6 Best Dedicated Bookkeeping Services 

In entrepreneurship, where every penny counts and time is a precious commodity, maintaining clear and accurate financial records is vital to achieving sustainable success. 

However, you might not have the bandwidth to wrestle with receipts and spreadsheets when you’re busy crafting your vision, building your brand, and serving your customers.

With limited resources and a constant need to focus on core operations, keeping up with bookkeeping tasks can be overwhelming for small business owners. 

This is where dedicated bookkeeping services step in as your unsung heroes. doola Bookkeeping offers a reliable and hassle-free solution to help small businesses achieve financial sustainability.

With our expertise at your fingertips, you can focus on what you do best while we tackle the numbers. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the 6 best-dedicated bookkeeping services for small businesses.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to elevate your existing operations, these handpicked services will help you thrive in today’s competitive market. 

New to Bookkeeping? Let Us Demystify It for You!

Bookkeeping involves tracking, recording, and indexing all your business’s financial transactions in physical or digital books/ledgers. It is the foundation on which businesses build their financial sustainability. 

  • Helps you budget accurately
  • Simplifies tax filings and management
  • Maintains organised records
  • Gives you actionable insights
  • Ensures compliance with government regulations

However, it is manual and paper-based, which makes it time-consuming and prone to bookkeeping errors. It can become challenging for businesses to maintain the increasing complexity of their financial records. 

But with dedicated bookkeeping services, you can easily automate and streamline data management for financial transactions. It allows businesses to process large chunks of financial data and generate more detailed financial reports in seconds. 

Other benefits include:

  • Access to financial data from anywhere at any time
  • Real-time collaboration between bookkeepers and accountants
  • Enhanced data security and disaster recovery measures
  • Integration with other business applications and financial tools

Difference Between In-House Bookkeeping vs. Dedicated Bookkeeping Services

Difference Between In-House Bookkeeping vs. Dedicated Bookkeeping Services

When it comes to bookkeeping, small businesses often consider two options — in-house bookkeeping and dedicated bookkeeping services.

Both have advantages and disadvantages, which we will explore in detail to help you make an informed decision.

In-House Bookkeeping

As the name suggests, in-house bookkeeping means having a designated employee or team within your company responsible for managing all the bookkeeping tasks.

This arrangement can work well for small businesses that prefer having direct control over their finances.

However, there are also some downsides to in-house bookkeeping:

  • Diverting focus from key business tasks to manage bookkeeping wastes valuable time.
  • Hiring a full-time bookkeeper can be costly for small businesses with limited budgets.
  • You’ll also need to invest in training and software to maintain accuracy and efficiency.

Dedicated Bookkeeping Services

Dedicated bookkeeping services refer to outsourcing all or part of your company’s bookkeeping tasks to an external partner.

They offer specialized bookkeepers and accounting professionals who handle various aspects of bookkeeping on behalf of their clients.

Some other benefits of dedicated bookkeeping include:

  • Dedicated bookkeeping services eliminate the need for a full-time in-house accountant, offering affordable plans based on your business needs.

  • Experienced accountants review your records regularly, ensuring accuracy, saving costs, and improving revenue.

  • You get real-time updates without waiting for reports or sorting paperwork, saving time and reducing error risks.

6 Best Bookkeeping Services for Small Businesses

Managing bookkeeping tasks can be overwhelming for small business owners who already wear many hats to keep their businesses running smoothly.

We’ve put together a list to help you choose the best bookkeeping service for your business.

1. doola Bookkeeping

doola Bookkeeping is a dedicated bookkeeping service specifically designed for small businesses. It offers a range of services to help business owners manage their financial records and ensure proper tracking of their expenses and revenue.

Our software is designed to automate mundane tasks like data entry, categorization of transactions, and reconciliation of accounts.

So, you can say goodbye to the hassle of manual data entry and endless spreadsheets. 

It allows integration with multiple bank accounts, making it easier than ever to track and categorize your financial transactions, such as income and expenses.

With accurate and timely information at your fingertips, you can make informed financial decisions with confidence.

You also get a dedicated bookkeeper who reviews your transactions and delivers accurate financial statements each month that are simple to interpret, enabling better decision-making.

Services Offered:

  • Income and Expense Tracking
  • Business Metrics
  • Auto-Tagging Transactions
  • Dedicated Bookkeeping
  • Self-Serve Invoice Creation
  • Financial Statements
  • Tax Filings

Pros:

  • Integrates all your financial accounts for seamless reconciliation.
  • A user-friendly interface designed with accessibility in mind.
  • Support from a team of dedicated bookkeeper anytime you need it.
  • Monthly and year-end financial statements to keep you informed of business health.
  • Get expert tax prep, filing, and year-round tax support making tax season a breeze.

