9 Best Virtual Bookkeepers to Outsource Accounting Work

Accounting — it’s tedious, time-consuming, and just no fun. That’s why it’s one of the two most frequently outsourced business tasks (the second is IT). According to Zippia, 37% of businesses in the US outsource their accounting needs to a business partner. Most businesses outsource to cut costs, but many also do so to take advantage of expertise that’s not available in-house. That’s particularly true for solopreneurs and entrepreneurs.

However, don’t assume that your only option is to outsource to a brick-and-mortar partner. Virtual bookkeepers offer all the benefits you want, plus many you may not know about. For instance, they combine automation and AI to deliver streamlined, accurate solutions that help you do more while keeping your books in order.

Of course, you’ll find a wide range of virtual bookkeepers out there. Some are designed to suit the needs of growing small businesses. Others might be better fits for SMBs, while others are geared toward the needs of solopreneurs. How do you choose the right option for your needs?

We’ve done the research for you. Below, you’ll find nine of the best virtual bookkeepers to outsource accounting work. There’s something for everyone.

Before you jump into the list, make sure that you:

• Have a budget in mind.

• Know what level of service you need.

• Know what features/capabilities you require.

• Know what industry rules and gov regulations apply to your business.

And now, without further ado, let’s dive into the top virtual bookkeepers out there.

The 9 best virtual bookkeeping solutions

1. Bench.co

Rated as the largest professional bookkeeping service in America, Bench has a lot of great features to love. It makes the top of the list because it offers catch-up services to get your books up-to-date and get things organized before diving into an ongoing strategy for bookkeeping maintenance. You can also book monthly check-ins and tax reviews without paying an extra fee. 

You’ll get access to a full team of bookkeepers with affordable plans that make running your business easier. You also will find a robust mobile app and you can get discounts for paying annually for your membership. Plus, they offer some of the best solutions for retro bookkeeping and catch-up services, and their rates are more affordable than most. 

• Price: Starts at $299 per month
• Over 25,000 US business clients
• Dedicated bookkeeping in-house
• One-on-one expert support
• Financial statements and detailed reporting
• Catch-up bookkeeping included
• Payroll and tax integration

2. 1-800-Accountant

"Powered by real CPAs" is 1-800-Accountant's tagline and it sums up the company's value proposition. This platform offers business owners and decision-makers powerful tools designed and developed by genuine accounting professionals, which definitely gives it a leg up on the competition. You can handle virtually any need here, including bookkeeping. With the number of additional business services offered, like payroll and entity selection, this is an excellent choice for those looking fora full-fledged solution rather than a barebones virtual bookkeeping app.

Depending on your needs and the price you choose, you can benefit from in-depth financial reporting, cleanup bookkeeping, standard bookkeeping, advisory services, tax services, and a great deal more. There's even a free option for businesses just getting started.

• Price: Free for startups, $139 per month for the basic business plan
• Access to real CPAs
• A wide range of critical bookkeeping, tax, and payroll services
• Year-round availability
• Quarterly reviews
• Excellent Trustpilot score

3. Bookkeeper360

Designed to work with Xero, QuickBooks, and others, Bookkeeper360 offers a whole new way to run your business easier than ever before. Their full-service accounting and bookkeeping solutions come with 20% off the first three months when you sign up for a customized demo. You’ll find solutions for payroll and HR, taxes, and other needs, rate and free consultations are offered to new clients. 

Bookkeeper360 doesn’t have invoicing or bill pay services, and the mobile app only works with Xero. You’ll have to use the QuickBooks app if you partner with them on this solution. It’s a bit more expensive than some, but for those who use Xero, it’s the best choice. It's also great for those who need pay-as-you-go solutions. 

• Price: Pay-as-you-go for $19, $99 per hour, or monthly plans start at $549
• Weekly plans available
• Accrual accounting available
• Plenty of customized solutions 
• Regular check-ins
• Accrual basis reporting
• Integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, and others
• Ideal for small businesses

4. Bookkeeper.com

Those in need of a full-service accounting solution will find a lot to appreciate at Bookkeeper.com. this online and cloud-based bookkeeping resource offers all-in-one solutions for taxes, books, and consulting, along with dedicated agents and account managers for every client. You won’t have a dedicated mobile app for this platform, but it works with QuickBooks Online and offers more services than QB Live (which we’ll also cover below). It is great for anyone who wants an integrated solution. 

The secure online network ensures that your data is protected and there are four subscription levels to choose from. Custom pricing is available for those with more than 300 transactions per month and small business plans start at less than $500 a month. You do have to pay a little more for some features, but it’s got a lot to offer. 

