51 Buckets LLC

Welcome

As a business owner you don’t need more data — you need clarity, control, and a financial system that actually drives growth. 51 Buckets LLC delivers that by combining accurate financials with the strategic insight normally reserved for full‑time CFOs.

We are based in Burnsville MN, just south of the river in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. But we help small- and mid‑sized businesses across the country understand their numbers, strengthen margins, stabilize cash flow, and make confident decisions. Our work goes beyond bookkeeping: we build financial systems that support scale, reduce chaos, and give owners the visibility they’ve been missing.

What we do:

• Bookkeeping and payroll that is fast, accurate, and built on clean processes
• Financial reporting that turns raw data into actionable insight
• CFO services that help owners grow revenue, improve margins, and control expenses
• Business consulting focused on systems, efficiency, and operational clarity

For some clients, we operate as their outsourced finance department — managing sales data, payroll, reconciliations, and month‑end close. For others, we provide targeted support where it matters most: cleanup, reporting, analysis, or strategic guidance.

Our differentiator is depth. Accurate books are the foundation, but the real value comes from understanding what the numbers mean. We analyze trends, identify margin opportunities, flag risks, and help owners make decisions that move the business forward.

Technical expertise: We specialize in QuickBooks (Online and Desktop) and handle everything from file cleanup and repair to inventory tracking, fixed assets, year‑end adjustments, custom reporting, and app integrations. Our systems leverage automation and technology to deliver speed, accuracy, and consistency.

The outcome: You, the business owner, get clean numbers, clear insight, and a financial strategy that supports growth — without needing a full‑time CFO.

Let us solve one problem for you right now.

About Sean

Hi! I’m Sean Harding — a Fractional CFO and Bookkeeper based in Burnsville, MN. Thanks to the internet, I work with business owners all over the country. I handle their bookkeeping and financial leadership, so they can stay focused on what they do best: running and growing their businesses.

My career path has been anything but linear — journalism, graphic design, programming, customer service, sales, marketing, management, financial analysis, and now bookkeeping and CFO services. That wide range of experience is exactly why I’m effective. I understand how businesses actually operate, how they make money, and where they lose it. Helping business owners improve their financial clarity and profitability is genuinely fulfilling for me.

For the past several years, I’ve worked exclusively with small‑ and medium‑sized businesses. During that time, I’ve built and refined systems for bookkeeping, financial strategy, and decision‑making that help owners increase profit, reduce expenses, and make smarter moves with confidence.

I was born and raised in suburban Minnesota. I’ve traveled to 44 states and lived in 12, and those experiences shaped how I see business, people, and opportunity. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me at the gym (probably deadlifting), or nerding out over the MLB and the WWE.

Services

Bookkeeping & Payroll Services

As your outsourced accounting department, our job is simple: take the entire financial function off your plate so you can focus on running the business. That starts with accurate, timely bookkeeping — the foundation of every tax filing, financial report, and strategic decision you make.

Bad books lead to bad decisions. Good books create clarity, confidence, and control. That’s why your bookkeeping is handled directly by a Fractional CFO, not an entry‑level clerk.

We use QuickBooks Online as our primary platform because it’s the industry leader for small businesses — powerful, flexible, and capable of handling 100% of your accounting needs. It integrates with time tracking, expense management, bill pay, and dozens of other tools that streamline your workflow and reduce errors. For businesses that require specialized features, we also support QuickBooks Desktop. We are Advanced Certified ProAdvisors in both versions.

Our bookkeeping & accounting services include:

• Bank & credit card coding
• Bank & credit card reconciliation
• Accounts receivable
• Accounts payable
• Payroll processing & tax filing
• Job costing
• Inventory tracking
• Fixed asset management
• Sales tax accounting & filing
• Financial reporting
• Management reporting
• 1099 filings

CFO Services & Business Consulting

When your bookkeeping and financial leadership are handled by the same professional, you get something most small businesses never experience: high‑level decision‑making built directly on accurate numbers.

As your Fractional CFO, we provide strategic financial leadership without the cost of a full‑time executive. You get clarity, direction, and confidence — all on a part‑time, scalable basis.

Key benefits include:

• Cost‑effectiveness
• Flexibility & scalability
• Strategic growth & forecasting
• Improved cash flow
• Board & investor communication
• Objective, unbiased advice
• Reduced risk

The result: You get a modern, remote financial system that runs smoothly, produces accurate data, and supports smarter decisions — without the overhead of a full‑time CFO.

Contact