9 Best Online Bookkeeping Services (Free and Paid)
This article is part of a larger series onAccounting Software.
虚拟bookkeep外包你的记账ing service can help ensure that your books are accurate and also help save you time. Many also offer add-on services, such as payroll and tax filing, which can streamline your work. Whether you’re looking for a full-service virtual accounting firm or a basic online bookkeeping service with free software, there’s likely a provider that will suit your needs.
We have compiled a list of the nine best virtual bookkeeping services for small businesses in 2022:
- QuickBooks Live:Best overall online bookkeeping service
- Bookkeeper.com:Best virtual full-service accounting firm
- Bench:Best for companies behind on their bookkeeping
- Bookkeeper360:Best for companies that prefer Xero bookkeeping software
- Merritt Bookkeeping:Best for small businesses on a budget
- Pilot:Best for startup companies
- Botkeeper:Best for accounting firms to outsource client bookkeeping
- Block Advisors:Best online bookkeeping firm that includes low-priced tax preparation
- Sunrise:Best free software with assisted bookkeeping available
Comparison Table
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Which Online Bookkeeping Service is Right for You?
QuickBooks Live: Overall Best Online Bookkeeping Service
QuickBooks Live是an online bookkeeping service that’s offered directly by QuickBooks Online, which we ranked as thebest overall small business accounting software. It matches you with a dedicated bookkeeper who’ll work with you virtually to ensure that your books are accurate. The company’s 100% Accurate Books Guarantee provides additional assurance. You can opt to be trained on day-to-day bookkeeping tasks, which is ideal for novice QuickBooks users.
Your bookkeeper will assist you with setting up your chart of accounts, connecting your banks, and creating a plan to clean up any existing data. But while your financial statements are sent to you on a monthly basis, your bookkeeper won’t pay bills, send invoices, manage inventory, or provide financial advice.
What We Like
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- 月度财务报告
- No contract required
- 100% Accurate Books Guarantee
What's Missing
- Requires a separate subscription to QuickBooks Online
- Doesn’t include bill payment, invoicing clients, accounts receivable (A/R), or accounts payable (A/P)
- Financial and tax advice is not available
- Accrual method accounting is not supported
- Inventory management is not included
Plans & Pricing
There are three pricing tiers for QuickBooks Live, which are based upon the amount of your business’ monthly expenses. In addition to the cost of QuickBooks Live, you are also responsible for the monthly subscription fee for QuickBooks Online, which ranges from $25 to $180 per month. Your first month of service with QuickBooks Live is dedicated to onboarding and cleaning up your books, and the cost is $500. After that, you will pay the fee for the applicable pricing tier:
- Low volume:$200 for up to $25,000 in monthly expenses
- Medium volume:$400 for between $25,000 and $150,000 in monthly expenses
- High volume:$600 for more than $150,000 in monthly expenses
Although a free trial is not available for QuickBooks Live, there is no contract, and you can cancel anytime.
QuickBooks Live Features
QuickBooks Live has a variety of features that can help you with your bookkeeping. Your dedicated bookkeeper will assist with setting up your account and updating your books in real-time, ensuring that your financial data is always up-to-date:
- Dedicated bookkeeper:Upon enrollment, you’ll be assigned a dedicated bookkeeper—a QuickBooks ProAdvisor with an average of 15 years of experience.
- Real-time access:Your dedicated bookkeeper will directly access your QuickBooks Online account, which will ensure that your books stay up to date and allow you to view the data in real-time.
- Customized setup:You can customize your setup, which your bookkeeper will assist with, based on your needs. This includes your chart of accounts, customer and vendor lists, and connecting your bank and credit card accounts.
- Payroll add-on:For an additional fee, QuickBooks Online offers full-service payroll that integrates with its software. However, your QuickBooks Live ProAdvisor doesn’t provide assistance in running payroll for your employees.
Our Expert Opinion
QuickBooks Live can be added easily to your existing QuickBooks Online subscription by clicking Live Bookkeeping in the left menu bar of your dashboard. For businesses with employees, the payroll add-on makes it even easier. QuickBooks Live may be a good fit for businesses that can handle their own A/R, A/P, bill payment, and invoicing, since those services aren’t available.