• Price: Starts at $449 per month for 100 transactions or fewer
• Dedicated bookkeeper to manage everything
• Secure network
• Accrual or cash accounting
• QuickBooks Online Specialist
• Tax planning and prep
• Custom pricing and plans available
• Expert advice

5. Merritt Bookkeeping

If you’re on a budget, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the things that your business needs, including a bookkeeper. Thanks to Merritt Bookkeeping, outsourcing is a lot more affordable than you might think. Their flat-rate services make it easy to get everything that you need, and setup is a breeze. 

Merritt also offers catch-up services for those who are behind on their accounting, and they have a 100% money-back guarantee that ensures that you’ll love every feature, or you don’t have to pay. You don’t get a dedicated bookkeeper, but some companies don’t need that anyway. 

• Price: $190 per month
• Catch-up bookkeeping available
• Quick setup and easy integration
• Basic bookkeeping that’s affordable
• 1099 filing included
• Integrates with QuickBooks
• 90-day money-back guarantee
• Intuitive user interface

6. Pilot

Pilot is a bookkeeping platform that will change the way that your business thinks about keeping books. For startups, this service is the best around. It was built entirely based on the services and needs of startups that are backed by venture capital. Every client is matched with their own bookkeeper, and they can integrate and get you set up easily. 

Pilot is priced annually instead of monthly, but the rates are definitely competitive. Those who have $200,000 or less in monthly expenses can choose from the Core or Select plan, and additional services are available for AP and AR, taxes, and more. You can even get a CFO or Controller if you need one. 

• Price: $7,188 per year for Core plan
• CFOs available at an additional charge
• Dedicated bookkeeper provided
• Monthly financial reporting
• Tax management available for an additional fee
• Accrual-based accounting
• Integrates with Stripe, QuickBooks, Gusto and more

7. Ignite Spot Accounting

For those who need detailed reporting with their accounting solutions, this app delivers it all. The service can handle complex accounting tasks with ease and manage everything to assist your small business in creating better profits. You’ll find credit card and account management tools, financial analysis and reporting tools, and more. 

The accounting team you’re given will be chosen based on your business. For example, a small e-commerce business would get a different type of team than a C-Level sales executive’s one-man business. However, the features and customization options are available to everyone to ensure that your accounting solution fits your business. While the all-inclusive pricing is a bit higher than many people are used to seeing, this is a solution that’s worth it for those who need more from their digital accounting and bookkeeping. 

Highlights include:

• Price: $575/month
• Detailed and customized reporting
• Financial management includes credit cards
• Accounting team with dedicated expertise
• Integrates with QuickBooks and TSheets
• Income statements, payroll via Gusto, and report checking
• Automated, hands-off accounting, and more

8. QuickBooks Live

QuickBooks was one of the original accounting software leaders and today, the brand is still going strong. They offer a diverse range of solutions for bookkeeping and accounting, including the newest service, QuickBooks Live. With this service, you’ll get a dedicated bookkeeper for your business with no contract required. 

You can enjoy assistance with bank syncing and creating account reports, as well as budgets and more. You will have to have a separate QuickBooks Online subscription to use this service, but it offers a lot of basic assistance to those who need a simple bookkeeping solution. Every user starts the first month for $500, which is dedicated to cleaning up the accounting and getting the platform set up. After that, rates are charged based on expense volume. 

• Price: $200 per month for up to $25K in expenses
• Dedicated bookkeeper
• Customized setup 
• One-on-one guidance
• Expert tax help
• Payroll add-on available for a fee
• Real-time accounting and reporting

9. inDinero

inDinero is a platform that’s designed for SMBs and startups in their growth phases. They’ve worked with the likes of Stripe and Casper, as well as other known startup brands. They have their own proprietary software, and they are committed to helping people with everything from expensing to budget planning, transaction monitoring, and more. 

inDinero offers financial reporting and a mobile app that makes it easy for everyone to communicate. It also has reasonable pricing for the features and makes it easy to scale a solution to suit your needs. Custom pricing is available for those who want accrual accounting and fractional CFO services combined, while Essential plans start at just $300 per month. 

• Price: $300 for Essential Plan, $900 for Growth Plan (monthly)
• CPA available for an additional fee
• Budget analysis and financial planning support
• Expense tracking, invoicing, payroll, decluttering account books, and more
• Transaction monitoring
• Mobile app
• Financial reports available daily

While they handle the books, let Smith.ai handle your customer communications

There’s a lot that is required of you when you’re running a business. It’s not just the bookkeeping that you need to outsource — it’s everything that you don’t have the time or resources for. One way that you can improve your day-to-day operations is to partner with the dedicated virtual receptionists at Smith.ai for 24/7 support for phone calls, live website chat, and more. 

Plus, our team will work with you to create the ideal strategy to manage all of your communications and admin needs, freeing up more of your time to focus on your customers and the business itself. We’ve got you covered, no matter how big or small your needs might be, including appointment scheduling, lead intake, payment collection, and more.

To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss what the 24/7 virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can do to streamline your business admin tasks and communications. You will also find us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.