss similar projects we've built (without revealing client names) and show you sample interfaces or demo functionality. We can also provide references from past clients who are willing to speak about their experience.

Question 25

Are you available for on-site work?

Accepted Answer

Most of our work is done remotely, which keeps costs down and allows us to serve clients across the US. We're based in Boise, Idaho, and can do on-site meetings for local clients or critical project milestones. For discovery and training, video calls work well and save everyone time and travel expense.

Question 26

How do you use AI in automation?

Accepted Answer

We use AI to handle tasks that require judgment, context, or interpretation—things that traditional automation struggles with. Examples: extracting data from unstructured emails or PDFs, categorizing transactions based on descriptions, generating draft summaries or reports, answering common questions from your team. We integrate AI into your existing workflows so it feels seamless, not like a separate tool to learn. We also run AI-assisted engagements end-to-end — month-end close checklists, reconciliations, variance analysis, and cash flow reporting where AI agents do the mechanical work and our CPAs review everything before it reaches you. All AI-generated outputs are reviewed by our team before delivery. For details on which tools we use and how we protect your data, see our AI Policy at prairieforge.ai/legal/ai-policy.

Question 27

Do I need to be technical to use your solutions?

Accepted Answer

No. We design solutions for finance and accounting professionals, not software engineers. If you can use Excel and follow basic instructions, you can use what we build. The whole point is to eliminate complexity, not add to it.

Question 28

What if the tool stops working or breaks?

Accepted Answer

We build solutions with error handling and logging, so if something goes wrong, we can diagnose it quickly. For clients on ongoing engagements, we monitor solutions proactively and address issues before you even notice them. For project clients, you can reach out anytime, and we'll provide support (warranty support is included for bugs; enhancements are quoted separately).

Question 29

Can your solutions scale as our company grows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We design solutions with growth in mind. Whether your data volume doubles or you add new team members, our automation is built to scale. If you outgrow a solution, we can extend it or rebuild it to handle larger complexity—but the initial investment isn't wasted; it evolves with your business.

Question 30

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Email us at connect@prairieforge.ai or use the contact form on our website. We'll schedule a 30-minute discovery call to understand your needs, discuss whether we're a good fit, and outline next steps. No pressure, no hard sell—just a straightforward conversation about your challenges and how we might help.

Question 31

What happens on the discovery call?

Accepted Answer

We'll ask about your current workflows, what's causing pain, and what you've already tried. You'll get a chance to ask questions about our process, pricing, and timeline. If it seems like a good fit, we'll outline a proposal or next steps. If we're not the right solution, we'll tell you honestly and point you in a better direction.

Question 32

Do you offer free consultations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The initial discovery call is free and typically takes 30-45 minutes. It's a chance for both of us to determine if there's a good fit. We don't charge for initial conversations—we want to make sure we can actually help before asking you to invest.

Question 33

What if we're not ready to commit yet?

Accepted Answer

That's fine. Some clients come to us before they're ready to pull the trigger, and that's okay. We can discuss your situation, provide high-level guidance, and stay in touch. When you're ready, we'll be here. No pressure, no pestering follow-ups.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Prairie Forge

What does Prairie Forge do?

What does Prairie Forge do?

Who is Prairie Forge for?

Who is Prairie Forge for?

What is Blueprint?

What is Blueprint?

Can you help with physical inventory counts?

Can you help with physical inventory counts?

What makes Prairie Forge different from other consultants?

What makes Prairie Forge different from other consultants?

Services & Solutions

What is an Excel add-in?

What is an Excel add-in?

Can you build automation for Google Sheets too?

Can you build automation for Google Sheets too?

What does a typical project look like?

What does a typical project look like?

Do you offer ongoing support?

Do you offer ongoing support?

What industries do you specialize in?

What industries do you specialize in?

Process & Pricing

How much do your services cost?

How much do your services cost?

How do you charge - hourly or fixed-price?

How do you charge - hourly or fixed-price?

Do you require a long-term contract?

Do you require a long-term contract?

How long does a typical project take?

How long does a typical project take?

What happens after the project is done?

What happens after the project is done?

Technical Details

What technologies do you use?

What technologies do you use?

Will your solutions work on Mac and Windows?

Will your solutions work on Mac and Windows?

Do I need to install anything?

Do I need to install anything?

Is my data safe? Where does it go?

Is my data safe? Where does it go?

Can you integrate with our accounting software?

Can you integrate with our accounting software?

Working Together

What do you need from us to get started?

What do you need from us to get started?

Do you provide training?

Do you provide training?

What if we need changes after launch?

What if we need changes after launch?

Can we see examples of your work?

Can we see examples of your work?

Are you available for on-site work?

Are you available for on-site work?

AI & Automation

How do you use AI in automation?

How do you use AI in automation?

Do I need to be technical to use your solutions?

Do I need to be technical to use your solutions?

What if the tool stops working or breaks?

What if the tool stops working or breaks?

Can your solutions scale as our company grows?

Can your solutions scale as our company grows?

Getting Started

How do I get started?

How do I get started?

What happens on the discovery call?

What happens on the discovery call?

Do you offer free consultations?

Do you offer free consultations?

What if we're not ready to commit yet?

What if we're not ready to commit yet?

Still have questions?