Best Bookkeeping Services in 2024

Selecting the best bookkeeping services are crucial for managing your company’s finances effectively. Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or growing enterprise, bookkeeping services can save you time and reduce the risk of costly errors.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the best bookkeeping services available, including their benefits, features, and how to choose the right one for your business.

Table of Contents

• What to Look for in the Best Bookkeeping Services
  • How Long Has the Company Been Around?
  • Where is the Company Incorporated?
  • Does the Company Hold an A+ BBB Rating?
  • Are Their Bookkeepers Experts in the Field?
  • Transparent Pricing and Affordable Rates
  • Professionalism and Courtesy in Every Interaction
  • Client Reviews: Real Feedback You Can Trust
  • Avoid Contract Traps: Flexibility in Agreements
• Top Bookkeeping Services Comparison
  • Maxim Liberty
  • Intuit
  • Accounting Department
  • Bench.co
  • 1-800Accountant
  • Botkeeper
  • Ignite Spot
  • Pilot
  • Bookkeeper 360
• The Shortlist – Top 4 bookkeeping companies
• How do they compare?
• Conclusion

What to Look for in the Best Bookkeeping Services

When choosing the best bookkeeping services for your business, it’s essential to ask the right questions. These questions should cover everything from the company’s experience to customer testimonials and professional certifications. Getting clear answers will help you make an informed and confident decision.

How Long Has the Company Been Around?

Trust is the foundation of a good relationship between a bookkeeper and their client. But how can you trust a bookkeeping company if you’ve never worked with them before? One of the best ways to gauge reliability is by looking at the company’s track record.

If a firm has only been around for a short time, it might not have had the chance to prove its expertise. On the other hand, a bookkeeping service with many years of experience is likely doing something right. Longevity often indicates that the company has built strong, trusting relationships with its clients over time.

Where is the Company Incorporated?

For US-based businesses, it’s essential to comply with specific financial laws and tax regulations. Hiring a bookkeeping company incorporated in the US ensures that your financial activities are handled in accordance with these strict standards. A US-incorporated firm must adhere to the same laws and regulations that govern your business, providing greater assurance of compliance.

However, you might be surprised to learn that some of the top-rated bookkeeping companies, while fully incorporated in the US, operate outside of the country. Many reputable firms based in countries like India deliver excellent bookkeeping services while adhering to US regulations, allowing you to work with a US entity while benefiting from competitive pricing and global expertise.

Does the Company hold an A+ BBB Rating?

One of the most reliable indicators of a company’s trustworthiness is its accreditation and rating by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). An A+ rating demonstrates a commitment to reliability and ethical business practices, so it’s worth checking if your potential bookkeeping service has earned this prestigious rating.

Are Their Bookkeepers Experts in the Field?

Before hiring a bookkeeping service, ensure they possess the qualifications and experience necessary to manage your business’s finances effectively. One key feature to look for is built-in supervision by an experienced professional who can oversee the day-to-day bookkeeping activities. This added layer of oversight ensures accuracy and provides peace of mind. Additionally, a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field like accounting, mathematics, or engineering can be a strong indicator of the bookkeeper’s ability to handle complex financial tasks. Experience in handling your specific industry’s financial needs is also critical.

Transparent Pricing and Affordable Rates

Transparency in pricing is crucial when selecting a bookkeeping service. The best providers clearly list their rates and explain any additional fees upfront. Whether you’re on a tight budget or looking for premium services, choose a company that aligns with your financial requirements without hidden costs.

Don’t automatically assume that lower rates mean lower quality. Many US-incorporated firms with excellent reputations are able to offer competitive pricing by keeping their overhead costs low.

Client Reviews: Real Feedback You Can Trust

One of the most reliable ways to determine if a bookkeeping service is best for you is by reading client reviews. Feedback from other business owners who have used the service can provide valuable insights into the company’s performance, reliability, and customer service. The best bookkeeping services have glowing 5-star reviews from nearly all their clients.

Why Client Reviews Matter

Client reviews give you a real-world view of what it’s like to work with a bookkeeping service. Look for reviews that mention specific aspects such as accuracy, timeliness, and how easy the company is to work with. Positive reviews that highlight excellent communication and customer support are also a good sign.

Where to Find Reliable Reviews

• Google Reviews: A quick Google search will often bring up customer feedback for many bookkeeping services.
• Trustpilot and BBB: These platforms allow verified users to post honest reviews, giving you a sense of a company’s reliability and professionalism.
• Industry-specific forums: Business owners often discuss their experiences with bookkeeping services in niche forums, where you can get more detailed insights.

What to Look for in Client Reviews

Pay close attention to reviews that talk about how the service has helped clients save time, stay organized, and avoid tax issues. Also, look for testimonials about the company’s responsiveness and willingness to go the extra mile when needed. The best bookkeeping services will have a track record of keeping their clients happy over the long term.

