An honest look at RemoteBooks Online — pricing, service scope, customer feedback, and how it compares to full-service bookkeeping
RemoteBooks Online Review (2026)
RemoteBooks Online is a virtual bookkeeping service that charges $150 per account per month, with $25 for each additional account. Founded in 2012, the company pairs each client with a dedicated bookkeeper and delivers monthly financial statements — positioning itself as an affordable alternative to in-house bookkeeping. But how does the service hold up in practice, and where does it fall short compared to a full-service provider?
Choosing the right virtual bookkeeping provider means sifting through dozens of options — each with different pricing, tech stacks, and service models. RemoteBooks Online positions itself as a budget-friendly choice for small businesses that use QuickBooks. Below, we break down their real pricing, service limits, and how they compare to a US-headquartered bookkeeping support team like Maxim Liberty.
Transparency Note: This review is researched and published by Maxim Liberty. While we are a direct competitor, we have utilized objective pricing data, BBB ratings, and verified customer reviews to provide a fair market analysis of the best bookkeeping services available.
At a Glance: RemoteBooks Online vs. Maxim Liberty
Before diving into the details, here is the head-to-head comparison. The data below comes from publicly listed pricing and verified service offerings:
| Factors | Remote Books Online | Maxim Liberty | The Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Monthly Price | $150/account/mo + $25/ea additional account | $75/mo (unlimited accounts, 5 hours) | 57% Savings |
| Account Limitations | +$25/mo per extra account | Unlimited accounts included | Flexible Pricing |
| Catch-Up Bookkeeping | ~$1,800+/yr (est. $150/mo per historical month) | $10–15/hr — no limit on how far back | 78% Savings |
| Special Plan for CPAs | None listed | Yes — $300/mo white-label plan | Built for CPAs |
| Enterprise AP/AR | Unavailable on standard plan | Yes — dedicated AP/AR ($15/hr) | Scales with You |
| Data Integrity | Users report deleted classes and chart changes | Maintains existing chart of accounts | Data Safety |
What Is RemoteBooks Online?
RemoteBooks Online is a US-based virtual bookkeeping service that handles transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, and monthly financial reporting. They support QuickBooks Online and Xero, and each client is assigned a dedicated bookkeeper. Their service includes CPA review of monthly deliverables.
RemoteBooks Online Pricing
RemoteBooks Online charges $150 per account per month. Each additional connected bank or credit card account costs $25 per month. For a more detailed breakdown, see our guide to bookkeeping costs.
1. The Per-Account Fee Model
Unlike flat-rate providers, RemoteBooks Online prices by the number of connected accounts. Here is how the math works for a typical small business:
- 1 account — $150/mo
- 2 accounts — $175/mo ($150 + $25)
- 4 accounts (e.g., 2 bank + 2 credit cards) — $225/mo ($150 + $75)
- 6 accounts — $275/mo ($150 + $125)
The more accounts you connect, the higher the monthly cost. For businesses with multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and payment processors, the per-account model adds up quickly.
The Maxim Liberty Difference: We start at just $75 per month. We do not charge per-account fees. You pay strictly for the time our bookkeepers actively spend working on your ledger, regardless of how many bank feeds are connected.
2. Catch-Up Bookkeeping Costs
If you are behind on your books, RemoteBooks Online generally charges a flat historical monthly rate (e.g., $150) for every historical month they process. If you need a full year of catch-up bookkeeping, you are looking at approximately $1,800 ($150 × 12).
The Maxim Liberty Difference: We recognize that processing 12 months of backlogged bookkeeping at once is highly efficient because rules and vendor categorizations carry over. We offer discounted catch-up pricing based on actual volume. For example, assuming 100 transactions per month (1,200 total) at $0.25 per transaction, plus basic setup, your catch-up cost with us would be roughly $400. That is a 78% savings compared to flat monthly multipliers. And there is no limit on how far back we can go — whether you need 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years of catch-up, we handle it all.
RemoteBooks Online: Pros and Cons
What RemoteBooks Online Does Well
- Affordable entry price — at $150/mo for a single account, RemoteBooks Online is one of the lower-cost options on the market for basic bookkeeping.
