Tangled multi-entity books
An LLC per property, a holding company, a management entity — without clean intercompany entries, the consolidated picture is a guess and no single property’s return is clear.
California · Real Estate Accounting
California real estate accounting that keeps every entity — and every trust dollar — straight.
California investors, brokerages, and property managers run on multiple entities and other people’s money. We keep clean multi-entity ledgers, handle broker and property-management trust accounting, track Prop 13 basis and 1031 documentation, and structure agent commissions — by a named QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
Bookkeeping & advisory · Fixed-fee · written scope in 3 days
§The short version
TechBrot delivers QuickBooks ProAdvisor real estate accounting for California investors, brokerages, and property managers — multi-entity ledgers, broker and property-management trust accounting, 1031 and Prop 13 basis tracking, and agent commission structures, in your own QuickBooks file. The full California real estate summary is below.
Maintained by TechBrot Inc. California references (Prop 13 basis; 1031; broker/PM trust accounting) reflect rules current as of the date this page was last updated; TechBrot does not file California taxes or hold client trust funds.
§In one paragraph
California real estate accounting, plainly.
TechBrot provides real estate accounting for California investors, brokerages, and property managers — rental owners, syndications, brokerages, and PM firms — in your own QuickBooks file by a named QuickBooks ProAdvisor. The work is keeping multiple entities clean, handling other people’s money correctly, and tracking the California basis details your CPA needs.
California makes the second and third parts matter. Broker and property-management trust accounting must keep client and security-deposit funds segregated and reconciled (DRE-aware). Prop 13 basis tracking and 1031 exchange documentation drive the tax outcome, and passive-activity and agent-commission structures shape the entity books. We keep all of it clean and CPA-ready — we do not hold or disburse your trust funds; we keep the records straight.
§Quick answers
California real estate accounting, in five questions.
What is California real estate accounting?
Keeping clean multi-entity ledgers, handling broker and property-management trust accounting, and tracking Prop 13 basis, 1031 documentation, and agent commissions for California investors, brokerages, and property managers.
Do you handle real estate trust accounting?
Yes — we keep broker and property-management trust records segregated and reconciled (security deposits, client funds), DRE-aware, so the trust ledger ties. We keep the records; we do not hold, control, or disburse your client trust funds — that stays in your trust account under your control.
How do you handle multiple entities?
Real estate runs on entities — an LLC per property, holding companies, syndications. We keep each entity’s books clean with proper intercompany entries so your CPA can consolidate and each property’s return is visible. Every California LLC also owes the $800 franchise tax, which we accrue.
What about Prop 13 and 1031 exchanges?
We track the Prop 13 assessed basis and keep clean records for 1031 like-kind exchanges so your CPA has what they need at tax time. The exchange structuring and the tax positions are your CPA’s and qualified intermediary’s; we keep the books behind them accurate.
Do you file California taxes?
No — we keep the books CPA-ready and coordinate with your CPA, who files. We’re independent, don’t hold trust funds, and don’t represent clients before the FTB or DRE.
§Why California real estate books break
Three places California real estate books break.
Multi-entity, trust dollars, and California basis rules are where it goes wrong. Knowing which one you’re in tells us where to start.
Trust dollars not reconciled
Security deposits and client funds must stay segregated and reconciled. A trust ledger that doesn’t tie is a compliance problem brokers and PMs can’t afford.
Basis & 1031 records missing
Prop 13 basis and 1031 exchange documentation drive the tax outcome — and they’re exactly what’s missing when the books were never built for real estate.
§What TechBrot handles
California real estate accounting, done by an expert.
Every engagement is scoped to your entities and properties, delivered in your own QuickBooks file by a named QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
Multi-entity ledgers
Clean books per entity with proper intercompany entries so your CPA can consolidate and each property is visible.
QuickBooks accountant →Trust accounting (records)
Broker and property-management trust records segregated and reconciled, DRE-aware — you control the funds; we keep the ledger straight.
Reconciliation →Property-level performance
Income and expense tracked by property and unit so you see real NOI and cash flow, not a blended number.
Monthly bookkeeping →Prop 13 & 1031 records
Assessed-basis tracking and clean 1031 exchange documentation kept for your CPA and qualified intermediary.
California overview →Agent commission structures
Commission splits, agent draws, and 1099 reporting kept clean for brokerages — with AB5 considerations surfaced.
AB5 classification →$800 franchise-tax accrual
The FTB minimum tax accrued across every entity so it’s never a surprise at year-end.
California overview →§Tools we work alongside
Connected to how you manage property.
- AppFolio, Buildium, and property-management platforms
- Stessa and rental-portfolio trackers
- Trust/escrow bank accounts reconciled to the ledger
- Bill.com for vendor and owner disbursements
- Brokerage commission and transaction systems
- QuickBooks Online or hosted Desktop — your file
We reconcile alongside the PM and brokerage platforms you already run — the books read from how you manage property.
§How engagements work
From tangled entities to clean, audit-ready books.
Every California real estate engagement follows the same rhythm — entities and trust clean first, property performance second, advisory third.
Free entity & trust review
A QuickBooks ProAdvisor reviews your entities, trust accounts, and properties — at no cost.
Written fixed-fee scope
A written scope and fixed fee within 3 business days — cleanup, monthly, or both.
Clean entities & trust
Each entity reconciled, intercompany clean, trust records segregated and tied out.
Monthly property results
A monthly close showing per-property performance and a CPA-ready basis picture.
§Beyond the books
Clean entity books are the start. Knowing each property’s real return is the point.
When the entities are clean and each property’s return is visible, the decisions get clear: which property to refinance or sell, whether a 1031 makes sense, how the portfolio is really performing — answered from books that tie.
That’s where fractional-CFO advisory picks up, in coordination with your CPA.
§Page review & standards
Maintained by TechBrot.
This page reflects how TechBrot handles California real estate engagements. It is maintained by TechBrot Inc., a Delaware-incorporated bookkeeping and advisory firm, and kept current on multi-entity ledgers, broker/PM trust-account record-keeping, Prop 13 basis, and 1031 documentation against FTB and CA DRE guidance current as of the date below. TechBrot delivers the books and coordinates with your CPA, who files; we do not hold client trust funds or represent clients before tax authorities.
Standards
Verified vs the CA FTB & DRE · No tax-filing, trust-fund-handling, or representation claims (out of scope) · Updated when rules change · No fabricated data
§FAQ
California real estate accounting questions.
What does California real estate accounting include?
Clean multi-entity ledgers with proper intercompany entries, broker and property-management trust-account record-keeping, property-level income and expense tracking, Prop 13 basis and 1031 exchange records, agent commission structures, and the $800 franchise-tax accrual across entities — in your own QuickBooks file.
Do you handle real estate trust accounting?
Yes — we keep broker and property-management trust records segregated and reconciled, DRE-aware, so the trust ledger ties to the trust bank account (security deposits, client funds). Importantly, we keep the records; we do not hold, control, or disburse your trust funds. The trust account stays under your control and your broker/PM compliance; we make sure the bookkeeping behind it is accurate.
How do you handle multiple entities and properties?
Real estate runs on entities — often an LLC per property plus holding and management companies. We keep each entity’s books clean with correct intercompany entries so your CPA can consolidate and each property’s NOI and cash flow are visible. We also accrue the $800 California franchise tax on every entity so it never surprises the books.
What about Prop 13 basis and 1031 exchanges?
We track the Prop 13 assessed basis and keep clean, organized records for 1031 like-kind exchanges so your CPA and qualified intermediary have exactly what they need. The exchange structuring, the timelines, and the tax positions are theirs to handle; we keep the books and documentation behind them accurate and audit-ready.
Do you work with brokerages and agent commissions?
Yes — we keep commission splits, agent draws, and 1099 reporting clean for brokerages, and we surface AB5 worker-classification considerations for agents and staff so your books are defensible. The classification determination itself is your CPA’s or employment attorney’s; see our AB5 page.
Do you work in my own QuickBooks file?
Yes — your file, your data, in QuickBooks Online or hosted Desktop, with a named ProAdvisor on the same file every month, connected to your PM and brokerage platforms rather than proprietary software.
Do you file my California taxes?
No. TechBrot is a bookkeeping and advisory firm — we keep the books CPA-ready and coordinate with your CPA or EA, who files. We do not hold trust funds or represent clients before the FTB or DRE, and we are not affiliated with Intuit Inc.
Do you serve out-of-state investors with California property?
Yes — California-property owners based elsewhere still face the $800 franchise tax per California LLC, California-source income, and Prop 13 basis tracking. We keep the California entity books clean and coordinate with your CPA on the multi-state filing.
§Around this page
Around California.
California QuickBooks ProAdvisor & bookkeeping
The state page: services, industries, cities and the California tax terms in one place.
Real Estate accounting, nationally
The national engagement this page is the California version of — same scope, same written fixed fee.
Also in California:Bookkeeping services · Monthly bookkeeping.
California cities:San Jose · Bakersfield · Sacramento — served remotely, in your own QuickBooks file.
Not sure where your file stands? Start with the free QuickBooks file review.
§Around the engagement
Before you engage anyone.
California monthly bookkeeping
Keep every entity and trust account current with a recurring monthly close.
California QuickBooks cleanup
Entities tangled or trust not tying? Get the file CPA-ready first.
California QuickBooks accountant
The named ProAdvisor who keeps your real estate entities straight every month.
Real estate accounting (national)
Our global real estate industry overview for the broader playbook.
California real estate starts here
Keep every entity and trust account clean.
Book a free discovery call. We’ll review your entities, trust accounts, and properties, flag where the ledgers or trust reconciliation are breaking, and send a written fixed-fee scope within 3 business days. No pitch.