Bookkeeper.com: Best Virtual Bookkeeping Service for Businesses That Want a Full-service Accounting Firm
Bookkeeper.com是online and cloud-based, with a wide range of add-on services available, including bill pay, tax return preparation, and payroll. Business, financial planning, and tax advice are also available at no additional charge. Bookkeeper.com offers more services to QuickBooks Online users than QuickBooks Live and, upon enrollment, you’re assigned your own dedicated bookkeeper and account manager. While it lacks its own mobile app, you can use QuickBooks Online’s app to access your books. It’s ideal for businesses that are looking to outsource their bookkeeping with a full-service accounting firm.
What We Like
- All-in-one bookkeeping, tax, and consulting solution
- Specializes in QuickBooks Online
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Payroll is available for an additional fee
- Secure online network that protects your financial data
What's Missing
- No mobile app available
- High monthly service fee
- Lack of transparent pricing with add-on services like tax preparation
- Must pay for features that you may not need
- No free trial available
Plans & Pricing
Bookkeeper.com has four subscription levels available, which are determined by the number of transactions per month and the frequency of service. If your business needs additional services such as tax filing, payroll management, or budget preparation, Bookkeeper.com will create a customized quote based on the size and needs of your business:
- Small Business (monthly):$399 per month for up to 100 transactions per month
- Small Business Plus (semi-monthly):$599 per month for up to 200 transactions per month plus 20 bill payments
- Small Business Advanced (weekly):$799 per month for up to 300 transactions per month plus 40 bill payments
- Custom (weekly):Custom pricing for more than 300 transactions per month
Bookkeeper.com Features
Aside from being a full-service virtual bookkeeping firm, Bookkeeper.com has many other features that set it apart from other services. These include the following:
- Dedicated bookkeeper and account manager:Your dedicated bookkeeper is a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and you’ll also be assigned an account manager who will assist with onboarding activities and serve as your point of contact for any issues that may come up.
- Monthly financial statements:Each month, your bookkeeper will provide a balance sheet, profit and loss (P&L) statement, statement of cash flows, and general ledger (GL) report.
- Free advice:Included in your monthly fee is a variety of free business advice, including general business consulting, software training, tax planning, and strategic planning.
- Software setup:Your accounting software setup is included in the monthly fee.
- Payroll and tax preparation add-ons:For an additional fee, you can opt for payroll or tax preparation services. To help maximize your profit, Bookkeeper.com’s team of certified public accountants (CPAs) and enrolled agents (EAs) will also assist with strategizing and planning.
Our Expert Opinion
Bookkeeper.com是a great option for companies looking for the services typically provided by traditional accounting firms. Your bank and credit card accounts will be reconciled and closed on a monthly basis, and you’ll receive monthly financial reports. You’ll also have access to bill pay and payroll services. Bookkeeper.com will assist with filing your tax returns, which includes individual and business returns as well as gift and estate returns. Your monthly fee also includes various types of advice, including strategic planning.
For a direct comparison of Bookkeeper.com with other online bookkeeping services, see our articles onQuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper.com, Bench vs Bookkeeper.com, and Bookkeeper360 vs Bookkeeper.com.
Bench: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Businesses Behind on Their Bookkeeping
Bench是an online bookkeeping service that handles your bookkeeping on a monthly basis. Because of the catch-up services available, it’s a great solution for businesses that have fallen more than two years behind in their bookkeeping. Its plans are very affordable and include the preparation of annual tax returns.
Freelancers and startups who often work remotely will appreciate the iOS mobile app that provides financial reporting functionality and real-time cash flow updates. Upon enrollment, you’ll have access to a team of in-house bookkeepers, and you can book a monthly check-in or tax season review call with them at no additional charge.