- No software lock-in — they work with your existing QuickBooks Online or Xero account, so you keep your data if you leave.
- Dedicated bookkeeper — each client is assigned a specific bookkeeper rather than being routed to a pool.
- CPA review included — monthly deliverables are reviewed by a CPA before delivery.
- BBB accredited — A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Where RemoteBooks Online Falls Short
- Per-account pricing adds up — the $150 base covers one account. Most businesses have 3–6 connected accounts, which means actual costs range from $200 to $275+ per month.
- Limited service scope — RemoteBooks Online focuses on transaction categorization and reconciliation. They do not offer accounts payable management, accounts receivable management, sales tax filing, or year-end tax preparation as part of their standard plans.
- No industry specialization — the service uses a general approach. Businesses in specialized industries like construction, restaurants, or nonprofits may find their needs unmet.
- Basic financial reporting — deliverables are limited to P&L and balance sheet. No cash flow statements, custom reports, or financial analysis.
- Software limited to QBO and Xero — if you use Sage, FreshBooks, NetSuite, or Wave, RemoteBooks Online cannot support you.
- Data integrity concerns — several customer reviews report that their bookkeeper modified or deleted existing account classes, disrupting previously organized records.
- No CPA firm partnerships — unlike providers that offer white-label bookkeeping for CPA firms, RemoteBooks Online serves direct clients only.
The Verdict: Real Customer Experiences
To understand how a service operates practically, it is often helpful to read verified consumer feedback. The following are publicly available reviews posted by verified users regarding their experience with Remote Books Online on Trustpilot.
Reports of Deleted Data: “For $3460.00 Remote Books Online rendered my accounting for 2023 completely useless… RBO completely ignored me and deleted *all* of my classes and categories. (!) The entire year has to be redone.”
“Maxim Liberty Services was easily the best investment I made last year… Outsourcing my bookkeeping has freed up so much of my time to be able to support even more growth and continue the success.”
Concerns on Execution: “First, they deleted all of the records we had YTD in Xero… thrown income and expenses into random categories… The bookkeepers are Indian offshored labor… you have no line of sight to the people who have some of your company’s most sensitive data.”
“Rockstars! What an awesome solution for a small business… Reliable, friendly, professional, and fairly priced.”
Issues with Categorization: “These guys are clueless about classes or categories. Even if you already have everything classed and categorized they will erase them and throw everything into chaos… Their Knoxville, Tennessee address is also fraudulent. They’re based in India.”
“Professional, detailed, and highly organized. They worked closely with me to build a system tailored to my specific business needs.”
Communication Challenges: “They don’t know enough to do bookkeeping. Lot of mistakes. Even we explain they don’t correct it. We just ending up with emails but no progress.”
“We have been using its services for 5+ years and are extremely happy with their work.”
The CPA & Enterprise Differentiator
When selecting an outsourced partner, it is important to choose a firm that can scale alongside your business’s complexity.
- The Enterprise Plan: When your business requires dedicated Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), and complex sales tax filing, Maxim Liberty offers an Enterprise tier at a highly competitive $15 per hour.
- The CPA White-Label Plan: For CPA firms looking to scale their Client Advisory Services (CAS), Maxim Liberty provides a dedicated CPA Plan offering 30 hours of professional service for just $300/mo ($10/hr). This includes a dedicated account manager and rigorous quality control.
Bookkeeping requires trust, precision, and respect for your established chart of accounts. Protect your business data by partnering with a transparent, highly-rated bookkeeping service.
Get Expert, Transparent Bookkeeping
Get a dedicated bookkeeping team that respects your data and your chart of accounts, starting at just $75/month. No hidden per-account fees. Come tax season, our tax preparation services ensure accurate, timely filing.