Cons:

  • If you prefer more control over your financial records, doola Bookkeeping may not be your first choice. However, you can still use the software to automate key processes while managing everything on your own.
  • The dedicated bookkeeping and all-inclusive plans are a bit expensive, but they help you save more money and resources in the long run.

Pricing:

doola Bookkeeping offers flexible pricing options with varying levels of support depending on the complexity of your bookkeeping needs.

So you can choose the most suitable pricing plans based on their budget and requirements.

  • doola Bookkeeping Software at $25 per month: Best for in-house, DIY bookkeeping
  • Dedicated Bookkeeping at $167 per month: Get dedicated bookkeeper support for peace of mind.
  • Dedicated Tax Filing at $125 per month: Rely on expert preparation of your IRS tax return.
  • All-in-One Accounting at $249 per month: Providing everything you need to manage your finances efficiently.

2. Maxim Liberty Bookkeeping

Established in 2005, Maxim Liberty is a dedicated virtual bookkeeping service provider that caters to the needs of businesses and accounting firms.

Their team of experienced bookkeepers helps businesses streamline financial processes and provide accurate and up-to-date records.

Services Offered:

  • Dedicated Supervisor and Bookkeeper(s)

  • Full-cycle Bookkeeping

  • Payroll Management

  • Tax Planning and Preparation

  • Financial Reporting

Pros:

  • The team has years of experience in handling various aspects of bookkeeping.
  • Selective offering of add-on services aligns with their area of expertise.
  • A focused approach that delivers superior value at competitive prices.

Cons:

  • Lack of control over daily operations.
  • Limited in-person interaction with a bookkeeper.
  • The supervisor acts as the main point of contact for the clients.

Pricing:

One of the major concerns for small businesses when choosing a dedicated bookkeeping service is the cost.

Maxim Liberty has time-based pricing, in which each plan includes all their services but is available for a specific amount of time. 

  • Monthly Updates Plan at $50: Up to 5 hr/mo
  • Weekly Updates Plan at $100: Up to 10 hr/mo
  • Daily Updates at $200: 20 hr/mo, AP/AR, Sales Tax & Payroll
  • CPA Plan at $225: 30 hr/mo

3. Bookkeeper360

Bookkeeper360 is a full-service accounting platform that helps entrepreneurs streamline their financial processes and make informed business decisions. 

It offers a range of bookkeeping services, including bank reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable management, financial reporting, and tax preparation and filing. 

They also offer personalized support through their team of highly trained bookkeepers who have extensive knowledge and experience in working with small businesses

Services Offered:

  • Monthly or Weekly Reconciliation
  • Dedicated Accountant
  • Revenue and Profitability Tracking
  • CFO Services
  • Tax Planning and Return Preparation
  • Invoicing, Bill Pay, and Inventory Management
  • Catch-up Bookkeeping

Pros:

  • You get a dedicated bookkeeper.
  • Offers both cash and accrual-basis accounting.
  • Offers free consultations.
  • Doesn’t require a contract; you can cancel anytime.

Cons:

  • You need to get a $500 initial retainer for the Pay-As-You-Go plan.
  • More expensive than other options.
  • No support for sales tax management.

Pricing:

Bookkeeper 360 has three method-based pricing plans, depending on the services you need and their frequency.

This allows you to easily scale your back-office operations to support your business growth.

  • Pay-As-You-Go at $49 per month for up to $20,000 in monthly expenses.

  • Cash-based accounting plans start at $399 for monthly reconciliation for up to $20,000 in monthly and go up to $549 a month for weekly reconciliation.

  • Accrual bookkeeping plans start at $549 per month for monthly reconciliation and $749 per month for weekly reconciliation.

4. Bench

Bench provides dedicated bookkeeping services with tax assistance and payroll integration.

They also offer catch-up bookkeeping services if you have not updated your books for a while. Plus, their real-time financial reporting helps you track your company’s financial health.

Their team of certified professional accountants (CPAs) is equipped with the necessary expertise to handle all aspects of bookkeeping, including bank reconciliations, financial statement preparation, tax filings, and more. 

