Lightheart, Sanders and Associates vs Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd: Services, Pricing and Credentials Compared (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Lightheart, Sanders and Associates: Evidence Score 63 at 86% coverage. Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd: 50 at 77% coverage.
- Neither says anything about pricing on its site.
- By their own account, Lightheart, Sanders and Associates serves technology businesses, while Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd names construction, real estate and healthcare.
Sources cited in this article: Firm's own website, IRS preparer records, State business registry, DNS check, and our published methodology.
How this list is built: Methodology · Disclosures · About · Report a correction
At a glance
| Lightheart, Sanders and Associates | Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank on the Jackson area list | 1 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Evidence Score (out of 100) | 63 | 50 |
| Evidence coverage (%) | 86 | 77 |
| Documented services + buyer fit | 31 of 40 pts | 27 of 40 pts |
| Independently verifiable qualifications | 6 of 20 pts | 0 of 20 pts |
| Operational + pricing transparency | 11 of 25 pts | 8 of 25 pts |
| Verified identity + continuity | 15 of 15 pts | 15 of 15 pts |
| Office locality | Madison, MS Self-reported | Madison, MS Self-reported |
| Software supported | QuickBooks (5 pts) Self-reported | QuickBooks (5 pts) Self-reported |
| Pricing approach published | Not documented | Not documented |
| Active CPA firm or individual license (state board) | Not verified | Not verified |
| Current QuickBooks ProAdvisor or Xero advisor listing | Not verified | Not verified |
| Entity found in the state business registry | Business registration found: Lightheart, Sanders & Associates, Inc. · MS business ID 696459 · Mississippi Secretary of State · Good (6 pts) Third-party | Business registration found: Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd. · MS business ID 524417 · Mississippi Secretary of State · Good (6 pts) Third-party |
| Operating 1+ year (registry formation date) | Formed 1997-12-18 (formation date of a Mississippi-formed entity) (5 pts) Third-party | Formed 1983-12-05 (formation date of a Mississippi-formed entity) (5 pts) Third-party |
A search that found nothing reads "Not verified": it is not a mark against a firm (how we search).
Full evidence profile: Lightheart, Sanders and Associates · Full evidence profile: Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd
Where they differ
| Scored item | Lightheart, Sanders and Associates | Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping (8 pts) | Documented (8 pts) | Not documented |
| Payroll coordination (4 pts) | Not documented | Documented (4 pts) |
| Bookkeeping designation (AIPB/NACPB) or IRS preparer record (6 pts) | IRS preparer record for Kevin T. Lightheart · CPA (self-reported to the IRS, not a state license) · business name on the record: Lightheart, Sanders and Associates (6 pts) | Not verified |
| What is included / excluded (5 pts) | Not documented | Documented (5 pts) |
| Onboarding described (4 pts) | Documented (4 pts) | Not documented |
| Reporting cadence stated (4 pts) | Documented (4 pts) | Not documented |
What both document
AP / AR; Month-end close + reporting; Industries served (documented); Local / remote model stated; Named contact / team; Working contact route verified; Privacy / data-handling page
Our read
On the Jackson list, Lightheart, Sanders and Associates leads Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd by 13 points, 63 to 50. Third-party qualifications separates them most: 6 of 20 points for Lightheart, Sanders and Associates, 0 for the other.
Lightheart, Sanders and Associates works from Madison, says it serves clients across the US, names technology among the industries it serves and works in QuickBooks.
Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd works from Madison, names construction, real estate and healthcare among the industries it serves, works in QuickBooks and has a state registration dated 1983.
Neither site gives us evidence for catch-up work, pricing and how they keep in touch, so raise them with both firms on a first call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for catch-up work, Lightheart, Sanders and Associates or Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd?
Neither site mentions catch-up or cleanup work, so ask both before you commit if you're behind.
Do Lightheart, Sanders and Associates or Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd publish prices?
Neither says anything about pricing on its site. Each profile quotes the page the wording came from.
Where are Lightheart, Sanders and Associates and Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd based?
Both appear on the Jackson list: Lightheart, Sanders and Associates lists an office in Madison, and Collins, Barr & Hembree, Ltd lists one in Madison.
Sources and further reading
Dates are when we checked. Report an error.
- Firm's own websiteChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026
- IRS preparer recordsChecked Sep 27, 2026
- State business registryChecked Sep 26, 2026
- DNS checkChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026
- How the Evidence Score worksBookkeeping Index methodology
- Commercial disclosuresBookkeeping Index