QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping offers online bookkeeping services that connect small businesses with trusted, QuickBooks-certified virtual bookkeepers. Depending on the service you choose, a bookkeeper can give you guidance or take the lead on your bookkeeping. In addition to being one of the best online bookkeeping services around, FreshBooks offers 100% compliant tax preparation, taking the stress out of this important but time-consuming process. Most small businesses do not have $60,000/year to pay a staff accountant or $200,000/year for a CFO.

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It did, however, suffer in the personal bookkeeper category because while it offers a dedicated bookkeeper, it doesn’t provide video meetings, a phone number to call, or a mobile app. Bookkeeper360 offers all three, so it’s a good solution if that is what you’re looking for. Bench also lacks a couple of important bookkeeping features, including full-service payroll and paying bills.

1. They will also handle more complex issues, like fraudulent activity, unrecorded transactions, or timing differences between your books and the bank’s.
2. That’s a comprehensive offering for startups or small businesses that want to scale up quickly.
3. Forbes Advisor analyzed 13 online bookkeeping services and considered 15 metrics such as price, features, customer service, ease of use, integrations and service level.
4. It has catch-up bookkeeping services—ideal if you have fallen more than two years behind in your bookkeeping.

This includes small business bookkeeping services, accounting and tax services, and CPA services. Our outsourced accounting services help our small business clients cut costs, save time, gross pay vs net pay and improve profits. Our accounting team practices a very ethical accounting system that is proven to help small businesses grow.

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Bookkeeper is one of the pricier business bookkeeping services on our list, but it comes with many possible add-on services. If you’re invoice templates gallery looking for a bookkeeping solution you can stick with for the long run, Bookkeeper has most bookkeeping features you could possibly want as an add-on. Possible add-ons include payroll services, individual and business tax returns, and financial performance reporting with key performance indicators. FreshBooks’ online bookkeeping services help you protect your profits, save you time, and grow your business.

In the cleanup/setup phase, your bookkeeper helps you set up your chart of accounts, personal accountant connects your banks, and teaches you the basics of QuickBooks. If you have information in QuickBooks already, your bookkeeper will help clean it up in the first month of service. Typically, bookkeepers cannot file tax returns on behalf of other companies on their own.

Account Reconciliations

One benefit of using Wave’s software is the ease of using products and services that integrate seamlessly. This includes payroll, invoicing, the ability to accept online payments, and a Wave Money account for qualified users. Although 1-800Accountant offers a dedicated bookkeeper and a number to call, it doesn’t offer video meetings or unlimited meetings, which is why it scored lower in the personal bookkeeper category.

In addition, Brainy Advisors gives you the ability to create a customized plan for only the services you need—whether that’s A/R and A/P management or inventory and COGS tracking—at a rate of $49 per hour. While it mainly works with QuickBooks and Xero, it is a small company, but its CPAs are knowledgeable enough to tailor their services to whatever bookkeeping software you prefer. Merritt Bookkeeping costs a flat rate of $250 a month, with no restriction on the number of monthly transactions or the frequency of the service. The price is the same regardless of your business size and the number of employees.

You would only pay a fraction of this cost if you used outsourced accounting services. In return, you will have access to a team of experienced CPAs, CFOs, certified bookkeepers, and certified tax preparers with decades of combined experience, which is more valuable than any single employee. If your goal is to grow your small business quickly, save money, and increase efficiency, our outsourced accounting solutions are perfect for you. With the provider’s powerful mobile app, 1-800Accountant is also useful for businesses working remotely, e.g., communicating with your bookkeeper, tracking mileage, and accessing your account from anywhere. Additionally, you’ll have access to bookkeepers, tax and financial advisors, payroll specialists, and a dedicated accountant who is an expert in your state and industry. Bookkeeper360 offers both accounting and cloud-based bookkeeping services and business advisory services.

The next step is to work with your account manager to integrate your existing software and processes with QuickBooks. From that point on, you will receive monthly reports, including cash flow, profit and loss, and balance sheet statements. Your bookkeeping team reconciles your accounts, categorizes your transactions, and produces your financial statements. They also make adjustments to your books to ensure they’re accurate and tax-compliant.