What We Like
- Supports unlimited users
- Catch-up bookkeeping services available
- Affordable plans that include annual income tax returns
- Access to a team of in-house bookkeepers
- Mobile app available
What's Missing
- Bench operates on proprietary software that doesn’t integrate with other accounting software like QuickBooks
- No mobile app for Android
- Separate software required for invoicing, bill payment, payroll, and inventory management
Plans & Pricing
Bench offers two different pricing plans, which depend on whether you want tax advice and filings included with your bookkeeping. Discounts are available if you elect to pay annually:
- Essential:$299 per month for monthly bookkeeping
- Premium:$499 per month for monthly bookkeeping, annual tax filing, and tax advisory services
If you are behind on your bookkeeping, you can use Bench’s Catch Up and Retro bookkeeping services to bring your books up to date. Fees start at $299 per month.
Bench Features
Bench provides both catch-up bookkeeping and tax assistance as part of its add-on solutions. Here are a few other attractive features:
- Dedicated bookkeeper:All Bench bookkeepers are in-house employees, not contractors. Your dedicated bookkeeper will handle all aspects of your account and serve as your point of contact.
- 财务报表:You’ll be sent financial statements on a monthly basis, including your balance sheet and income statement.
- Catch-up bookkeeping:For an additional fee, you can enroll in BenchRetro, which is a special program for businesses that are more than two years behind in their bookkeeping.
- Tax assistance:If you select Bench’s Premium plan, your federal and state business tax returns, as well as individual returns for sole proprietors, are included.
- Payroll integration:Bench integrates with Gusto to help you manage your payroll. A leading payroll provider, Gusto (not Bench), will handle your payroll tax filing, manage employee information and benefits, and generate W-2s.
Our Expert Opinion
Bench是一个易于使用的和强大的ide的解决方案al for freelancers, startups, and small businesses. Its dedicated bookkeepers and tax assistance make this a great option for businesses with relatively simple financials who are looking for unlimited support at an affordable price. BenchRetro, its catch-up bookkeeping service, is the reason we selected Bench as the best online bookkeeping service for businesses behind on their bookkeeping.
For a direct comparison of Bench with other online bookkeeping services, see our comparisons ofQuickBooks Live vs Bench, Bench vs Bookkeeper.com, andBench vs Bookkeeper360.
Bookkeeper360: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Xero Users
Bookkeeper360offers both accounting and cloud-based bookkeeping services, as well as business advisory services. Because it’s a Xero Platinum Partner, it’s ideal for small businesses that useXerobookkeeping software and are looking for more than just a bookkeeping service. The Bookkeeper360 mobile app integrates with your Xero account to provide business insights, and there are also payroll, human resources (HR), taxes, back office, and chief financial officer (CFO) advisory services available.
What We Like
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Uses Xero or QuickBooks bookkeeping software
- Free consultations
- Wide range of services and tailored solutions
- Accrual basis accounting available
What's Missing
- More expensive than other options
- No invoicing or bill pay service available
- Mobile app only available with Xero, not QuickBooks
Plans & Pricing
There are three subscription plans available, depending on the services you need and the frequency. These are just starting prices, as they increase based on the number of monthly expenses. There is no contract required, and you can cancel anytime:
- Pay-As-You-Go:Starting at $19 per month plus $125 per hour for support for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses
- Monthly:Starting at $399 per month for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses, support included
- Weekly:Starting at $549 per month for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses, support included
Bookkeeper360 Features
Bookkeeper360 offers a wide variety of features that are designed to simplify the lives of small business owners. These include the following:
- Mobile app for Xero users:Bookkeeper360’s mobile app connects to your Xero account and provides valuable information, including scorecards and metrics.
- CFO advisory:Available for an additional fee, a dedicated accountant will work with you to analyze your financials and determine a strategy to manage and grow your business. Prices start at $1,000 per quarter for this service.
- Payroll and HR solutions:Full-service payroll is integrated fully with your bookkeeping, starting at $45 per month. It also integrates with other providers like Gusto and ADP. The HRS360 app is included in the payroll service fee. It provides assistance with federal and state compliance, employee onboarding forms, and job descriptions.
- Accrual basis accounting:Accrual-based accounting is available with Bookkeeper360, which includes complex accounting like deferred revenue, inventory, and accrued expenses.
Our Expert Opinion
Bookkeeper360excels at helping businesses view and analyze financial data, track goals, and streamline bookkeeping tasks. Its add-on services, such as CFO advisory, payroll, and HR, make it ideal for startups and growth-stage businesses. Also, because it’s a Xero Platinum Partner, it’s a great solution for businesses that are already using Xero software.
