Bookkeeping Services in Reston, VA
Reston is home to a dense cluster of technology companies and federal contractors, from offices around Reston Town Center to the mixed use development around Reston Station. The smaller firms in that orbit, and the consultants, practices and nonprofits around them, need books that hold up when a prime contractor, a lender or a board asks questions. Our team in Ashburn keeps them current every month, remotely.
- Fairfax County license by March 1
- Business property return by May 1
- 4% food and beverage tax (restaurants)
- Costs tracked by contract
Handled remotely from our Ashburn base. No office visits needed.
Doing business in Reston
Reston is not a town. It is an unincorporated planned community in Fairfax County, so its businesses file local taxes with the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration. It sits on both sides of the Dulles Toll Road and has Silver Line stations at Wiehle-Reston East, opened in 2014, and Reston Town Center.
Fairfax County's Economic Development Authority lists Oracle, VMware, Carahsoft, Google and Microsoft among companies in Reston, and federal contracting runs through much of the local economy. That work flows down to smaller firms: subcontractors, consultants and service providers that need clean numbers by contract, not just a year end total.
Reston's business areas keep changing, from Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Plaza, the community's first village center, to the mixed use redevelopment of Isaac Newton Square. Professional practices, nonprofits and restaurants fill those spaces alongside the contractors.
Bookkeeping services for Reston businesses
Bookkeeping by contract
Revenue and costs tracked by contract or project, with direct and indirect costs kept separate.
Learn moreQuickBooks Online setup and review
Certified ProAdvisors set up or repair your file so your reports answer what primes and lenders ask.
Learn morePayroll
Payroll for salaried and hourly staff, with Virginia, DC and Maryland withholding for teams spread across the region.
Learn moreTax planning
Owner pay, S corp and pass through entity tax planning before year end, not after it.
Learn moreFairfax County business taxes in Reston
Every Reston business, home based ones included, follows Fairfax County rules. There is no town layer, and since January 2026 the county's food and beverage tax applies to Reston restaurants.
| Tax | What to know | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Business license (BPOL) | Required for every business, including home based ones. New businesses register within 75 days of starting. Late filing carries a 10% penalty. | March 1 |
| Business personal property | A return listing the furniture, computers and equipment your business owns. | Return May 1, tax October 5 |
| Food and beverage tax | 4% on prepared food and drinks since January 1, 2026, filed monthly. | 20th of each month |
Good to know: The county food and beverage tax is new for 2026. Reston restaurants and cafes need to collect it and record it separately from Virginia sales tax so both returns tie to the books.
Rates and dates change. Confirm current figures with the locality before filing, or let us handle it.
Reston businesses we work with
QuickBooks Online or Unanet?
Many small contractors start in QuickBooks Online and move to Unanet as contracts grow. We work in both, so your bookkeeper does not change when your system does. For specialized work such as indirect rate models or audits, we coordinate with a specialist.
Getting started with Quick Bookkeeping
- 01
Discovery call
We review your contracts, billing method and current books, then quote a flat monthly fee.
- 02
Setup and catch up
We connect your accounts, set up contracts or projects and bring any past months current.
- 03
Monthly close and reporting
Reconciled accounts, a profit and loss by contract or client, and a balance sheet every month.
- 04
Ready at year end
Books ready for your tax return, your county filings and any questions from lenders or partners.
Why Reston owners choose Quick Bookkeeping
- Contractor ready booksCosts tracked by contract from the start, in QuickBooks Online or Unanet.
- Certified ProAdvisors, GoldMore than 30 years of combined bookkeeping and tax experience.
- Rated 5.0 on GoogleFrom 28 reviews by clients across Northern Virginia.
- Remote by designA secure portal, phone and video meetings, and answers within one business day.
Reston bookkeeping questions
Is Reston its own town?
No. Reston is an unincorporated planned community in Fairfax County, so the business license, business property and food and beverage taxes all go to Fairfax County.
Does my Reston restaurant need to collect the new food and beverage tax?
Yes. Fairfax County's 4% food and beverage tax took effect January 1, 2026, with returns due monthly by the 20th. We record it separately from Virginia sales tax so both returns match your books.
Do I need a Fairfax County license for a home based business in Reston?
Yes. Fairfax County requires a business license for home based businesses too. New businesses register within 75 days of starting.
Can you keep our books in Unanet?
Yes. We work in both QuickBooks Online and Unanet, and can help you judge when moving to Unanet makes sense.
Do you handle DCAA audits or indirect rate calculations?
No. We keep clean, contract level books and work alongside a specialist when you need rate models, incurred cost submissions or audit support.
Serving Reston and nearby communities
We work with businesses throughout Reston and in neighboring Great Falls to the north, Wolf Trap to the east and Floris to the southwest. Those unincorporated communities follow the same Fairfax County rules as Reston. The Town of Herndon, just west, has its own license and meals tax, covered on our Herndon page.
See all areas we serveReady for clear books in Reston?
Tell us about your business or tax situation and get a quote, usually within one business day.