Services Offered:

  • Dedicated Bookkeeper
  • Monthly Financial Statements
  • Catch-up Bookkeeping (for an additional fee)
  • Tax Assistance (with a premium plan)
  • 1099 Reporting

Pros:

  • Offers unlimited support without any additional cost.
  • Affordable plans that include annual tax return.
  • Connects you with a team of in-house bookkeepers every month.
  • Get a free demo that includes a free prior month of bookkeeping.

Cons:

  • It doesn’t integrate with other software.
  • You cannot purchase tax services without a bookkeeping plan.
  • You have to manage invoicing, bill payment, and payroll management on your own.

Pricing:

Bench has two plans: one offers basic bookkeeping services, while the other includes tax advice and filings. You can also opt for their Catch Up bookkeeping services at $199 per month to keep your books up to date.

  • Essential at $299 per month for monthly bookkeeping ($249 a month, if paid annually).
  • Premium at $499 a month for monthly bookkeeping, annual tax filing, and tax advisory services ($399 per month, if paid annually).

5. Merritt Bookkeeping

Merritt Bookkeeping is a popular name in bookkeeping. It understands the unique financial needs of small business owners and offers services tailored to meet their specific requirements.

Their team of experienced bookkeepers ensures accurate and timely record-keeping, allowing business owners to focus on growing their businesses.

They also provide monthly financial reports to assist with filing taxes and, at an additional fee, issue and electronically file 1099s.

While it doesn’t offer many of the advanced tools that other online bookkeeping services provide, it is easy to use, and you can get the hang of it in minutes. 

Services Offered:

  • Transaction Categorization
  • Monthly Financial Reporting
  • 1099 Filing (for an additional fee of $75 + $8 per form)

Pros:

  • Has a minimal learning curve.
  • 100% money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with services.
  • Offers catch-up bookkeeping services at a discounted rate.
  • Budget-friendly, flat-rate pricing plans with no setup charges.
  • Quick and easy setup and initiation process.

Cons:

  • You can only use email to communicate with your bookkeeper.
  • Does not support accrual-basis accounting.
  • Offers only basic bookkeeping services and does not support tax returns and invoicing.

Pricing:

Merritt Bookkeeping offers one plan at a flat rate of $250 a month. The price is the same regardless of the number of monthly transactions or the size of your business.

However, they offer catch-up bookkeeping services separately at $200 for each month you’re behind. 

6. 1-800Accountant

1-800Accountant is a virtual accounting firm that offers comprehensive and affordable solutions to handle all aspects of business finance.

It helps you and your business by handling all of your accounting needs, from bookkeeping to tax preparation and filing. 

With their expertise in bookkeeping and accounting, they help small business owners streamline their back-office processes and improve financial health.

You can also connect with their bookkeepers, tax advisors, and dedicated accountants to utilize their expertise.

Services Offered:

  • Dedicated Accountant
  • Catch-up Bookkeeping
  • Tax Advice, Preparation, and Audit Defense

Pros:

  • Helps manage multiple business entities in one system.
  • Provides support from dedicated accountants and a bookkeeper.
  • Offers quarterly business tax review.

Cons:

  • Offers only annual subscriptions.
  • Provides bookkeeping services only in advanced plan.
  • Provides financial reports only in the advanced plan.

Pricing:

1-800Accountant has three plans, but bookkeeping services are available only with the Enterprise Business plan.

So, if you handle bookkeeping by yourself and need help with business and personal tax preparation, you can check their Tax Advisory or Core Accounting plans.

  • Tax Advisory plan at $179 per month for year-round tax advice and proactive tax planning
  • Core Accounting plan at $239 per month for year-round tax advice, proactive tax planning, and tax preparation
  • Enterprise Business plan at $399 per month for year-round tax advice, proactive tax planning, bookkeeping, business and personal tax preparation, and personal financial planning

Why Choose doola Bookkeeping for Your Business

When to Choose doola

While there are many bookkeeping service providers available in the market, doola Bookkeeping stands out from the rest. 

We have designed our services to cater specifically to the needs of all businesses, taking into account their unique financial challenges and goals.

From Catch-up Bookkeeping to Dedicated Tax Filing, we eliminate the stress of dealing with complicated financial statements or navigating complex tax laws. 

Our team of bookkeepers keeps your books up-to-date so that you don’t have to worry about making costly mistakes. 

So, instead of outsourcing bookkeeping services or hiring an in-house employee, you save money while still getting high-quality services from experienced professionals.

Book a demo today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.

doola's website is for general information purposes only and doesn't provide official law or tax advice. For tax or legal advice we are happy to connect you to a professional in our network! Please see our terms and privacy policy. Thank you and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

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