Stephen Merritt vs The Moon Group: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake Area, VA Bookkeepers Compared (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Merritt: Evidence Score 47 at 78% coverage. The Moon Group: 45 at 78% coverage.
- Neither says anything about pricing on its site.
- Only Stephen Merritt names the industries it serves (real estate), on its own site.
Sources cited in this article: Firm's own website, State business registry, and our published methodology.
How this list is built: Methodology · Disclosures · About · Report a correction
At a glance
| Stephen Merritt | The Moon Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank on the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake area list | 1 of 15 | 2 of 15 |
| Evidence Score | 47/100 at 78% coverage | 45/100 at 78% coverage |
| Documented services + buyer fit | 23 of 40 pts | 21 of 40 pts |
| Independently verifiable qualifications | 0 of 20 pts | 0 of 20 pts |
| Operational + pricing transparency | 11 of 25 pts | 11 of 25 pts |
| Verified identity + continuity | 13 of 15 pts | 13 of 15 pts |
| Office locality | Virginia Beach, VA Self-reported | Virginia Beach, VA Self-reported |
| Software supported | QuickBooks (5 pts) Self-reported | Not documented |
| 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: Stephen Merritt, C.P.A., P.C. · VA SCC ID 04764437 · Virginia State Corporation Commission · Active (SCC corporation table, data to 2024-11) (6 pts) Third-party | Business registration found: The Moon Group LLC · VA SCC ID S8219190 · Virginia State Corporation Commission · Active (SCC LLC table, data to 2024-09) (6 pts) Third-party |
| Years operating (registry formation date) | Formed 1996-12-19 (incorporation/formation date of a Virginia-formed entity) (5 pts) Third-party | Formed 2019-04-19 (incorporation/formation date of a Virginia-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: Stephen Merritt · Full evidence profile: The Moon Group
Where they differ
| Scored item | Stephen Merritt | The Moon Group |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping (8 pts) | Not documented | Documented (8 pts) |
| Industries served (documented) (5 pts) | real estate (5 pts) | Not documented |
What both document
Payroll coordination; Month-end close + reporting; Local / remote model stated; What is included / excluded; Named contact / team; Communication channel / process; Privacy / data-handling page
Our read
On the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake list, Stephen Merritt leads The Moon Group by 2 points, 47 to 45. Most of the difference sits in documented services, where Stephen Merritt has 23 of 40 points to 21.
Stephen Merritt works from Virginia Beach, names real estate among the industries it serves, works in QuickBooks and has a state registration dated 1996.
The Moon Group works from Virginia Beach, says it serves clients across the US and has a state registration dated 2019.
The Moon Group is the one of the two whose site documents a fit for a business that wants to work remotely.
Neither site gives us evidence for catch-up work, bill pay and invoicing and pricing, so raise them with both firms on a first call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for catch-up work, Stephen Merritt or The Moon Group?
Neither site mentions catch-up or cleanup work, so ask both before you commit if you're behind.
Do Stephen Merritt or The Moon Group publish prices?
Neither says anything about pricing on its site. Each profile quotes the page the wording came from.
Where are Stephen Merritt and The Moon Group based?
Both appear on the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake list: Stephen Merritt lists an office in Virginia Beach, and The Moon Group lists one in Virginia Beach.
Sources and further reading
Dates are when we checked. Report an error.
- Firm's own websiteChecked Sep 26, 2026
- State business registryChecked Sep 26, 2026
- How the Evidence Score worksBookkeeping Index methodology
- Commercial disclosuresBookkeeping Index