For a direct comparison of Bookkeeper360 with other online bookkeeping services, see our articles onQuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360,Bench vs Bookkeeper360, and Bookkeeper360 vs Bookkeeper.com.
Merritt Bookkeeping: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Small Businesses on a Budget
Merritt Bookkeeping是a cost-effective remote bookkeeping solution that’s available at a flat rate with no restrictions on the number of transactions or the frequency of service. It works with businesses that use QuickBooks and, although it doesn’t offer many of the advanced tools that other online bookkeeping services provide, it’s easy to use, with a quick set-up process. If you’re behind on your books, catch-up bookkeeping is also available.
梅里特簿记的100%退款保证also an attractive feature. You can use its monthly financial reports to assist with filing taxes and Merritt also provides a simplified issuance and electronic filing of 1099s for your contractors at an additional fee.
What We Like
- 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with services
- Form 1099 filing included
- Catch-up bookkeeping available for an additional fee
- Budget-friendly, flat-rate pricing with no setup charges
- Quick setup and initiation process
What's Missing
- No dedicated bookkeeper
- Accrual basis accounting is not available
- No personal access to your QuickBooks files
- Only basic bookkeeping services offered—doesn’t include payroll, tax, or invoicing
Plans & Pricing
Merritt Bookkeeping offers a flat rate of $190 per 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 or number of employees.
Merritt Bookkeeping Features
Merritt Bookkeeping has several useful features that are great for businesses on a tight budget. These include the following:
- Intuitive user interface:Merritt Bookkeeping has an easy-to-access client portal that enables you to view reports and how your transactions are categorized. If there are any corrections, you can indicate this through the custom interface.
- 月度财务报告:Each month you’ll be sent your P&L statement and balance sheet, or you can access them via your client portal.
- 1099 filing:Merritt will assist with filing 1099 forms for your contractors for an additional fee of $75 for the report preparation and $8 per form.
- 90-day money-back guarantee:Although there isn’t a free trial available, you can test it out for three months at no risk. If you’re not satisfied within that time period, you’ll receive a full refund.
Our Expert Opinion
Merritt Bookkeeping是an affordable online bookkeeping service for cash-based businesses that use QuickBooks as their accounting platform. Its basic, no-frills package includes monthly financial statements and annual 1099 filing for your contractors. The flat-fee pricing ensures that there are no surprises with billing, and the money-back guarantee allows you to test drive the software for 90 days at no additional risk.
For a direct comparison of Merritt Bookkeeping with other online bookkeeping services, seeQuickBooks Live vs Merritt Bookkeeping.
Pilot: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Startups
Pilot是a financial services firm that provides bookkeeping, tax, and CFO advisory services for startups and small businesses. Because its services are built around the needs of startup companies backed by venture capitalists, we selected it as the best online bookkeeping service for startups.
As your business grows and potentially takes on funding, the accrual-based and advanced bookkeeping services that it offers will be especially useful. You’ll be matched with a dedicated bookkeeper when you enroll in the service, and they’ll walk you through how to integrate your existing processes and software withQuickBooks.
What We Like
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Accrual based accounting available
- Industry-specific financial reports
- Add-ons available for bill pay, invoicing, tax, and CFO services
What's Missing
- Businesses must use QuickBooks Online
- 财务报表是权责发生制
- Plans are more expensive than other options
- Payroll services are not available
- Plans must be prepaid annually
Plans & Pricing
Businesses with less than $200,000 in monthly expenses can choose between Pilot’s Core and Select plans. The services are billed annually, and the pricing scales with your expense rate and business needs. Pilot also charges an onboarding fee that is equivalent to one month of bookkeeping.
- Core annual fee:Starting at $7,188
- Select annual fee:Starting at $10,188
Pilot also offers the following financial services for an additional fee:
- Pilot CFO:Starting at $1,050 per month, billed annually for monthly engagement and $6,300 per year for annual budgeting and forecasting
- Pilot Tax:Starting at $1,950 per year for tax services, which includes federal corporate income tax and 1099 filing
- A/P and A/R:Starting at $125 per hour for support with paying bills and creating and sending invoices
- Controller services:Starting at $200 per hour for assistance with cost of goods sold categorization, revenue recognition best practices, and other services as needed
Pilot Features
Pilot not only offers accrual-based accounting but also support for multiple entities. Its other features include:
- Dedicated bookkeeper:Your dedicated bookkeeper will assist you with setting up your account and will serve as your point of contact in the event of any issues. They’ll work with you to learn your business.
- 月度财务报告:Basic financial reports, such as P&L statements, balance sheets, and statement of cash flows, are sent on a monthly basis. The Plus plan offers more customized reports as well. The monthly statements include your burn rate so that you know exactly where you and your investors stand.
- Accrual-based accounting:Included with all plans, accrual basis accounting is used for all businesses. Most larger companies use accrual-based accounting as required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and it’s preferred by banks and investors.
- A/R and A/P:With the Plus plan, Pilot will create and send invoices to your customers. You can also set up bill pay for your vendors.
- Tax management:Pilot Tax is available as a separate package and includes federal-, state-, and city-level income tax preparation and 1099 filing. Unlimited email support is also included with this package.
Our Expert Opinion
Pilot不仅提供簿记服务还比较rehensive support for rapidly growing businesses. Companies that are looking for CFO and/or tax services will benefit from Pilot CFO and Pilot Tax, two add-on services. Pilot tailors its offerings to ecommerce and professional service firms as well as providing support for multiple entities. Its industry-specific reports include burn reports for startups and inventory management for ecommerce companies and are available with the Select or Plus plans.
For a direct comparison of Pilot with other online bookkeeping services, see our article onQuickBooks Live vs Pilot.
Botkeeper: Best Online Bookkeeping Service to Assist Accounting Firms
Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning,Botkeeperautomates the majority of bookkeeping processes and is meant to replace manual labor at bookkeeping firms. It can best be thought of as a virtual robotic bookkeeper that supports your accounting practice. The service is only compatible with QuickBooks and Xero and can accommodate multiple-entity accounting. With both a platform and client entity fee, the price is on the steep side and must be paid annually. However, because it helps to offload daily bookkeeping tasks like data entry, reconciliations, and classifications, it allows you to focus on higher-level client advisory services.
What We Like
- Assists traditional accounting firms by automating the bookkeeping for their clients
- Unlimited bank connections and transactions available
- Can accommodate multilocation and enterprise businesses
- Support included with every plan
What's Missing
- Only compatible with QuickBooks and Xero
- No mobile app available
- All plans must be paid annually
- Steep platform fee that requires a substantial client base to recover
Plans & Pricing
Botkeeper doesn’t provide detailed pricing information, but pricing for accounting firms includes both a platform fee and a per-client fee. Fees are billed on an annual basis:
- Platform & Tools:Starting at $12,000 per year
- Client Entity Fee:Starting at $660 per year
Botkeeper Features
Botkeeper has many features that distinguish it from other bookkeeping services. This includes the following:
- Automated bookkeeping:Humans apply critical thinking to help train the machine to categorize expenses, enter transactions, pay bills, invoice clients, and reconcile accounts. Botkeeper’s team of specialists counter-checks the data, ensuring tax compliance and accurate bookkeeping.
- Dashboard:Your interactive dashboard provides direct access to your key performance indicators, data visualizations, and trending analytics.
- ScanBot:A mobile app that integrates with Botkeeper, ScanBot can extract financial data directly from a photo of a receipt, invoice, or sales contract from your mobile phone and sync it directly with your client’s books. This reduces the number of steps needed to record transactions.
- Integration:Banks, credit cards, and payroll providers are integrated to extract transactions automatically.
- Multiple-entity accounting:Botkeeper allows you to cover supplementary entities that form part of an entire organization like subsidiaries alongside the parent company.
Our Expert Opinion
With its artificial intelligence and machine learning features combined with a team of skilled accountants,Botkeepereliminates the need for most data entry and delivers books with most of your clients’ bookkeeping already completed. This will undoubtedly free up a lot of time for higher-level advisory tasks where you can charge a higher rate. The big question is whether you have a large enough client base to justify the fixed annual platform fee.
