9 Best Online Bookkeeping Services in 2023
This article is part of a larger series onAccounting Software.
The best online bookkeeping services are affordable and easy to use, offer a wide range of bookkeeping solutions, and provide easy access to dedicated bookkeepers. Many of the top virtual bookkeeping services also have add-on services, such as catch-up bookkeeping, payroll, and tax filing, which can streamline your work.
We have compiled a list of the nine best virtual bookkeeping services for small businesses in 2023:
- Bench:Best overall online bookkeeping service with a range of services offered at a great value
- Xendoo:Best for franchise and ecommerce businesses
- Bookkeeper.com:Best virtual full-service accounting firm
- QuickBooks Live:Best for companies wanting assistance with QuickBooks Online
- Bookkeeper360:Best for companies using Xero bookkeeping software
- Merritt Bookkeeping:Best user review ratings for basic bookkeeping services
- Pilot:最适合创业
- Block Advisors:Best online bookkeeping firm with low-priced tax preparation
- 1 - 800 -账户ant:Best for new nonprofit organizations
Comparison of Best Online Bookkeeping Services
Monthly Pricing |
Dedicated Bookkeeper |
Catch-up Bookkeeping |
Bill Pay |
Invoicing |
Bank Reconciliation |
Payroll Integration |
Tax Filing |
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Starts at $299 |
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Starts at $395 |
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Starts at $399 |
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Starts at $200 |
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Starts at $399 |
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$190 |
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Starts at $499 |
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Starts at $50 |
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Starts at $399 |
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Which Online Bookkeeping Service is Right for You?
Bench: Overall Best Online Bookkeeping Service
Pros
- Supports unlimited users
- Catch-up bookkeeping services available
- Affordable plans include annual income tax return
- Access to a team of in-house bookkeepers
- Free demo includes a free prior month of bookkeeping and financial statements
Cons
- 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
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 ($249 per month if paid annually)
- Premium:$499 per month for monthly bookkeeping, annual tax filing, and tax advisory services ($399 per month if paid annually)
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.
Add-ons:
- Historical bookkeeping:Starts at $299 monthly
- Specialized bookkeeping:Starts at $100 monthly
- S corporations (S-corps), C corporations (C-corps), and partnerships filing:$69 a month for one partner or shareholder
Our overall best online bookkeeping service is Bench because it provides bookkeeping support at a lower cost than many similar platforms while also offering tax assistance and payroll integration. It even has catch-up bookkeeping services—ideal if you have fallen more than two years behind in your bookkeeping. While the service alone doesn’t let you create invoices and manage bill pay and payroll, it’ll work closely with accounting software, like FreshBooks, so you can perform such essential tasks.
Freelancers and startups often working 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.
For a direct comparison of Bench with other online bookkeeping services, see our comparisons of:
Xendoo: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Franchise & Ecommerce Businesses
Pros
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Integrates with Xero and QuickBooks
- Mobile app
- Catch-up bookkeeping available
Cons
- Accrual-based accounting isn’t available with Essential plan
- Invoicing and bill pay services aren’t offered
- No free trial
Pricing
Xendoo offers three subscription plans, which are based on the monthly expenses of your business and the number of bank and credit card accounts that are connected. Custom plans are also available for businesses with more than $125,000 in monthly expenses.
Services are pay-as-you-go and are charged at the beginning of your subscription term. If you sign up annually, you’ll receive a 10% discount. A 30-day notice is required for cancellation:
- Essential:$395 per month for up to $50,000 in monthly expenses and up to four bank/credit card accounts
- Growth:$695 per month for up to $75,000 in monthly expenses and up to six bank/credit card accounts
- Scale:$995 for up to $125,000 in monthly expenses and up to 12 bank/credit card accounts
Add-ons:
- Catch-up bookkeeping:Starts at $295 per month
- Fractional chief financial officer (CFO) services:Starts at $1,500 per month
- Year-round tax support and filing:Add to any plan for $1,200 per year
Xendoo is a technology-based online bookkeeping and accounting service. It gives you access to a dedicated team of finance experts who will provide bookkeeping, tax preparation, tax consulting, and filing services. With transparent pricing that’s based on your monthly expenses and available catch-up bookkeeping, it is an excellent option for businesses looking for an all-in-one accounting solution.
我们选择它作为最好的在线记帐服务公司ice for franchise businesses because of its scalable and customizable features that give you access to revenue trends and most profitable franchisees. You’ll also receive one-click access to your financials via an online portal and mobile app. Xendoo is also an excellent choice for ecommerce businesses because of its integrations with inventory tracking solutions and seller marketplace apps, such as Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, and BigCommerce.
See ourcomparison of Xendoo vs Benchto learn more about how one performs against the other.
Bookkeeper.com: Best Virtual Full-service Accounting Firm
Pros
- 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
Cons
- No mobile app
- 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
Pricing
Bookkeeper.com has four subscription levels, 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美元每月每蒙特100交易h
- Small Business Plus (semimonthly):$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 is cloud-based with a wide range of add-on services available, including bill pay, tax return preparation, and payroll. It also offers business, financial planning, and tax advice for free. It even provides 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 looking to outsource their bookkeeping with a full-service accounting firm.
