Econome, Inc.

Our Services

ABOUT US

Econome, Inc. provides bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting, and budget planning to Catholic parishes and other faith based organizations. Our goal is giving these entities the same level of competency and professionalism large corporations receive from their internal accountants at a reasonable cost.

Our History

Econome’s president and founder, Mark Baker, has been providing accounting services to businesses both as an employee and as an independent accountant since 1980. He attended Detroit College of Business (now Davenport University) as an accounting major and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. His first career position was as a cash accountant for Naum Bros. Department Store. He went on to become the bookkeeper for Whip-L Products, Inc., an automotive parts wholesaler. Mr. Baker worked his way up to general manager before leaving Whip-L to join the CPA firm of Cohen, Kirschner, and Shindel as a staff accountant for David Shindel. It was at this time, in 1985, that he began offering bookkeeping and tax preparation services to small businesses and individuals. Finding management accounting to his liking he took the job of accounting supervisor for Thomas J. Industries, Inc., a cabinet manufacturer. As Thomas J. grew so did Mr. Baker’s responsibilities and when the manufacturer opened its second plant in 1986, Mr. Baker assumed the title of Controller. By 1990, he had taken on more small business clients and decided to leave the full time position at Thomas J. Industries. He accepted a part-time position as Business Manager with Kensington Academy, an independent not-for-profit elementary school. That same year, Mr. Baker began working with St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak. By 1993, the position at Kensington had become full-time and was taking away from Mr. Baker’s clients, including St. Mary. In March of that year he formed Management Accounting Services and by July was offering his bookkeeping and payroll services to Archdiocesan parishes and small businesses on a full time basis from his home-office.

As Mr. Baker’s clients included more parishes he decided to concentrate his efforts on this niche and incorporated in January, 1998 naming the new company, Econome, Inc. The name comes from the title of a monastery’s comptroller. The company currently has three employees working out of our Royal Oak office.

Our Purpose

Econome, Inc. has identified the need for a reasonably priced, knowledgeable, professional bookkeeper to work with parishes, and other religious institutions. That is, the pastor/administrator/manager usually does not have the time or inclination to do the day to day bookkeeping. However, many bookkeepers do not understand either parish bookkeeping or not-for-profit accounting. Those that do, often demand high salaries and benefits. Public accountants are also expensive and may not even be willing to do bookkeeping or payroll. Econome provides the day to day bookkeeping, payroll and other management accounting services these entities need at a reasonable cost. Our negotiable fee is typically based on the client’s budget considerations.

Our Mission

To provide computerized bookkeeping, payroll, and management systems, services, and personnel to Archdiocesan parishes and Catholic organizations.