For a direct comparison of Botkeeper with other online bookkeeping services, see our article onQuickBooks Live vs Botkeeper.
Block Advisors: Best Online Bookkeeping Firm That Includes Low-priced Tax Preparation
Block Advisors是a branch of H&R Block that provides tax, bookkeeping, and payroll support. It’s a great option if you’re looking for reliable and efficient support year-round. You can either work one-on-one with a tax professional or opt for their DIY option, with assistance available via live chat, phone, or video conference.
Their bookkeeping services include a free, 30-minute consultation with an account manager, a review of your books year-to-date, and an action plan created each quarter with specific recommendations. Its plans are affordable and can be customized based on your needs.
What We Like
- Access to tax help with free accounting software
- Ability to meet with a tax pro in person or virtually
- Full menu of financial services, including taxes and payroll
- Transaction syncing is available
- Ability to import documents like W-2s and 1099s by snapping a pic
What's Missing
- Desktop software not available
- No dedicated mobile app
- Do-it-yourself (DIY) option not available for corporate and partnership returns
- Block Advisors uses Xero accounting software, which can be limiting if you would prefer to use QuickBooks or another software.
Plans & Pricing
Block Advisors offers two levels of pricing for tax preparation and bookkeeping services:
- Tax Filing DIY:Starting at $145 (only available for self-employed)
- Tax Filing Full-Service:Starting at $180
- Bookkeeping Starter:Starting at $50 per month
- Bookkeeping Full-Service:Starting at $150 per month
Block Advisors Features
Block Advisors offers personalized assistance and accessible support, as well as an accuracy guarantee. In addition, its maximum refund guarantee ensures that you’ll receive the largest refund possible. Block Advisors are small business tax experts who are also available year-round to assist with your bookkeeping and payroll needs. Add-on services like audit support are also available:
- Bookkeeping services:块顾问有两个级别的簿记中rt: Starter and Full-Service. Both levels give you free, on-demand access to Xero accounting software. The Starter plan gives you access to an accounting pro who will work with you to create an action plan. The Full-Service plan entitles you to financial statements, such as your monthly P&L and balance sheet. Your accounting pro will also categorize your transactions and reconcile your accounts, and your books will be finalized for tax time.
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee:You can rest assured that your books will be accurate as Block Advisors guarantees that if they make an error on your return, you’ll be reimbursed for any resulting penalties and interest. However, the error can’t be due to inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent information that you have supplied.
- Payroll services:Block Advisors can assist with all aspects of payroll management, whether you’re a team of one or have employees. This includes generating payroll, creating and filing quarterly and year-end payroll tax forms, and providing support for any questions.
- Small business expertise:Your Block Advisor has received specialized training in small business taxes, and is equipped to handle anything from your Schedule C return to reviewing your financial statements.
- Maximum Refund Guarantee:If you discover a Block Advisors error on your return that entitles you to a smaller tax liability or a larger refund, they’ll refund the tax return preparation fee and file an amended return for free.
Our Expert Opinion
Block Advisorsgives you the option of fully or partially outsourcing your tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services. You can customize a plan that’s best for your business, which is ideal for both self-employed individuals and small business owners. They provide accessible support and personalized assistance, with the ability to meet with your Block Advisor in person or virtually.
Sunrise: Best Free Software With an Online Bookkeeping Option
Sunriseby Lendio is a free cloud-based accounting and bookkeeping software application that allows you to create quotes and estimates, track expenses, and more. Its wide range of features includes A/R and A/P as well as financial reporting and payroll integration with Gusto. Sunrise’s software is proprietary and is ideal for freelancers on a budget. Users seeking assisted bookkeeping can sign up for one of its paid plans, which provides account reconciliations and month-end close. You’re responsible for day-to-day bookkeeping tasks like invoicing and paying bills. You can also invite your independent accountant to access your Sunrise account.
