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QuickBooks Live
Best for QuickBooks users
Plus first-month cleanup fee. Price increases as average monthly expenses increase.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Fully integrated with QuickBooks Online.
- If you think your bookkeeper has made a mistake, QuickBooks will evaluate the situation and correct errors at no additional cost.
- No cap on meetings with your bookkeeper; QuickBooks says small-business owners usually schedule one or two video appointments per month.
Cons
- No tax prep or accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
- Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
- Prices increase after business exceeds $10,000 in average monthly expenses.
Bookkeeper360
Best for Overall bookkeeping service
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399, $599.
Pros
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
- More complex businesses can subscribe to plans with advanced reporting and accrual basis accounting.
- Offers add-ons for tax planning, payroll and HR, and back-office tasks like invoicing, bill pay and expense reimbursements.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $20,000 in monthly expenses.
Merritt Bookkeeping
Best for Businesses on a budget
Pros
- Flat rate of $190 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
- No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
Pilot
Best for Fast-growing startups
Plus onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping. Custom pricing also available.
for pre-revenue companies.
Pros
- Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
- Offers separate tax preparation plans and add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration and billable expenses.
- Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $30,000 in monthly expenses.
- Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Bench
Best for New businesses
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $499.
Pros
- Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
- Premium plan covers annual income tax filing for businesses and individuals.
- Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and specialized bookkeeping.
Cons
- No integration with QuickBooks, Xero or other accounting software. Business owners have to use Bench’s proprietary software, which could make it hard to move to another provider in the future.
- No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
1-800Accountant
Best for Tax support
Pros
- Includes business and personal tax preparation, plus year-round tax advice.
- Has add-on payroll services and catch-up bookkeeping.
- Offers less expensive plans for businesses that need tax support and a dedicated accountant, but not bookkeeping assistance.
Cons
- Accountant meetings occur quarterly, which is less frequent than some competitors.
- Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
Decimal
Best for Project-based businesses
Quote-based.
Pros
- Add-ons for job costing and project-based accounting may be especially useful for project-based businesses. Other add-ons include inventory management, payroll and 1099 support.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
Cons
- Provides you with tax-ready financials, but recommends its partners for other tax support and CFO services.
inDinero
Best for Midsize businesses
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $1,250, custom.
Pros
- Integrates with NetSuite, making it a good fit for midsize businesses. It’s also compatible with QuickBooks Online.
- Will provide financial reports as often as you’d like.
- Customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support. Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
Cons
- Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
- Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
- Default
- NerdWallet rating (high to low)
- Starting at (low to high)
QuickBooks Live
Best for QuickBooks users
Plus first-month cleanup fee. Price increases as average monthly expenses increase.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Fully integrated with QuickBooks Online.
- If you think your bookkeeper has made a mistake, QuickBooks will evaluate the situation and correct errors at no additional cost.
- No cap on meetings with your bookkeeper; QuickBooks says small-business owners usually schedule one or two video appointments per month.
Cons
- No tax prep or accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
- Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
- Prices increase after business exceeds $10,000 in average monthly expenses.
Pros
- Fully integrated with QuickBooks Online.
- If you think your bookkeeper has made a mistake, QuickBooks will evaluate the situation and correct errors at no additional cost.
- No cap on meetings with your bookkeeper; QuickBooks says small-business owners usually schedule one or two video appointments per month.
Cons
- No tax prep or accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
- Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
- Prices increase after business exceeds $10,000 in average monthly expenses.
Pros
- Fully integrated with QuickBooks Online.
- If you think your bookkeeper has made a mistake, QuickBooks will evaluate the situation and correct errors at no additional cost.
- No cap on meetings with your bookkeeper; QuickBooks says small-business owners usually schedule one or two video appointments per month.
Cons
- No tax prep or accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
- Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
- Prices increase after business exceeds $10,000 in average monthly expenses.
Bookkeeper360
Best for Overall bookkeeping service
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399, $599.
Pros
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
- More complex businesses can subscribe to plans with advanced reporting and accrual basis accounting.
- Offers add-ons for tax planning, payroll and HR, and back-office tasks like invoicing, bill pay and expense reimbursements.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $20,000 in monthly expenses.
Pros
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
- More complex businesses can subscribe to plans with advanced reporting and accrual basis accounting.
- Offers add-ons for tax planning, payroll and HR, and back-office tasks like invoicing, bill pay and expense reimbursements.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $20,000 in monthly expenses.
Pros
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
- More complex businesses can subscribe to plans with advanced reporting and accrual basis accounting.
- Offers add-ons for tax planning, payroll and HR, and back-office tasks like invoicing, bill pay and expense reimbursements.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $20,000 in monthly expenses.