For a direct comparison of Bookkeeper.com with other online bookkeeping services, see our guides:
QuickBooks Live: Best for Assistance With QuickBooks Online
Pros
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Monthly financial reports
- No contract required
- 100% Accurate Books Guarantee
Cons
- Requires a separate subscription to QuickBooks Online
- 不包括分期付款,发票的客户,ccounts receivable (A/R), or accounts payable (A/P)
- No financial and tax advice
- Accrual method accounting isn’t supported
- No inventory management
Pricing
There are three pricing tiers for QuickBooks Live, which are based on your business’s monthly expenses. In addition to the cost of QuickBooks Live, you will pay a monthly subscription fee for QuickBooks Online, which ranges from $30 to $200.
Your first month of service with QuickBooks Live is dedicated to onboarding and cleaning up your books at a cost of $500. After that, you will pay the fee for the applicable pricing tier.
- Low volume:$200 per month for up to $10,000 in monthly expenses
- Medium volume:$300 per month for $10,000 to $50,000 in monthly expenses
- High volume:$400 per month for more than $50,000 in monthly expenses
Although a free trial is unavailable for QuickBooks Live, there is no contract, and you can cancel anytime.
QuickBooks Live is an online bookkeeping service that’s offered directly by QuickBooks Online, which we ranked as thebest small business accounting software. QuickBooks Live excels at helping QuickBooks users with the fundamentals of managing bank feeds, classifying transactions, reconciling accounts, and printing financial statements.
After you’re matched with a dedicated bookkeeper, 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 monthly, your bookkeeper won’t pay bills, send invoices, manage inventory, and provide financial advice.
See how QuickBooks Live stacks up against some of its major competitors:
Bookkeeper360: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Xero Users
Pros
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Uses Xero or QuickBooks bookkeeping software
- Free consultations
- Wide range of services and tailored solutions
- Accrual basis accounting available
Cons
- Pay-as-you-go plan requires a $500 initial retainer
- More expensive than other options
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:$125 per hour for support for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses
- Monthly:Starts at $399 per month for cash and $549 for accrual for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses; support included
- Weekly:Starts at $549 per month for cash and $749 for accrual for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses; support and advanced reporting included
Add-ons:
- Invoicing & Bill Pay:Starts at $150 per month
- Payroll & HR:Starts at $46 per month
- CFO Advisory:Starts at $1,000 per month
- Tax filing:$800 per business filing and $300 per individual filing
Bookkeeper360 offers both accounting and cloud-based bookkeeping services and business advisory services. Because it’s a Xero Platinum Partner, it’s ideal for small businesses that use Xero bookkeeping 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 CFO advisory services available. While Bookkeeper360 is our best recommendation for Xero users, it also works well for QuickBooks Online users dissatisfied with the limited services of QuickBooks Live.
For a direct comparison of Bookkeeper360 with other online bookkeeping services, see our articles:
Merritt Bookkeeping: Best User Review Ratings for Basic Bookkeeping Services
Pros
- 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with services
- Catch-up bookkeeping available at a discounted rate
- Budget-friendly, flat-rate pricing with no setup charges
- Quick setup and initiation process
- Outstanding user reviews of 4.9 out of 5 stars
Cons
- No accrual basis accounting
- No personal access to your QuickBooks files
- Only basic bookkeeping services offered; no payroll, tax, and invoicing
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 the number of employees.
Merritt Bookkeeping is 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 ranked high among users, with the best scores of all providers listed here, and is praised for its ease of use and accessible customer service.
Its 100% money-back guarantee is also an attractive feature. You can use its monthly financial reports to assist with filing taxes, and it provides a simplified issuance and electronic filing of 1099s for your contractors at an additional fee.
It works with businesses using QuickBooks—and while it doesn’t offer many of the advanced tools that other online bookkeeping services provide, it’s easy to use and has a quick setup process. If you’re behind on your books, catch-up bookkeeping is available.
Read ourMerritt Bookkeeping vs QuickBooks LiveandMerritt Bookkeeping vs Benchcomparison guides to see how Merritt stacks up against its major competitors.
Pilot: Best Online Bookkeeping Service for Startups
Pros
- Dedicated bookkeeper
- Accrual-based accounting available
- Industry-specific financial reports
- Add-ons available for bill pay, invoicing, tax, and CFO services
Cons
- Businesses must use QuickBooks Online
- Financial statements are accrual-basis only
- Plans are more expensive than other providers listed here
- Payroll services are unavailable
- Plans must be prepaid annually
Pricing
Pilot offers three bookkeeping plans and scale with your monthly expenses and your business needs:
- Starter:Start at $499 per month for less than $30,000 in monthly expenses; includes features like dedicated finance expert, financial statements, and support
- Core:Start at $699 per month for less than $30,000 in monthly expenses; includes everything in Core plus priority support and expedited books delivery, among others
- Plus:Custom pricing; best for large businesses with complex needs
Add-ons:
- Pilot CFO:Starts at $1,350 per month, billed annually for monthly engagement and $8,100 per year for annual budgeting and forecasting
- Pilot Tax:Starts at $2,450 per year for tax services, which includes federal corporate income tax and 1099 filing
- A/P and A/R:Starts at $125 per hour for support with paying bills and creating and sending invoices
- Controller services:Starts at $200 per hour for assistance with cost of goods sold (COGS) categorization, revenue recognition best practices, and other services as needed
Pilot is a financial services firm that provides bookkeeping, tax, and CFO advisory services for startups and small businesses. Its services are built around the needs of startup companies backed by venture capitalists.
