Best Online Bookkeeping Services of 2026

The best bookkeeping services handle your tasks without breaking your business’s budget. Look for dedicated access with a live bookkeeper, and consider add-ons like tax planning, payroll and HR support.

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

Bookkeeper360

Best for Overall bookkeeping service

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Starting at
$399/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $599.
Promotion
N/A

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.
  • Email, phone and mobile app support.

Cons

  • Assigns you an accounting team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.

QuickBooks Live

Best for QuickBooks users

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Starting at
$300/month
Plus first-month cleanup fee.
Promotion
N/A

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.
  • Can schedule monthly calls or video meetings with your dedicated bookkeeper.

Cons

  • No accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
  • Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
  • Must subscribe to Intuit Expert Business Tax for tax assistance.

Xendoo: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Tax Support

Best for Free review of your books

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on Xendoo's website

Pros

  • Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero. 
  • Offers tax filing, CFO and catch-up bookkeeping add-ons. 
  • Email and phone support, plus video meetings.

Cons

  • Assigns you a team of bookkeepers as opposed to one point of contact. 
  • No add-ons for back-office tasks like invoicing, inventory tracking or HR.

Pilot

Best for Fast-growing startups

Close
Starting at
$299/month (billed annually)
Plus onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Promotion
First-year $200 monthly discount
for pre-revenue companies.

Pros

  • Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
  • Offers separate tax preparation plans.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
  • Has add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration, catch-up bookkeeping and billable expenses.
  • Phone, email and in-app support.

Cons

  • Prices increase after business exceeds $15,000 in monthly expenses.
  • Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.

Bench

Best for New businesses

Close
Starting at
$199/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399, $599.
Promotion
One-month bookkeeping demo.

Pros

  • Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
  • Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and tax filing.
  • $199-per-month plan is less expensive than most competitors. 

Cons

  • Uses proprietary bookkeeping software; QuickBooks assistance costs $55 per hour and up.
  • No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
  • Assigns you to a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.

Merritt Bookkeeping

Best for Businesses on a budget

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Merritt Bookkeeping

Starting at
$250/month
Promotion
N/A

Pros

  • Flat rate of $250 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks.
  • 90-day money-back guarantee.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services.

Cons

  • No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
  • Assigns you a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated expert.

1-800Accountant

Best for Tax support

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1-800Accountant

Starting at
$469/month (billed annually)
Promotion
N/A

Pros

  • All plans include 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.
  • Chat, email and phone support.

Cons

  • Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
  • Only the highest plan includes full-service bookkeeping.

inDinero

Best for Midsize businesses

Close
inDinero

Starting at
$750/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $1,250, custom.
Promotion
N/A

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.
  • Can customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services. 
  • Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
  • Offers business tax assistance as well.

Cons

  • Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
  • Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
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Bookkeeper360

Best for Overall bookkeeping service

Bookkeeper360

Best for Overall bookkeeping service

Starting at
$399/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $599.
Promotion
N/A

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.
  • Email, phone and mobile app support.

Cons

  • Assigns you an accounting team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.
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 and tax filing. This makes the product a good fit for small businesses of varying complexity.
Read full review

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.
  • Email, phone and mobile app support.

Cons

  • Assigns you an accounting team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.
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 and tax filing. This makes the product a good fit for small businesses of varying complexity.
Read full review

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.
  • Email, phone and mobile app support.

Cons

  • Assigns you an accounting team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.

QuickBooks Live

Best for QuickBooks users

QuickBooks Live

Best for QuickBooks users

Starting at
$300/month
Plus first-month cleanup fee.
Promotion
N/A

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.
  • Can schedule monthly calls or video meetings with your dedicated bookkeeper.

Cons

  • No accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
  • Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
  • Must subscribe to Intuit Expert Business Tax for tax assistance.
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.
Read full review

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.
  • Can schedule monthly calls or video meetings with your dedicated bookkeeper.

Cons

  • No accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
  • Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
  • Must subscribe to Intuit Expert Business Tax for tax assistance.
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.
Read full review

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.
  • Can schedule monthly calls or video meetings with your dedicated bookkeeper.

Cons

  • No accrual basis accounting, even as an add-on service.
  • Mandatory first-month setup fee to clean up your books.
  • Must subscribe to Intuit Expert Business Tax for tax assistance.