Avoid Contract Traps: Flexibility in Agreements

When choosing a bookkeeping service, it’s essential to be wary of rigid contract terms that can lock you into long-term commitments. The best services provide flexible agreements that allow you to scale up or down as your business needs change. Look for providers who offer month-to-month options or contracts with easy exit clauses, so you’re not bound to a service that no longer meets your needs. Flexibility in agreements demonstrates a company’s confidence in its services and a genuine commitment to client satisfaction, making it easier for you to adapt and grow your business without restrictions.

Top Bookkeeping Services Comparison

Now you know what to look for in a bookkeeping service, you can search for the service that’s right for your business. To help you get started with your search, here are 9 of the top bookkeeping companies in the US right now.

1. Maxim Liberty

Maxim Liberty has been delivering trusted bookkeeping services for accounting firms and businesses in the United States and Canada since 2005. And with bookkeeping rates from just $7.50 per hour, it’s easy to see why this firm is proving very popular among small businesses in America and the best bookkeeping service.

While Maxim Liberty works extensively in the accounting, construction and real estate industries, the company has clients in a range of sectors including IT consulting, manufacturing, wholesale and law. 

Key Achievements

Maxim Liberty has a client base measured in the thousands — proof of the bookkeeping company’s ability to deliver consistent results. Since its formation in 2005, Maxim Liberty has garnered numerous five-star reviews across multiple review services. The company is easily one of the USA’s most popular offshore, fully incorporated bookkeeping services.

Key Benefits

Maxim Liberty offers a range of impressive benefits to its clients, which is why so much of the firm’s business comes from repeat customers and referrals. 

• Bookkeeping plans start at just $50
• A customer satisfaction guarantee — with the Maxim Liberty 100% money-back guarantee
• Rates from just $7.50 per hour
• An industry-wide reputation for integrity and transparency
• No contracts — clients can cancel at any time
• Customized bookkeeping services based on the needs of the client
• Based in two Indian data centers for redundancy
• Stringent privacy and data protection measures
• Support for a wide range of accounting systems, including QuickBooks
• Special plans for CPA and accounting firms

Services

Maxim Liberty is a full-service bookkeeping company that tailors its services to the specific needs of each client. Those services include:

• Book balancing
• Bank statement processing
• Daily administrative tasks, including updating sales and expenses entries in accounting software
• Bank balance reconciliation
• Cash flow management
• Funding shortfall warnings
• Billing and invoice management
• Tax filing services
• Payroll processing
• Financial reporting

Why Maxim Liberty?

The relationship between bookkeeper and client is one that’s founded on trust and mutual respect. Maxim Liberty has been delivering for its clients since 2005, which is the clearest possible sign that this is a company that can be trusted with a business’s accounts. And with numerous five-star reviews behind it, it’s easy to see why more and more American businesses are turning to Maxim Liberty for reliable bookkeeping services.

2. Intuit

One of the world’s largest accounting SaaS companies, Intuit Quickbooks Live is packed with useful features, easy-to-use management features, and automated processes. Among its most popular features are its free consulting services, personalized reports, and the provision of a certified QuickBooks online bookkeeper — although some say these individuals lack the personal touch when it comes to dealing with clients.

Quickbooks provides a wide range of useful features as standard, including transaction categorization, account reconciliation, balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and much, much more. You also have the option of purchasing payroll services. Below are the tiers of pricing for Quickbooks Live.

• Average expenses of $0-10,000 per month, the monthly price for QuickBooks Live is $200.
• Average expenses of $10,001-50,000 per month, the monthly price for QuickBooks Live is $300.
• Average expenses of $50,001 or more per month, the monthly price for QuickBooks Live is $400.

3. Accounting Department

Accounting Department.com is an award-winning bookkeeping service that focuses on the use of QuickBooks and NetSuite to serve its clients. The company offers everything you would need from a bookkeeper, including financial statements invoicing, payroll processing, tax returns, cash flow management, budgeting, inventory, and more. 

However, with relatively high monthly and annual fees, Accounting Department isn’t an ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses that have been doing their own bookkeeping until recently. By the company’s own admission, its ideal clients are those with a minimum annual revenue of $1 million. 

Priding itself on delivering customized accounting services. Accounting Department is a great choice for large businesses, but smaller organizations might find their prices a little on the high side. 

4. Bench

Bench is an innovative bookkeeping company that delivers many of its services via web and mobile apps. Its main focus is on making the bookkeeping process as simple as possible for its clients. Targeting entrepreneurs who want a more personalized service with the human touch, Bench assigns every client a dedicated bookkeeping team. 

Bench customers receive dedicated account managers, reconciled transactions, a range of financial reporting services, and tax filing services — all delivered via desktop and mobile apps. Unfortunately, Bench doesn’t offer CFO advisory services. And with a starting fee of $299 per month for the most basic essentials plan, it’s a little expensive for a lot of startups and family-run businesses. 

Bench offers a free trial for new customers. And with scalable plans, it’s a service that can expand as your business grows. But if you’re searching for CFO advisory services, it may not be what you’re looking for.