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 with QuickBooks.
Check out ourPilot vs QuickBooks Live comparisonto learn more about how one stacks up against the other.
Block Advisors: Best Online Bookkeeping Firm That Includes Low-priced Tax Preparation
Pros
- 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 available
- Ability to import documents like W-2s and 1099s by snapping a photo
Cons
- No desktop software
- No dedicated mobile app
- DIY option unavailable 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
Pricing
Block Advisors offers two levels of pricing for bookkeeping services and one for tax preparation:
- Bookkeeping Starter:Starts at $50 per month
- Bookkeeping Full-Service:Starts at $150 per month
- Tax Filing Full-Service: Starts at $220
Block Advisors is 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 its do-it-yourself (DIY) option, with assistance available via live chat, phone, and video conference.
Its 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.
1 - 800 -账户ant: Best for New Nonprofit Organizations
Pros
- Can manage multiple business entities
- Mobile app
- Dedicated accountants
Cons
- No monthly subscription option; only annual
- Bookkeeping services available only in Enterprise
- Financial reports available only in Enterprise
Pricing
A free live bookkeeping consultation is required before signing up, and services are billed annually. You also have the option of customizing a package that is more specifically tailored to your business needs. Bookkeeping services and financial reports are available only with an Enterprise subscription, while business and personal tax preparation services are available with the Corporation and Enterprise plans.
- Business:$139 per month for year-round tax advice and proactive tax planning
- Corporation:$239 per month for year-round tax advice, proactive tax planning, and tax preparation
- Enterprise:$399 per month for year-round tax advice, proactive tax planning, bookkeeping, and tax preparation
1 - 800 -账户ant is a nationwide virtual accounting firm that will handle all of your accounting needs, from bookkeeping to tax preparation and filing. With its powerful mobile app, it is also useful for businesses working remotely. 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.
The solution is ideal for nonprofits because it can support the business at every stage—from walking you through setup requirements and filing your 501(c)(3) application to educating you about compliance and performing ongoing bookkeeping. Bookkeeping services start at $399 monthly and are only available with the Enterprise plan, which also includes priority support and access to financial reports.
我们如何评估在线记账服务吗
We evaluated the best online bookkeeping services based on the following criteria:
35%of Overall Score
Because each plan depends on many factors, we looked at the value provided in terms of the time and potential money that you’re saving by using the service.
20% of Overall Score
You should be able to access a dedicated bookkeeper for any questions or advice and one-on-one assistance.
15% of Overall Score
The best online bookkeeping service should offer a wide range of bookkeeping solutions, including catch-up bookkeeping, invoicing, bill pay, bank reconciliation, payroll, and tax filing.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated whether the online bookkeeping service offered tax and consulting, and the scope of those services.
20% of Overall Score
We consider the opinion of users and the service’s ratings on various review sites. These criteria were disregarded for providers where no reviews were found.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
一个虚拟的会计处理您的记账雷莫tely, and all communication and storage of financial documents are handled within the bookkeeping software. They will categorize your transactions and prepare financial statements for your review. Depending on the service you select, they may also pay bills, invoice clients, process payroll, and prepare your income taxes.
You should outsource your bookkeeping tasks to a virtual bookkeeper if you don’t have the time for and knowledge of DIY bookkeeping. As your business grows and your financial transactions increase, you will need a virtual bookkeeper to do routine tasks, like classifying transactions and reconciling bank accounts.
The leading online bookkeeping services offer many levels of security. The best way to ensure that your data is secure is to look for security features like documentation that show frequent security updates and patches, intrusion detection, data encryption, and multifactor authentication (MFA).
A few benefits of using an online bookkeeping service include increased efficiency and accuracy, access to expert advice and insights, cost savings, real-time financial reporting, and reduced administrative burden for business owners.
There are many factors to consider, such as if they can handle the accounting tasks you want to outsource and if they offer the services you need at present and in the future at a cost you can afford. You will also want to take into account which accounting method the bookkeeper uses and how often you will communicate with them. Other questions to consider include whether the service is able to accommodate your accounting software and if you will require catch-up bookkeeping services. We suggest reading ourguide on how to choose a virtual bookkeeperfor the step-by-step process.
Bottom Line
The best online bookkeeping services depend on the exact needs of your business. If you have fallen behind on your books and you want to get caught up, Bench might be the best option for you. If you’re using QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Live can match you with a ProAdvisor to help you manage your books. If you need other services aside from bookkeeping, such as financial planning, tax advice, and payroll, you should consider Bookkeeper.com.