Xendoo: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Tax Support

Best for Free review of your books

Xendoo: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Tax Support

Best for Free review of your books

Starting at
$355/month (billed annually)
Additional pricing tiers (per month, billed annually): $625, $895.
Promotion
Free review of your books

on Xendoo's website

Pros

  • Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero. 
  • Offers tax filing, CFO and catch-up bookkeeping add-ons. 
  • Email and phone support, plus video meetings.

Cons

  • Assigns you a team of bookkeepers as opposed to one point of contact. 
  • No add-ons for back-office tasks like invoicing, inventory tracking or HR.
Xendoo stands out because its team will review your books before you even sign up. Most competitors don’t offer promotions. And if they do, it’s usually a demo or short consultation. Xendoo’s more personalized approach points out where your business’s financial records need improvement. This is a plus for business owners that are on the fence as to whether a bookkeeping service is worth it.

Pros

  • Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero. 
  • Offers tax filing, CFO and catch-up bookkeeping add-ons. 
  • Email and phone support, plus video meetings.

Cons

  • Assigns you a team of bookkeepers as opposed to one point of contact. 
  • No add-ons for back-office tasks like invoicing, inventory tracking or HR.
Xendoo stands out because its team will review your books before you even sign up. Most competitors don’t offer promotions. And if they do, it’s usually a demo or short consultation. Xendoo’s more personalized approach points out where your business’s financial records need improvement. This is a plus for business owners that are on the fence as to whether a bookkeeping service is worth it.

Pros

  • Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero. 
  • Offers tax filing, CFO and catch-up bookkeeping add-ons. 
  • Email and phone support, plus video meetings.

Cons

  • Assigns you a team of bookkeepers as opposed to one point of contact. 
  • No add-ons for back-office tasks like invoicing, inventory tracking or HR.

Pilot

Best for Fast-growing startups

Pilot

Best for Fast-growing startups

Starting at
$299/month (billed annually)
Plus onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Promotion
First-year $200 monthly discount
for pre-revenue companies.

Pros

  • Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
  • Offers separate tax preparation plans.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
  • Has add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration, catch-up bookkeeping and billable expenses.
  • Phone, email and in-app support.

Cons

  • Prices increase after business exceeds $15,000 in monthly expenses.
  • Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Pilot caters to startup businesses at all stages by offering a discounted Core plan for pre-revenue companies as well as add-on support for R&D tax credit services, stock administration and CFO support. The company also calculates burn rate, an important metric for venture capital-backed companies. Pilot stands out for supporting accrual basis bookkeeping as well. Alternatives primarily focus on cash basis bookkeeping.
Read full review

Pros

  • Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
  • Offers separate tax preparation plans.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
  • Has add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration, catch-up bookkeeping and billable expenses.
  • Phone, email and in-app support.

Cons

  • Prices increase after business exceeds $15,000 in monthly expenses.
  • Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.
Pilot caters to startup businesses at all stages by offering a discounted Core plan for pre-revenue companies as well as add-on support for R&D tax credit services, stock administration and CFO support. The company also calculates burn rate, an important metric for venture capital-backed companies. Pilot stands out for supporting accrual basis bookkeeping as well. Alternatives primarily focus on cash basis bookkeeping.
Read full review

Pros

  • Designed for startups that have high growth potential and use accrual basis accounting.
  • Offers separate tax preparation plans.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gusto and more.
  • Has add-ons for R&D tax claims, stock administration, catch-up bookkeeping and billable expenses.
  • Phone, email and in-app support.

Cons

  • Prices increase after business exceeds $15,000 in monthly expenses.
  • Mandatory onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping.

Bench

Best for New businesses

Bench

Best for New businesses

Starting at
$199/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399, $599.
Promotion
One-month bookkeeping demo.

Pros

  • Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
  • Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and tax filing.
  • $199-per-month plan is less expensive than most competitors. 

Cons

  • Uses proprietary bookkeeping software; QuickBooks assistance costs $55 per hour and up.
  • No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
  • Assigns you to a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.
Because Bench mainly 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 this could be a pain if you decide to unsubscribe from Bench, you can still access your financial data after canceling your subscription. The service also offers a plan with income tax support and annual tax filing services.
Read full review

Pros

  • Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
  • Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and tax filing.
  • $199-per-month plan is less expensive than most competitors. 

Cons

  • Uses proprietary bookkeeping software; QuickBooks assistance costs $55 per hour and up.
  • No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
  • Assigns you to a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.
Because Bench mainly 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 this could be a pain if you decide to unsubscribe from Bench, you can still access your financial data after canceling your subscription. The service also offers a plan with income tax support and annual tax filing services.
Read full review

Pros

  • Unlimited messaging and phone calls with your bookkeeper.
  • Offers add-ons for catch-up bookkeeping and tax filing.
  • $199-per-month plan is less expensive than most competitors. 

Cons

  • Uses proprietary bookkeeping software; QuickBooks assistance costs $55 per hour and up.
  • No invoicing, bill pay or payroll add-ons.
  • Assigns you to a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated bookkeeper.

Merritt Bookkeeping

Best for Businesses on a budget

Merritt Bookkeeping

Merritt Bookkeeping

Best for Businesses on a budget

Starting at
$250/month
Promotion
N/A

Pros

  • Flat rate of $250 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks.
  • 90-day money-back guarantee.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services.

Cons

  • No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
  • Assigns you a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated expert.
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, accrual basis accounting or tax planning.

Pros

  • Flat rate of $250 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks.
  • 90-day money-back guarantee.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services.

Cons

  • No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
  • Assigns you a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated expert.
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, accrual basis accounting or tax planning.

Pros

  • Flat rate of $250 per month is more affordable than other bookkeeping services.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks.
  • 90-day money-back guarantee.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services.

Cons

  • No add-on services, like tax planning or accrual basis accounting, outside of catch-up bookkeeping.
  • Assigns you a bookkeeping team as opposed to a single, dedicated expert.

1-800Accountant

Best for Tax support

1-800Accountant

1-800Accountant

Best for Tax support

Starting at
$469/month (billed annually)
Promotion
N/A

Pros

  • All plans include 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.
  • Chat, email and phone support.

Cons

  • Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
  • Only the highest plan includes full-service bookkeeping.
Unlike some competitors that offer tax support only as an add-on, 1-800Accountant focuses primarily on 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 $469-per-month plan comes with bookkeeping services.

Pros

  • All plans include 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.
  • Chat, email and phone support.

Cons

  • Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
  • Only the highest plan includes full-service bookkeeping.
Unlike some competitors that offer tax support only as an add-on, 1-800Accountant focuses primarily on 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 $469-per-month plan comes with bookkeeping services.

Pros

  • All plans include 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.
  • Chat, email and phone support.

Cons

  • Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to switch to another provider in the future.
  • Only the highest plan includes full-service bookkeeping.

inDinero

Best for Midsize businesses

inDinero

inDinero

Best for Midsize businesses

Starting at
$750/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $1,250, custom.
Promotion
N/A

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.
  • Can customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services. 
  • Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
  • Offers business tax assistance as well.

Cons

  • Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
  • Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
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.

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.
  • Can customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services. 
  • Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
  • Offers business tax assistance as well.

Cons

  • Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
  • Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.
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.

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.
  • Can customize plans to include other services like accounts receivable processing, inventory reconciliation and payroll support.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services. 
  • Higher-tier plans enable accrual accounting.
  • Offers business tax assistance as well.

Cons

  • Plans are expensive compared to competitors.
  • Custom plans make it difficult to predict exactly how much you’ll pay per month.

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How we select the best online bookkeeping services
Does your business need an online bookkeeping service?
What features do the best online bookkeeping services have?
Pros and cons of online bookkeeping services
How to choose the best online bookkeeping service
Table of Contents
  • How we select the best online bookkeeping services
  • Does your business need an online bookkeeping service?
  • What features do the best online bookkeeping services have?
  • Pros and cons of online bookkeeping services
  • How to choose the best online bookkeeping service

