8 Best Virtual Bookkeeping Services

If you want to start a business or you already own one, you might be looking for assistance with bookkeeping. The best virtual bookkeeping services combine affordable costs with guided help.

The ideal service will let you avoid paying costly fees for actual bookkeepers. We’ve found the most popular virtual bookkeeping services and evaluated what they offer.

Top Virtual Bookkeeping Services

There are several virtual bookkeeping services that are widely used by individuals and small business owners alike.

Here are some of the most commonly used virtual bookkeeping services that can benefit established and new businesses.

1. 1-800Accountant

1-800 Accountant claims to be America’s largest virtual accounting firm for small businesses. It was founded by veteran CPAs with the goal of bringing extensive experience to small businesses. 

The model 1-800Accountant uses promotes growth throughout a small business’s journey. Plus, the transparent pricing commitment helps small businesses better budget for expenses.

The company offers everything from bookkeeping to accounting to tax help and payroll. They even provide catch-up bookkeeping services if you’re behind on your record-keeping.

Every potential new client gets a free 30-minute consultation to determine whether 1-800Accountant is right for their small or medium-sized business. 

This service is a hybrid approach to bookkeeping that combines DIY bookkeeping with professional bookkeeping and accounting services. 

1-800Accountant has served over 100,000 small businesses to date. 

Cost

The cost for bookkeeping services at 1-800Accountant varies based on the size of your business and other factors. 

However, you can expect to pay a flat fee for services, with an average starting rate of $399 per month. You might pay less if you have a smaller business. 

Features

• Transparent pricing
• Dedicated bookkeeper
• Software fluency
• Secure online portal
• Tax-ready financials

Add Ons

• Accounting
• Payroll
• Tax filing
• Audit defense
• Tax advisory
• Quarterly estimated taxes

2. Belay

Belay has worked to provide businesses with accounting and bookkeeping services for over a decade. The company calls itself a motley crew team of talented individuals who live to serve. 

This company boasts a commitment to diversity and inclusion. It is continually searching to expand its team with professionals from all backgrounds. 

Belay’s six-step process starts when you talk with a company sales rep. The sales rep will work with you to identify your needs to see if Belay is a good fit.

Then, you’ll be assigned a Client Success Consultant who will work with you to discover your culture and personality requirements to find the right bookkeeper for you. 

After vetting Belay’s selection, your Client Success Consultant will work with you to interview up to three bookkeepers that fit your desired qualifications. 

Once you’ve chosen a bookkeeper (this process takes approximately a week), you’ll have your initial introduction call to get started. 

Your Client Success Consultant stays close as you onboard with your bookkeeper and helps nurture your relationship with that individual. 

Cost

Plans for basic bookkeeping and journal entries are priced at $450 per month. 

You can upgrade to the Growth plan starting at $650 per month. This plan includes invoicing, payroll services and more.

Features

• Customizable plans
• Highly vetted and reliable contractors
• Free consultations
• In-depth recruiting process 
• 100 percent U.S.-based team

Add Ons

• Full-service payroll
• Tax services
• Accounting
• Virtual assistant
• CFO services
• Social media management
• E-commerce help

3. Bookkeeper360

Bookkeeper360 offers a technology-driven accounting solution for both startup and established businesses. 

The team is 100% U.S. based and has been included on Inc.’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing companies for the last three years. The services are compatible with Quickbooks and Xero.

Along with a wide range of service offerings, Bookkeeper360 has a team of experts you can call on to help with business-related questions for just $99 per hour. 

Bookkeeper360 is committed to giving back to its community. It partners with Canine Companions, a non-profit that provides trained service dogs to those with disabilities. The company’s employees volunteer at Canine Companions events throughout the year. 

Bookkeeper360’s app lets you access your financials, track your goals and access accounting experts all in one place. 

Cost

This platform offers three pricing options, including pay-as-you-go for $125 per hour, weekly help starting at $549 per month and monthly help starting at $399 per month.

The available features increase as you upgrade plans. You can choose from add-on features if you want an even more comprehensive subscription. 

If you are just looking to use the app, subscription plans start at just $19 per month.

Features

• Always up-to-date
• Routine check-ins
• 100% U.S. based
• Business app integration

Add Ons

• Tax planning, tax filing and other tax solutions
• CFO Advisory
• Payroll and HR
• Invoices
• Inventory
• Payments/Lending

4. Paro

Paro is an AI-powered platform that uses algorithms to determine which bookkeeping and other financial services will best complement your business. 

The company website says you’ll be working with the top 2% of the talent in the finance and accounting industry. This means that they only accept the top 2% of applicant experts that apply. 

Paro hires experienced independent contractors to help you with over 100 bookkeeping and other business financial tasks. This is important when it comes to keeping records organized.

Since each business is different, the level of versatility of needs in a bookkeeper varies. Paro’s expansive list of offerings means they can help you with basic booking and much more.

All Paro contractors are full-charge bookkeepers. This means the bookkeepers have skills that go beyond that of a standard bookkeeper.

Plus, you can purchase different services from your bookkeeper at your discretion. You can get services ranging from business checking account reconciliation to payroll processing.

Along with managing accounts payable and accounts receivable, they help maintain tax compliance, monitor and manage cash flow and more.

Cost

Paro provides fractional bookkeeping services. That means you pay by the hour and use them only as needed. 

