A closer look at our picks for the top bookkeeping services

Why we picked it: Bookkeeper360 is our top selection for online bookkeeping service because of its scalability, wide range of add-on services and multiple accounting integrations. Some online bookkeeping services either only integrate with QuickBooks or use proprietary accounting software, which makes it difficult to switch accounting services down the road. But Bookkeeper 360 integrates with Xero and QuickBooks. If you’re looking to scale up as your business grows, you can upgrade to weekly (instead of monthly) financial reports and choose from a number of add-on services to receive support for payroll, human resources, invoicing and tax filing. This makes the product a good fit for small businesses of varying complexity.

Why we picked it: Merritt’s bookkeepers work in QuickBooks to categorize your bank transactions each month and produce simple financial reports for you to work from. During tax season, the team will be in touch with your CPA as needed and will also issue 1099s. As you might expect based on the lower price point, Merritt’s offerings are lighter than some of its competitors: It doesn’t offer payroll or HR support, financial forecasting, accrual basis accounting or tax planning.

Why we picked it: Because Bench uses proprietary accounting software, it's best suited to businesses that are fairly new and haven't become too reliant on third-party accounting software yet. Although that lack of integration could make switching accounting software down the road a pain if you outgrow Bench, you can still access your financial data after canceling your subscription. It also offers a plan with unlimited income tax support and annual tax filing services.

Why we picked it: Pilot caters to startup businesses at all stages by offering a lower-cost Starter plan for pre-revenue companies as well as add-on support for R&D tax credit services, stock administration and strategic financial planning support for CFOs. The company also calculates burn rate, an important metric for venture capital-backed companies. And while other services primarily focus on cash basis bookkeeping, Pilot stands out for operating on an accrual basis only.

» MORE: Best accounting software for startups

Why we picked it: QuickBooks Live is a bookkeeping service available to QuickBooks Online users; you can subscribe to it through your account. When matching you with a bookkeeper, the company will try to select someone who has experience in your industry and has similar availability. Bookkeepers can provide monthly financial reports, but they can’t help with tax planning, sending invoices or managing payroll.

» MORE: Explore QuickBooks pricing

Why we picked it: Unlike some competitors that offer tax support only as an add-on, 1-800Accountant’s bookkeeping plan (Enterprise) includes it. On average, according to the company, this helps businesses save over $12,000 in taxes per year. The proprietary software also includes built-in accounting features like invoicing, bank connections, receipt storage and mileage tracking.

While 1-800Accountant offers less expensive plans that may be useful for businesses that need only tax advice and quarterly reviews, only its most expensive Enterprise plan comes with bookkeeping services.

Why we picked it: In addition to accounting and bookkeeping services, Decimal has add-ons for job costing and project-based accounting, which is a plus for businesses that need assistance gauging project profitability. Accounting software typically comes with project-tracking features, but analyzing the resulting figures can be time-consuming. Outsourcing the task can help you quickly parse out which types of projects are worth your business’s time and effort.

Why we picked it: Whereas multiple bookkeeping services integrate with QuickBooks Online and Xero, inDinero’s Growth plan also accommodates clients that work with NetSuite, a popular enterprise resource system for more complex, growing businesses. Note, however, that the lowest-tier Essential plan uses proprietary software and lacks integrations with QuickBooks Online or NetSuite. Considering the price point and more advanced CFO-level features you can add to your plan, inDinero is best suited for medium-sized and quickly growing businesses.

» MORE: Bookkeeping best practices for startups and small businesses

How to choose bookkeeping services

Ask yourself the following questions to find the right online bookkeeping service for your business:

Is the bookkeeping service compatible with your accounting method?

There are two accounting methods: cash basis and accrual basis. Cash basis accounting is much simpler, which is why many bookkeeping services offer it at a lower price. But accrual accounting can give you a better understanding of where your business stands. So, choose a service that does the right accounting for your business's size and complexity.

Does it integrate with your accounting software?

Lots of bookkeeping services are built to run on QuickBooks, an industry leader in accounting and bookkeeping software. Some services also support Xero, another popular cloud-based accounting software. If you're comfortable with your current software, ensure your bookkeeping service supports it.

Do you need add-on services outside of basic bookkeeping tasks?

Not all bookkeeping services offer the same add-on features. Some business owners, for example, might want their bookkeeper to handle payroll, HR or other back-office jobs like invoicing, bill pay and inventory management on top of fielding basic bookkeeping tasks. Or, if it isn’t already included, you may be looking for tax support to take some of the pressure off when it's time to file returns. These services can help you claim the correct small-business tax credits and deductions, prepare your returns and file them. Even if a bookkeeping service has all of these add-ons, they can be expensive, so be sure you understand the total cost before choosing a service.

Will you require catch-up bookkeeping services?

If you haven't always been diligent about your financial record-keeping, most bookkeeping services will go through your old receipts, invoices and bank statements to bring your books up to date. This service usually carries an additional fee, so it's important to price out your catch-up bookkeeping costs while searching for a bookkeeping service.

How often do you want to communicate with your bookkeeper?

Online bookkeeping services typically offer a dedicated contact or team — but these are still virtual bookkeepers, available by email or occasionally by phone. If you don't want to communicate virtually, these bookkeeper interview questions can help you find a resource near you.

Online services may offer one-on-one meetings, but you might have to pay more. If you want a higher level of support in the future, such as chief financial officer or CFO-style services, consider choosing a bookkeeping service that will allow you to upgrade later.

What’s your online bookkeeping services budget?

Online bookkeeping services typically range from around $200 per month to well over $500 per month if you opt for more frequent reports or back-office add-ons. Depending on the bookkeeping service, costs also rise when your business’s monthly expenses exceed a particular threshold. The decision comes down to whether the time saved is worth the expense.

When comparing services, ensure you're pricing out all the features you need, including add-on services like tax prep, payroll and HR. If you're considering a bookkeeping service that runs on QuickBooks or Xero, include the cost of that software, too. Take advantage of product demos and introductory calls to find the right service.

» MORE: Best accounting and bookkeeping apps

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

To determine the best bookkeeping services, NerdWallet considered the following features: