Bench Accounting Review 2026 | The Lock-In Risk
In this Bench Accounting review, we examine how Bench’s proprietary software-as-a-service solution stacks up against the professional oversight of Maxim Liberty. Following the abrupt Service Closure (Shutdown) in December 2024—where thousands of businesses were temporarily locked out of their books—many founders are re-evaluating the risks of proprietary platforms. Below, we peel back the curtain on Bench’s recent acquisition, its D- reliability rating, and why owning your own financial data in QuickBooks or Xero is the only way to ensure long-term business stability.
2026 Update: Following the service disruptions in late 2024 where customers lost data access, and the subsequent acquisition by Employers.com, Bench has faced a flood of complaints regarding late filings and unresponsive support. This review focuses on Data Portability and Operational Reliability.Bench Accounting Review 2026: Why Data Ownership Matters More Than Ever
Maxim Liberty: The #1 Human-Led Authority
#1 Ranked on Clutch.co #1 on Solution Scout #1 on Tech Times
A+ Accredited by BBB
All 5-Star Customer Reviews
Featured on ForbesAt a Glance: The “Data Lock-In” Scorecard
| Factors | Bench Accounting | Maxim Liberty | The Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | Better Quality | ||
| BBB Rating |
D- (Not Accredited) |
A+ (Accredited) | BBB A+ |
| Software Freedom |
Propietary Lock-in |
ANY (Industry Standard) | Flexibility |
| Data Ownership |
Bench.co |
You | Portability |
| Years in Business | 14+ Years (Since 2012) | 20+ Years (Since 2005) | Established |
| Cash-Basis (Monthly) | $199 / Month* | $60 / Month** | 70% Savings |
| Accrual Basis |  Not offered | $60 / Month** | Better Compliance |
| Money Back Guarantee | No | Up to 12 months** | Flexibility |
| AP / AR Operations | Not offered | Incl. in $240/mo plan | Ops Support |
| Catch-up Bookkeeping | $4,800 / Yr (Free for 2025) | Included at $12 / Hr | Cost-Effective Cleanup |
| White-label (CPA) | Not offered | $270 / Month | 20+ Years Experience |
- * Bench Accounting pricing reflects their “Grow” plan billed monthly.
- ** Maxim Liberty Starter Plan involves a $720 deposit for 60 hours to be used within 12 months, effectively $60/mo. The guarantee covers the entire first deposit, making your first 12 months 100% risk-free. All Maxim Liberty deposits are fully refundable on remaining hours.
The Verdict: Real Customer Experiences
Bench.co Reality (1-Star Rating)
“Bench is the worst accounting company I’ve ever worked with. They are quick to bill you but incredibly slow to respond to their many mistakes. Their turnover rate is off the charts—expect a new accountant every month and having to re-explain the same recurring categorizations every single time. Your books will be late.”
“[They wrongly charged me.] I canceled 2 years ago, but they randomly shut down and ghosted everyone in late 2025. Then they charged my card anyway. They disabled my customer chat and never pick up the phone. This is the most fraudulent experience I’ve ever had.”
“Ignored my directions from the start resulting in late filings and thousands of dollars of penalties… now I can’t get a hold of anyone.”
“I had to manually categorize all transactions; I may as well have done it myself with QuickBooks… my taxes still haven’t been filed.”
“Charged $7500 for my 2023 tax return… resulted in me having to overpay for bad service.”
Maxim Liberty (5-Star Rating)
“Wrapped up our fiscal year much more accurately than Bench (by a mile), for less than half the price. I started using Maxim when Bench suddenly closed up shop. They were SO supportive and fast bringing all our records over. For 2025, their monthly bookkeeping is extremely accurate. They also did our Corporate taxes for about half of what we paid last year!”
“I’ve been working with Maxim Liberty for two years on my small business books. I can’t recommend them enough! I have my own dedicated team and my primary bookkeeper, Mohan, is incredibly quick to reply and always so thorough. I have worked with several different bookkeepers and online solutions over the past 21 years and feel I will not need to change again as long as I keep my business! Highly recommended !!”
“Rockstars! What an awesome solution for its daily/monthly bookkeeping. Reliable, friendly, professional, and fairly priced.”
“They have been an integral part of growing our business. I highly recommend for reconciliations, payroll, and reporting.”
“Trusted partner… always staying ahead of schedule. Their level of customer service is excellent.”
Breaking the Proprietary Barrier: Software Agility
Success means outgrowing simple software. Bench’s reliance on their own “Closed-Source” platform creates a massive risk. At Maxim Liberty, we believe your bookkeeping should adapt to your business—not the other way around.
Human-Led Bookkeeping for Your Choice of Software
As a startup morphs into an enterprise, its financial needs become more complex. Maxim Liberty provides the human-led agility to manage your books on any platform you choose, ensuring you own your data forever:
Specialized Growth & Industry Mastery:
- Property Management: AppFolio, Buildium and Stessa.
- ERP Systems: SAP Business One and NetSuite.
- Construction: Sage 300 CRE and QuickBooks for Construction.
Locked into Bench.co? We can Help.
Don’t let your data disappear. Maxim Liberty specializes in Bench-to-QuickBooks Migrations. We will export your historical data and rebuild it in your own account so you own it forever.
Pricing: Bench.co vs. Maxim Liberty
| Service Feature | Bench Accounting | Maxim Liberty | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash-Basis (Monthly) | $199 / mo* | Standard ($60 / mo) | $1,668 / Yr Savings |
| Accrual Basis | Not offered | Standard ($60 / mo) | Better Compliance |
| Weekly Updates | Not offered | Standard ($120 / mo) | Frequent Insight |
| Daily Updates | Not offered | Standard ($240 / mo) | Real-time Insight |
| AP / AR Operations | Not offered | Standard ($240 / mo) | Ops Managed |
| Back Office Support | Not offered | Standard ($240 / mo) | Ops Managed |
| Virtual CFO | Not offered | $700 / mo (up to 20 hours) | Financial Leadership |
- * Bench pricing based on “Bookkeeping Grow” ($199/mo) and “Bookkeeping Core” ($399/mo) billed monthly. Bench does not offer a mechanism for daily or weekly bookkeeping cycles, which are critical for high-volume businesses.
Choosing a bookkeeping partner isn’t just about software; it’s about reliability. Bench’s proprietary model puts your data at risk during service disruptions. Maxim Liberty provides human-led accuracy with a transparent, refundable guarantee on the software you choose.