Features

• AI-powered platform
• Individually assigned consultants
• Custom team assigned
• Short and long-term goal identification 

Add Ons

• Tax filing and advisory service
• Internal audit
• Controller services
• Corporate development
• Business analysis

5. Pilot

Pilot is a California-based virtual bookkeeping company that calls itself the largest startup accounting firm in the U.S. The company assigns each client its own finance expert to help build a solid relationship between the client and the firm.

One unique thing about Pilot is that it offers discounts off of normal pricing for pre-revenue companies. You can contact Pilot to find out what the qualifications are for that program.

However, Pilot will also increase pricing if your business is growing since pricing is based on your company’s expenses for the prior three months. 

The positive side of that is that your pricing could decrease if your company’s revenue goes down. 

Cost

Pilot’s Core subscription plan is $499 per month, billed annually. The Plus subscription plan is custom-priced depending on what you need. 

The Core program includes a dedicated finance expert, accrual basis accounting, P&L balance sheets and cash flow statements, along with customer support.

If you upgrade to the Plus subscription, you can get inventory tracking, billable expenses and more. 

Features

• Multiple software integrations
• Payroll vendor partnerships
• Prices based on business expenses
• 100% U.S.-based agents
• World-class customer service
• Specializing in startup and e-commerce

Add Ons

• Accounts receivable/accounts payable
• CFO services
• Tax prep and filing
• R&D credit processing

6. Reconciled

Reconciled is a full-service virtual bookkeeping firm that is committed to hiring only the most talented bookkeeping professionals. 

With Reconciled, you can get a wide array of custom add-on services as well, such as full-service cloud accounting, payroll, controller services and accounts payable and receivable.

You can also get fractional CFO and advisory support, tax services and tax advisory services. The fully customizable program allows you to pick and choose which services you want. 

In addition, Reconciled’s enterprise services can help you manage your growing company. Better yet, they partner with services such as Sage Intacct, so they can help you set up services with Sage and other partner companies if needed.

The company serves businesses from a variety of industries, including tech businesses, consulting, e-commerce, restaurant, real estate and more. 

Cost

Reconciled offers three subscription plans, including Basic, Core and Advanced. The Basic plan starts at $500 per month. 

Each plan contains a host of features depending on what you need. These can include standard monthly financial reports, accounts payable reports, multiple bank and credit card reconciliations and more.

Features

• Customized plans
• Flexible pricing for all businesses
• Virtual startup coaching
• Express plan for companies with under $1 million in revenue

7. Streamline Bookkeeping

Streamline Bookkeeping helps small business owners stay organized throughout the year. This makes business management and record-keeping less time-consuming.

A primary goal of Streamline Bookkeeping is to help businesses increase profitability. The company says that having organized records can help your company do just that.

The platform focuses on bookkeeping. For that reason, you won’t find a long list of add-on services like controller, payroll and other services. 

Most of Streamline Bookkeeping’s clients are businesses with 10 or fewer employees. This could include (but is not limited to) medical professionals, consultants, contractors, real estate investors and the like. 

Although the company does handle larger businesses, they work to be experts in the small business arena.

Cost

For companies with under 60 employees, prices start at $199 per month. Custom pricing is available for companies that have 60 or more employees. 

Features

• Data entry and reconciliation of transactions from bank accounts and credit cards
• Twice annual phone meetings to review your numbers
• Accurate and timely financial reports every month
• Access financial reports via Quickbooks

Add Ons

• Discounted Quickbooks subscription

8. Xendoo

Xendoo’s biggest advantage over other companies is its commitment to great customer service. The company has excellent reviews and high customer service scores on many online review sites. 

You can get basic bookkeeping services through Xendoo, catch-up services, fractional CFO services and tax preparation and filing services. 

Xendoo integrates with Xero, QuickBooks and other services. Pricing is based on monthly expenses, and you’ll get a discount for paying annually. 

Cost

Prices start at $395 per month for companies with up to $50,000 in monthly expenses. 

Features

• E-commerce specialization
• Targets businesses with under $125k in monthly expenses
• 24/7 access app
• Interactive dashboard

Add Ons

• Tax preparation and filing
• Fractional CFO services
• Catch-up bookkeeping

Methodology

When evaluating different virtual bookkeeping services, there were key factors we analyzed to determine the best options in the space. In-depth research was performed to identify the top competitors that can help you with your bookkeeping needs.

We focused on services that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Trustpilot rating of 3.0 or higher
• Reputation among industry leaders
• Easy to use
• Different price options
• Offers add-ons
• Available in the United States

We chose this methodology to ensure we do our due diligence as we determined the best virtual bookkeeping services.

What’s the Difference Between Virtual Bookkeeping and Online Accounting?

Virtual bookkeeping and online accounting may sound similar. However, they are different. 

With virtual bookkeeping services, you’ll be able to access tools to record and organize your personal or business transactions. Conversely, online accounting services work to interpret and analyze your financial records. 

In short, virtual bookkeeping platforms help prepare you to work with your accountant and/or tax preparer in a more organized and thorough manner. 

While your online accountant may offer bookkeeping services, you can expect online accounting services to be much more expensive than virtual bookkeeping services. 

Summary

Virtual bookkeeping services provide a way for companies to stay financially organized without having to hire a bookkeeper or learn new skills. 

Whether you have a home-based business or an up-and-coming small business, the best virtual bookkeeping services can help.