Built on experience. Grounded in partnership.
Counting House Bookkeeping was founded in July 2014 to give small businesses and non-profits the rigor of an in-house finance function — without the overhead of building one.
Corporate finance, then a firm built to serve.
Before launching the firm, Rick Nichols spent years in retail corporate inventory planning — managing roughly $250 million in inventory and guiding forecasting, promotions, and purchasing for major retailers. That work shaped the detail-oriented approach that still defines the practice.
CHB serves business owners who need dependable back-office help and non-profits navigating City of Chicago, Illinois, HUD, and federal grant requirements — relationships that often run for years, not a single engagement.
The approach is consistent: careful work, clear communication, and books that hold up to scrutiny — whether the reviewer is a CPA, a board, or a funder.
Experience before the firm.
Before Counting House opened, our founder managed large-scale retail inventory and forecasting — work that still informs how we handle client books.
- Pre-2014
Corporate Career
Retail inventory planning and forecasting — $250M in inventory under management.
- 2014
Firm Founded
Counting House Bookkeeping established to serve non-profits and small business owners.
- Today
In Practice
Bookkeeping, grant reporting, payroll, and advisory work across Illinois.
Good Books and Good Guidance
Good books and good guidance belong together.
Steady Partnership
Most of our clients have worked with us for years. The value isn't a quick fix — it's the same careful approach, month after month.
Financials Tell a Story
Good reporting gives an unbiased view of performance — the kind that supports planning, board conversations, and questions from your CPA or funders.
Practical Guidance
When the books call for judgment — not just upkeep — we weigh in on process and clearer reporting, not only the data entry.
The people behind your books.
Rick Nichols
Welcome! I’m Rick Nichols, the owner of Counting House Bookkeeping, LLC. Backed by a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Business Administration and over 12 years of industry experience, I partner with small businesses and nonprofits to simplify financial management. Whether your team relies on QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online, I handle the numbers with care, accuracy, and a warm personal touch. Let's make your bookkeeping simple and stress-free.
Azzel Fontanilla
Azzel Fontanilla brings seven years of accounting experience to Counting House Bookkeeping, specializing in government grant reporting, budgeting, financial tracking, and data reporting. A cum laude graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Finance, she is passionate about helping nonprofits and small businesses build stronger financial foundations through accurate, reliable bookkeeping.
See if we're a good fit.
A brief conversation is the best way to learn about your needs and how we work.