What We Like
- Software is available for free
- Mobile app available
- Integrates with Gusto and Zapier
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Tax assistance available with Sunrise TaxAssist
What's Missing
- Cannot perform bank reconciliations
- Bookkeepers provide limited services
- No time or project tracking capability
- Limited reports available
Plans & Pricing
Sunrise’s free Self-Service plan allows you to access all of its features at no charge. Those seeking the help of a professional bookkeeper can select from three paid options that depend on the number of transactions per month. There is no contract, so you can cancel at any time:
- Self-Service:Free software with no bookkeeping assistance
- Early:$149 per month for up to 120 transactions
- Growing:$299 per month for up to 200 transactions
- Corporate:$499 per month for up to 500 transactions
Sunrise Features
Sunrise not only offers free bookkeeping software, but when you sign up for the bookkeeping service, you’ll be able to save time with a personal bookkeeper. Sunrise’s features include:
- Dedicated bookkeeper:Your dedicated bookkeeper will match transactions to your bank statements and close your books at the end of each month. They’re also available to answer any questions and will send you monthly financial reports, including balance sheets and P&L statements.
- Tax assist:Your bookkeeper will also help you with tracking 1099 vendors and calculating depreciation, simplifying your tax season.
- Business insights:You’ll be provided with cash flow insights and alerts so that you’ll know where your capital is going and where you could cut expenses if necessary.
- Easy-to-use interface:The Sunrise dashboard lets you view essential accounting key performance indicators, including profit and loss, revenue, and expenses. The interface is both intuitive and uncluttered, making it easy to navigate.
- Mobile app:Sunrise’s mobile app is available for both Android and iOS users, and allows you to send and manage invoices, track receipts, and collect payments wherever you are.
- Accountant access:You can invite your accountant to access your books, ensuring that your financial data is updated in real-time.
Our Expert Opinion
Sunrise是an ideal solution for users that are looking for free and easy-to-use accounting software that has a powerful set of bookkeeping tools like A/R and A/P. Although it lacks more advanced features like time tracking and inventory tracking, it does offer a dedicated bookkeeper for a fee that’s based on the number of monthly transactions.
How We Evaluated Online Bookkeeping Services
有许多物品时需要考虑的决定which online bookkeeping service is the best fit for you. First, it’s important to identify the services that you would like performed:
- Bills:Tracking unpaid bills and issuing payments can often feel like a full-time responsibility. We evaluated whether these bookkeeping services can perform A/P functions for you or at the very least alert you to problems.
- Invoicing:While most online bookkeeping services will leave A/R tasks to you, it’s crucial to your cash flow to send timely invoices to customers. We placed additional value on services that can monitor your outstanding invoices and alert you to potential problems.
- Bank reconciliation:We looked at whether these services offer bank reconciliation as part of their offerings.
- 财务报表:The type and frequency of financial statements that are available were also a consideration. Ideally, they should be sent monthly, or quarterly at the very least.
- Payroll:We evaluated whether these bookkeeping services offer payroll, whether as a direct integration or through a third-party provider like Gusto.
There are a few other factors that you may want to keep in mind while evaluating your options:
- Dedicated bookkeeper:You should be able to access a dedicated bookkeeper for any questions or advice and one-on-one assistance.
- Software:We considered the type of software that each bookkeeping service uses, and whether it’s a popular software like QuickBooks or the company’s own proprietary software.
- Cost:Several price points were evaluated, including free and low-cost options. Because each pricing plan is dependent on many factors, we tried to look at the value provided in terms of the time and potential money that you’re saving by using the service.
- Add-on services:We looked at the types and number of add-on services available like payroll, tax filing, CFO advisory, and catch-up or clean-up bookkeeping.
- Ease of use:The service’s ease of use and the user interface are also important factors and we noted which information can be accessed easily.
- Mobile app:Many of these bookkeeping services have their own mobile app, or you can use the software’s mobile app like Sunrise. This can assist businesses on the go with staying connected 24/7.
Bottom Line
Bookkeeping is an important part of the success of a small business, but it requires a significant amount of time and energy. Working with an online bookkeeping service can help to take some of that work off your plate, eliminating headaches by assisting with tasks such as bank reconciliations and generating financial reports.
Many firms also offer add-on services like payroll, tax filing, CFO advisory, and financial advice. Before making a decision, it’s best to think about which services your business needs and which you feel comfortable handling yourself.