RemoteBooks Online vs. Maxim Liberty: Full Comparison
The table below provides a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown of both services:
| Factors | Remote Books Online | Maxim Liberty | The Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Pricing | $150/account + $25/ea additional | Custom plans from $75/mo | 50%+ Savings |
| Software Supported | QuickBooks Online, Xero | QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave, NetSuite, and more | 6× More Platforms |
| CPA Review | Yes — included | CPA-ready packages prepared for your CPA | CPA-Ready |
| Dedicated Bookkeeper | Yes | Yes — dedicated team | Dedicated Team |
| Accounts Payable | No | Yes — full AP management ($15/hr) | Full AP Support |
| Accounts Receivable | No | Yes — invoicing and collections ($15/hr) | Full AR Support |
| Payroll | Add-on ($50+/mo) | Included or add-on | Included |
| Sales Tax Filing | Add-on | Yes | Included |
| Industry Specialization | General small business | 25+ industries | 25+ Industries |
| CPA Firm Support | No | Yes — white-label for CPA firms ($10/hr) | White-Label Ready |
| Financial Reporting | P&L, balance sheet | P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, custom reports | More Reports |
| Catch-Up Bookkeeping | Custom quote (charged per historical month) | $10–15/hr — no limit on how far back | No Limit |
| Data Integrity | Users report deleted classes and chart changes | Maintains existing chart of accounts | Data Safety |
| Years in Business | Since 2012 | 20+ years (since 2005) | 8+ More Years |
Who Should Use RemoteBooks Online?
RemoteBooks Online is a reasonable choice for micro-businesses that need basic bookkeeping with a single connected account and do not require advanced services like AP/AR management, payroll, or industry-specific expertise. It works best for:
- Solo businesses with one bank account and one credit card
- Businesses that only need transaction categorization and monthly P&L
- Companies already using QuickBooks Online or Xero
- Businesses with straightforward, low-volume books
If you have multiple accounts, need catch-up bookkeeping, require payroll processing, or operate in a specialized industry, a full-service provider will likely be more cost-effective and thorough. Maxim Liberty supports all major accounting platforms, with industry specialization in 25+ sectors and 20+ years of experience.
RemoteBooks Online Alternatives
If RemoteBooks Online does not match your needs, consider these alternatives reviewed on our site:
- QuickBooks Live review — Intuit’s built-in bookkeeping service for QBO users
- Bench Accounting review — proprietary software with dedicated bookkeepers
- Pilot review — bookkeeping for startups and tech companies
- Bookkeeper360 review — cloud-based bookkeeping with advisory services
- Best bookkeeping services — our full comparison of the top 12 providers
Looking for bookkeeping that goes beyond the basics?
Maxim Liberty provides full-service bookkeeping with dedicated teams, industry expertise, and support for every major accounting platform — backed by 20+ years of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services does RemoteBooks Online offer?
RemoteBooks Online provides monthly transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting (P&L and balance sheet) with CPA review. Payroll processing and sales tax filing are available as paid add-ons. The service does not include accounts payable management, accounts receivable management, or year-end tax preparation.
How much does RemoteBooks Online cost?
RemoteBooks Online charges $150 per account per month, with each additional connected bank or credit card account costing $25 per month. A business with 4 connected accounts would pay approximately $225/mo. Catch-up bookkeeping and payroll are priced separately.
Is RemoteBooks Online suitable for my industry?
RemoteBooks Online serves general small businesses but does not offer industry-specific bookkeeping. If your business has specialized needs — such as construction job costing, restaurant inventory tracking, or nonprofit fund accounting — a provider with industry expertise like Maxim Liberty (25+ industries served) may be a better fit.
What are the pros and cons of RemoteBooks Online?
Pros include affordable single-account pricing ($150/mo), no software lock-in (works with your QBO or Xero), dedicated bookkeeper assignments, and BBB accreditation. Cons include per-account fees that add up with multiple accounts, limited service scope (no AP/AR, no tax filing), basic reporting, and customer reports of chart-of-accounts modifications without authorization.
How does RemoteBooks Online compare to other bookkeeping services?
RemoteBooks Online is competitive on entry pricing for single-account businesses but falls behind full-service providers on scope. Unlike Maxim Liberty, it does not offer accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, sales tax filing, industry specialization, or CPA firm white-label support. For a comprehensive comparison of 12 providers, see our best bookkeeping services guide.