How we select the best online bookkeeping services

To make our list, online bookkeeping services had to check a majority of the following boxes:
  • Handles basic bookkeeping tasks. Our picks can categorize your transactions, reconcile your accounts and generate financial reports (e.g., profit and loss statement, balance sheet).
  • Integrates with QuickBooks and/or Xero. This makes it easier to switch bookkeeping services down the road. Other business software programs (e.g. for inventory, payroll, point-of-sale) often integrate with these popular accounting solutions too. That ensures transactions flow seamlessly between them. 
  • Supports cash and accrual bookkeeping. Cash basis bookkeeping can be sufficient for very small businesses. But you’ll want the option to implement accrual bookkeeping down the road should your business grow. 
  • Offers add-on features. These include tax support, payroll, inventory tracking and catch-up bookkeeping services.
  • Has multiple support channels. We look for solutions that offer some combo of phone, chat and email support. The option to schedule video calls with your bookkeeper is a plus.
All of our picks also have transparent monthly subscription pricing. This lets you quickly determine whether the service is within your budget. Monthly pricing also ensures bookkeepers complete all necessary tasks each month, regardless of the time commitment. This pricing structure is much more predictable than hourly pricing.

Does your business need an online bookkeeping service?

Most businesses should consider some form of bookkeeping assistance. That could be an online bookkeeping service, a freelance bookkeeper or a bookkeeping firm in your local area.
Bookkeeping may sound like a small commitment you can take on yourself. That typically doesn’t pan out, though. I made that mistake when my husband opened his brewery and I volunteered to take on bookkeeping tasks. I’m already certified in QuickBooks, so I thought it would be a breeze. But categorizing transactions, figuring cost of goods sold and adjusting inventory are time consuming. We eventually decided to outsource that job.
To complete bookkeeping tasksdo it correctly, you often need background knowledge on tax strategy and industry-specific accounting methods too. That’s where professionals come in.
Online bookkeeping services can be convenient for small businesses in popular industries, like retail and professional services. If your business is more specialized, however, we recommend asking fellow business owners for recommendations. This can help ensure your bookkeeper has experience in your specific industry.

What features do the best online bookkeeping services have?

Use the table below to find out which capabilities each product has. You can also filter by feature.

Pros and cons of online bookkeeping services

Online bookkeeping services can help give you back some of your time. But they aren’t for every business. If you’re looking for a more personalized approach, for example, you might vet bookkeepers in your local area.
Here are the main pros and cons to subscribing to an online bookkeeping service:
Pros
pros icon

It’s a convenient way to hand off bookkeeping tasks.

pros icon

Fixed monthly subscriptions (as opposed to an hourly rate) make it easy to predict costs.

pros icon

You can often bundle tax prep services with your bookkeeping subscription.

Cons
cons icon

Bookkeeping teams may not have ample experience in your industry.

cons icon

It can be difficult to build trust with your bookkeeper when you can’t meet them in person.

cons icon

Proprietary bookkeeping software could make it difficult to share records or collaborate with your accountant.

How to choose the best online bookkeeping service

Follow these steps to select the right online bookkeeping service for your business.
1. Confirm it fits within your budget
Online bookkeeping services usually start at around $200 per month. If you need add-on services for tax preparation or payroll management, expect to pay more. The same goes for if you require accrual bookkeeping as opposed to cash-basis.
2. Make sure it integrates with your accounting software
Most small businesses should choose a bookkeeping service that works within their existing accounting software. This makes it easier to keep all of your financial records in one place. The most popular accounting software integrations are QuickBooks Online and Xero.
If you use a different accounting software product, check its website. You’ll often find a list of bookkeeping partners and/or certified advisors.
3. Determine whether you require add-on services
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. Those could include invoicing, bill pay or inventory management.
Or, if it isn’t already included, you may be looking for tax support. These services can help you claim the correct small-business tax deductions, prepare your returns and file them.
Even if a bookkeeping service has all the add-ons you need, they can be expensive. So be sure you understand the total cost before moving forward.
4. Ask your accountant for a second opinion
Bookkeeping services are expensive — they often cost more than your accounting software. That’s why it’s important to seek out feedback before committing.
Your accountant likely works with multiple other small businesses that use some sort of bookkeeping service. Ask them how those products are working for their clients. See if they have any experience with the options you’re considering.
Last updated on July 2, 2026
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Xendoo

Built for Scaling Businesses

Xendoo: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Tax Support

Get a free review of your books

Xendoo: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Tax Support

Get a free review of your books

via Xendoo's website