Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 09/16/2026

Last Updated: 09/16/2026

Balanced Books ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal and financial information when you visit our website www.balancedbooksmt.com (the "Site") or use our bookkeeping and financial services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Site or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms outlined here.

1. Information We Collect

Because we provide bookkeeping services, we may collect sensitive personal and financial information necessary to deliver our services effectively and securely.

A. Personal Identification Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you fill out a contact form, request a quote, or register for our services, including:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Business/Mailing address

  • Job title or business name

B. Client & Financial Data

To provide bookkeeping services, clients may provide access to:

  • Bank account details, credit card numbers, and payment processing accounts

  • Invoices, receipts, tax documents, payroll records, and financial statements

  • Accounting software login credentials (or guest access permissions)

C. Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our Site, our servers may automatically log standard technical data provided by your web browser, such as:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) address

  • Browser type and version

  • Pages visited and time spent on the Site

  • Referring websites and analytical data (via cookies or tracking technologies)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for legitimate business purposes, including to:

  • Provide, maintain, and manage your bookkeeping and financial records

  • Communicate with you regarding services, updates, support, or billing

  • Process payments and manage account billing

  • Respond to inquiries, service requests, or contact forms

  • Improve website functionality, client experience, and security

  • Comply with legal, accounting, tax, and regulatory obligations

3. How We Protect Your Data

We implement industry-standard administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your personal and financial data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption: Utilizing SSL/TLS protocols for data transmitted through our website and secure file-transfer portals.

  • Access Control: Restricting access to personal and financial information strictly to authorized personnel who require it to perform bookkeeping services.

  • Secure Storage: Storing digital files and software data within secure, encrypted cloud platforms and password-protected environments.

Note: While we take reasonable and standard commercial precautions, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure.

4. Sharing & Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal or financial information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service Providers & Cloud Platforms: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers (e.g., accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero, secure cloud storage, billing processors) who assist us in operating our business and delivering services. These parties are obligated to keep your information confidential and secure.

  • Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, subpoena, or governmental regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our legal rights or comply with a judicial proceeding.

  • Professional Advisors: We may share information with legal, auditing, or tax professionals strictly in connection with our operational compliance and legal duties.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience and analyze traffic. You can choose to disable or block cookies through your browser settings, though doing so may affect the functionality of certain areas of our Site.

6. Third-Party Websites

Our Site may contain links to external third-party websites (e.g., payment portals, partner tools). We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

7. Retention of Information

We retain client financial and bookkeeping data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal/tax retention rules (e.g., legal document retention requirements for tax records), or resolve disputes. Once information is no longer needed, it is securely destroyed or anonymized.

8. Your Data Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal data, including:

  • Access & Correction: The right to request access to or updates/corrections of your personal data.

  • Opt-Out: The right to unsubscribe from non-essential promotional communications.

  • Deletion: The right to request the deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and regulatory retention requirements.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information below.

9. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our legal obligations, business practices, or services. Updates will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data privacy practices, please contact us at:

  • Business Name: Balanced Books MT

  • Email: balancedbooksmt@gmail.com

  • Phone: 406-290-9930

  • Address: PO Box 416, Columbia Falls, MT 59912