5. 1-800Accountant

1-800-Accountant isn’t a SaaS platform — it’s an online team of bookkeepers that offers bespoke accounting services to businesses of all sizes. Every new relationship with 1-800Accountant starts with a consultation. Once the bookkeeping team has a clear understanding of the company’s needs and challenges, it curates service packages designed to deliver for the client. This firm is perfect for people starting a business for the first time, as it offers Article of Incorporation filing, name search and verification, tax savings consulting, banking resolution, business tax registration services, and many more services designed to help fledgling organizations get off the ground.

One of 1-800Accountant’s specialties is its tax filing service. The bookkeepers at this respected firm will take full control over your business’s tax affairs — leaving you free to concentrate on running your business. They’ll gather all the necessary information and file with the IRS on your behalf. And they’ll explore every opportunity to lower your tax burden and let you keep more of your business’s money. 

With advanced payroll processing services and CPA services delivered by real people, 1-800Accountant is the ideal choice for business owners that want maximum support from humans instead of SaaS platforms.

6. Botkeeper

For businesses that want non-nonsense, affordable bookkeeping services at a low price, Botkeeper is ideal. This automated service prides itself on offering maximum capacity for the lowest resource consumption. Botkeeper is very popular among bookkeepers and accounting firms, as its various automated systems take the hard work out of administrative tasks, reporting, and a wide range of essential accounting duties. 

Just about everything Botkeeper does is automated, which eliminates human error, speeds up processing times, and delivers an almost unprecedented level of functionality. The software can automatically pull transactions from online banking systems. It can also perform all of its functions on a paperless basis — reducing administration and lead times. Other useful features include the Work task manager, the Transaction Manager, the Business Insights analytics tool, and an advanced password manager. And because all of these functions are delivered via a single online portal, managing accounts becomes a seamless experience. 

7. Ignite Spot

Ignite Spot is a fully customizable and scalable account solution that delivers CFO services at reasonable rates. Favoring a personalized approach to accounting services, the company offers online accounting services and virtual bookkeeping services that can grow and evolve in line with the business’s growth. 

Among Ignite Spot’s impressive range of bookkeeping services are payroll processing, account management, data reporting, invoicing, account reconciliation, and financial transaction database management. The company takes great pride in delivering an onboarding process that is managed by real people — something that’s very important to first-time business owners who are unsure about accounting and tax filing in the US. When clients choose Ignite Spot, they’re guaranteed the services of an in-house team that takes the time to understand the businesses they serve. 

8. Pilot

Pilot has thousands of customers spanning all sizes and many industries. They have experience with high-growth technology startups, ecommerce providers, professional services, non–profits and more. 

They have transparent pricing that starts at $349 per month billed annually. Their tax services vary from $2,450 per year for unprofitable startups to $5,400 per year for profitable businesses.

9. Bookkeeper 360

Fully customizable and packed with useful features, Bookkeeper 360 is one of the most powerful and versatile accounting platforms on the market today. Ideal for startups and SMEs, this package includes everything you could possibly need from a bookkeeping service, including cash flow analysis, compatibility with Xero, real-time data reporting, monthly reconciliation, monthly P&L, chat support, a mobile app, weekly updates, CFO advisory services, payroll, invoicing, and much, much more. You also get a dedicated accountant, who will help you with everything from balancing your books to minimizing your tax burden.

The only significant downside to Bookkeeper 360 is the price. For a monthly business with up to $20,000 in monthly expenses, a subscription starts at $399 per month. And that will be way beyond the budget of many small businesses in the US right now. 

The Shortlist – Top 4 bookkeeping companies

• • Maxim Liberty ** Overall Best Bookkeeping Services **
    • • Pro – Ideal for small businesses and accounting firms that need basic monthly bookkeeping or full-service daily bookkeeping at a low cost.
    • • Con – While incorporated in US, leverages staff from two centers in India.

• • QuickBooks Live – From Intuit, provides basic bookkeeping to go along with their software. ** Best for basic QuickBooks bookkeeping **
    • • Pro – QuickBooks brand. Starts at $200 per month for basic bookkeeping.
    • • Con – Very limited range of services. No AP, AR, Inventory and Payroll Management.

• • Accounting Department – Provides a full range of bookkeeping and accounting services. ** Best for businesses with deep pockets **
    • • Pro – Great range of services that includes CPAs. US-based staff.
    • • Con – Very expensive > $100 per hour. Competes with CPAs for their business.

• • Bench Accounting – Provides a full range of bookkeeping and accounting services. ** Best for businesses that need basic bookkeeping delivered as a service **
    • • Pro – All online software
    • • Con – Uses proprietary software to lock you in. No support for QuickBooks or other software. Gets expensive as you add more services. Not suitable for CPAs at all.

How do they compare?

Conclusion

Choosing the best bookkeeping service can seem overwhelming, but by asking the right questions and reading client reviews, you can find a reliable partner to manage your business finances. Look for experience, transparency, and professionalism, and don’t forget to check for those all-important customer reviews. They offer a window into what you can expect from the service and can make your decision much easier.