Merritt Bookkeeping
Best for Businesses on a budget
Pros
- Flat rate of $190 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
- No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
Pros
- Flat rate of $190 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
- No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
Pros
- Flat rate of $190 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
- No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
Pilot
Best for Fast-growing startups
Plus onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping. Custom pricing also available.
for pre-revenue companies.
Pros
- Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
- Offers separate tax preparation plans and add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration and billable expenses.
- Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $30,000 in monthly expenses.
- Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Pros
- Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
- Offers separate tax preparation plans and add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration and billable expenses.
- Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $30,000 in monthly expenses.
- Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Pros
- Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
- Offers separate tax preparation plans and add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration and billable expenses.
- Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $30,000 in monthly expenses.
- Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Bench
Best for New businesses
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $499.
Pros
- Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
- Premium plan covers annual income tax filing for businesses and individuals.
- Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and specialized bookkeeping.
Cons
- No integration with QuickBooks, Xero or other accounting software. Business owners have to use Bench’s proprietary software, which could make it hard to move to another provider in the future.
- No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
Pros
- Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
- Premium plan covers annual income tax filing for businesses and individuals.
- Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and specialized bookkeeping.
Cons
- No integration with QuickBooks, Xero or other accounting software. Business owners have to use Bench’s proprietary software, which could make it hard to move to another provider in the future.
- No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
Pros
- Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
- Premium plan covers annual income tax filing for businesses and individuals.
- Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and specialized bookkeeping.
Cons
- No integration with QuickBooks, Xero or other accounting software. Business owners have to use Bench’s proprietary software, which could make it hard to move to another provider in the future.
- No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
1-800Accountant
Best for Tax support
Pros
- Includes business and personal tax preparation, plus year-round tax advice.
- Has add-on payroll services and catch-up bookkeeping.
- Offers less expensive plans for businesses that need tax support and a dedicated accountant, but not bookkeeping assistance.
Cons
- Accountant meetings occur quarterly, which is less frequent than some competitors.
- Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
Pros
- Includes business and personal tax preparation, plus year-round tax advice.
- Has add-on payroll services and catch-up bookkeeping.
- Offers less expensive plans for businesses that need tax support and a dedicated accountant, but not bookkeeping assistance.
Cons
- Accountant meetings occur quarterly, which is less frequent than some competitors.
- Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
Pros
- Includes business and personal tax preparation, plus year-round tax advice.
- Has add-on payroll services and catch-up bookkeeping.
- Offers less expensive plans for businesses that need tax support and a dedicated accountant, but not bookkeeping assistance.
Cons
- Accountant meetings occur quarterly, which is less frequent than some competitors.
- Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
Decimal
Best for Project-based businesses
Quote-based.
Pros
- Add-ons for job costing and project-based accounting may be especially useful for project-based businesses. Other add-ons include inventory management, payroll and 1099 support.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
Cons
- Provides you with tax-ready financials, but recommends its partners for other tax support and CFO services.
Pros
- Add-ons for job costing and project-based accounting may be especially useful for project-based businesses. Other add-ons include inventory management, payroll and 1099 support.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
Cons
- Provides you with tax-ready financials, but recommends its partners for other tax support and CFO services.
Pros
- Add-ons for job costing and project-based accounting may be especially useful for project-based businesses. Other add-ons include inventory management, payroll and 1099 support.
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
Cons
- Provides you with tax-ready financials, but recommends its partners for other tax support and CFO services.
inDinero
Best for Midsize businesses
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $1,250, custom.
Pros
- Integrates with NetSuite, making it a good fit for midsize businesses. It’s also compatible with QuickBooks Online.
- Will provide financial reports as often as you’d like.
- Customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support. Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
Cons
- Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
- Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
Pros
- Integrates with NetSuite, making it a good fit for midsize businesses. It’s also compatible with QuickBooks Online.
- Will provide financial reports as often as you’d like.
- Customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support. Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
Cons
- Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
- Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
Pros
- Integrates with NetSuite, making it a good fit for midsize businesses. It’s also compatible with QuickBooks Online.
- Will provide financial reports as often as you’d like.
- Customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support. Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
Cons
- Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
- Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
How do top bookkeeping services compare?
| 1-800Accountant | Bench | Bookkeeper 360 | Decimal | inDinero | Merritt Bookkeeping | Pilot | QuickBooks Live | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrates with popular accounting software | ✖ | ✖ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reconciles transactions | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Provides financial reports | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Offers add-ons such as tax preparation, payroll and HR | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✖ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Offers catch-up bookkeeping services | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✖ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to bookkeepers by phone | ✖ | ✅ | ✅ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |










