Venture-backed startups usually choose between Pilot, from $99 a month for simple books, and Kruze Consulting, from $650 a month with a dedicated accounting manager and deep startup tax experience. Early Delaware C-Corps on a budget often use Fondo, from $950 a year for annual books, or Inkle, from $49 a month. Founders who want software they control with optional expert review can use Puzzle, from $30 a month, or Digits, from $65 a month. Finaloop is built for e-commerce brands with inventory, from $245 a month. Collective suits single-owner LLCs and S Corps, from $199 a month, including tax returns. Whichever you choose, keep your own copy of your books, because the 2024 Bench shutdown showed how quickly access can disappear.
Outsourced bookkeeping, business tax filing, and finance support for startups and small businesses.
Pilot, founded in 2017 and backed by more than $150 million in funding, combines its own software with in-house accountants and serves more than 3,000 companies. Essentials costs $99 a month for businesses with up to $100,000 in monthly expenses; Core, with accrual accounting and more support, is quoted on expenses, accounts and invoice volume. Pilot Tax starts at $1,000 a year for a single-member LLC and must be bought with bookkeeping, and CFO services start at $1,750 a month. It does not file personal returns. Its scale and investor familiarity make it a safe default for seed to Series B companies.
Pricing: Essentials starts at $99 per month for businesses with up to $100,000 in monthly expenses. Core is custom-priced, with pricing varying according to monthly expenses, connected institutions, bills, invoices, and support needs; Pilot Tax starts at $1,000 per year for a single-member LLC and must be purchased with bookkeeping. Essentials is monthly, while Core and other services may use annual or custom billing.
Combines automated transaction processing with human support and review.
Offers bookkeeping, tax preparation, CFO services, and selected back-office work in one provider.
Connects to a broad set of banks, payroll systems, payment processors, and business tools.
Pilot Tax is not included in bookkeeping and must be purchased with Pilot Bookkeeping.
Pilot does not currently file personal income taxes.
Pricing can rise with expenses, institutions, bills, invoices, and support needs.
2. Best for funded startups that want a dedicated team
Kruze Consulting
Outsourced accounting, tax, CFO and finance operations for venture-backed startups.
Kruze Consulting, founded in 2012 in San Francisco, works only with venture-backed startups and is known for its startup tax and R&D credit expertise. Basic bookkeeping costs $650 to $850 a month and Founder Timesaver, which adds bill pay and more support, $850 to $1,500, with a dedicated accounting manager and a monthly call in every package. Onboarding is a one-time fee per entity. It works on QuickBooks Online and connects to Brex, Ramp, Bill.com, Carta, Stripe, Rippling and Gusto. It costs more than software-led services, but founders get people who answer investor and audit questions.
Pricing: Basic bookkeeping costs $650–$850 per month, Founder Timesaver costs $850–$1,500 per month, and Premium is priced according to complexity. Packages include a dedicated accounting manager and monthly call, while onboarding is a separate one-time fee per entity. Tax returns and additional services require a tailored quote or calculator.
Published fixed-fee bookkeeping packages start at $650 per month.
Combines bookkeeping, tax, R&D credits and fractional CFO support.
Packages include a dedicated accounting manager and monthly call.
Premium pricing and tax-return pricing are not publicly specified.
A one-time onboarding fee applies per entity, with extra fees possible for corrections.
The service is an assisted engagement rather than self-serve accounting software.
Fondo, founded in 2020, has served more than 2,000 startups, mostly Delaware C-Corps, with bookkeeping, corporate tax filing and R&D credits. Annual bookkeeping starts at $950 a year, quarterly at $1,198 a quarter and monthly at $399 a month on promotional pricing. TaxPass, its tax filing bundle, starts at $1,450 a year. Annual bookkeeping closes the books only once a year, which is fine for a pre-revenue company filing taxes but not for one sending monthly investor updates. Extra states and international work cost more.
Pricing: Public pricing starts at $950/year annual bookkeeping, $1,198/quarter quarterly bookkeeping and $399/month promotional monthly bookkeeping. TaxPass starts at $1,450/year promotional pricing; add-ons start at $500 each.
Combines bookkeeping, tax filing and R&D credit work.
Offers annual, quarterly and monthly close options.
Publishes concrete entry pricing.
Published fit is strongest for Delaware C-Corps.
Additional state, international and R&D work costs extra.
Annual bookkeeping closes books only once per year.
Inkle, founded in 2022, combines accounting software with bookkeeping, tax and compliance services and works with many founders outside the US who run a Delaware company. Basic accounting is free for up to two connected banks, Standard costs $30 a month, bookkeeping starts at $49 a month and a US tax package costs $850 a year. It also handles registered agent and mailroom services, and filings such as Form 5472 that foreign-owned companies must file. G2 lists 23 reviews averaging 4.7.
Pricing: Basic accounting is free and supports up to two connected banks. Standard costs $30 per month, while bookkeeping starts at $49 per month and scales with transaction volume and complexity. Tax filings, registered-agent services, mailroom services and other specialist work are priced separately, with some filing fees published as flat annual amounts.
Links bookkeeping records directly to tax and compliance workflows.
Offers free Basic accounting and a $30 Standard tier.
Combines automation with dedicated-bookkeeper support.
Primarily designed for US entities and obligations.
Basic accounting is limited to two connected banks.
Puzzle is AI-native accounting software used by more than 10,000 companies, with plans from $30 a month for Starter up to $360 for Scale and 20 percent off annual billing. Expert Reviewed adds a human accountant check for $171 a month for businesses with up to $10,000 in monthly expenses. It connects to Stripe, Mercury, Brex, Ramp, Gusto, Rippling, Deel and BILL, and produces cash and accrual views in real time. Tax filing starts at $1,250 a year plus $250 per state. A good fit for technical founders who want to own the books.
Pricing: Software plans cost $30 per month for Starter, $72 for Core, $120 for Complete and $360 for Scale; annual billing saves 20%. Expert Reviewed costs $171 per month including Core for eligible businesses with up to $10,000 in monthly expenses, while Full Service pricing depends on the selected plan and monthly expenses. Migration costs $149, catch-up bookkeeping starts at $300 per month of books, R&D studies cost 1.5% of qualifying spend and tax filing starts at $1,250 per year plus $250 per state.
Publishes clear software pricing from $30 per month.
Connects common startup banking, cards, payroll and payment tools.
Keeps AI-generated accounting work subject to review and approval.
Accounting services are priced separately from most software plans.
Complex entities and unsupported sources may need additional accounting support.
Automated categorization and accuracy reviews still require human review.
Digits, founded in 2018 with $97.5 million raised, replaces a traditional ledger with AI that categorizes transactions and produces financial statements continuously. Essentials costs $65 a month and Core $100 a month. Accounting firms can use it per client from $10 a month, so some outsourced bookkeepers run their clients on Digits. It supports only US entities in US dollars and prepares tax-ready books but does not file taxes.
Pricing: Business plans start at $65 per month for Essentials and $100 per month for Core. Pro is listed at $250 per month but is marked coming soon. Accounting firms are billed per client account rather than per seat, with free Firm Free Books and paid client plans starting at $10 per month.
Business pricing includes unlimited users rather than per-seat charges.
Automates categorization, reconciliation and quality checks in a single ledger.
Connects to more than 12,000 banks, cards and payroll providers.
The product is currently available only to US-based entities using USD.
Digits prepares tax-ready books but does not file taxes itself.
Pro is publicly listed but still marked coming soon.
E-commerce bookkeeping fails most often on inventory and cost of goods sold. Finaloop was built for that problem, with connections to Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, TikTok Shop, payment processors, ad platforms and 3PLs, and serves thousands of brands with more than $13 billion in GMV. Starter costs $245 a month for brands under $1 million in annual revenue that are four years old or less; larger brands get a quote. Inventory, tax and CFO services cost extra, and catch-up work may carry a one-time fee.
Pricing: The Starter plan costs $245 per month for brands with up to $1 million in annual gross revenue that have operated for four years or less. Full-Service and Platform plans receive a custom quote based on revenue, operational complexity and selected services. Inventory management, analytics, fractional CFO, tax, forecasting and data warehouse services are priced separately. A one-time historical catch-up fee may apply and can be waived when books are already reconciled from the start of the year.
Combines ecommerce accounting, inventory, reconciliation and analytics in one platform.
The Starter plan provides a clear $245 monthly entry point for eligible early-stage brands.
Full-Service adds a dedicated accounting and finance team, monthly reviews and operational support.
Full-Service and Platform pricing requires a custom quote based on revenue, complexity and selected services.
Inventory, analytics, tax, CFO and data warehouse services are separately priced.
Historical catch-up may incur a one-time fee when books are not already reconciled.
An online back office that combines bookkeeping, payroll, entity support, and tax filing for US solopreneurs.
Collective is built for businesses of one: consultants, freelancers and creators running an LLC or S Corp. The LLC plan costs $199 a month and the S Corp plan $349 a month, with a $199 onboarding fee and 15 percent off annual billing. The S Corp plan includes payroll for the owner, bookkeeping and the business tax return, with personal returns as an add-on. It does not handle sales tax, inventory, accrual accounting or international tax, so it is not for growing teams.
Pricing: The LLC plan costs $199/month and S Corp costs $349/month; annual billing is advertised at 15% off. The contact FAQ lists a $199 onboarding fee. Government filing fees and optional services cost extra, and individual tax returns are an add-on for S Corp members.
Bundles entity support, bookkeeping, payroll, and business tax work in one recurring subscription.
Publishes clear LLC and S Corp prices with a 15% annual-billing discount.
Includes quarterly tax estimates, invoicing, and financial reports.
Excludes sales-tax filing, audit defense, international tax work, accrual accounting, and inventory.
The LLC tier does not include payroll or support for additional W-2 employees.
A one-time onboarding fee and government or state charges can increase first-year cost.
In late December 2024, Bench, one of the best known online bookkeeping services in North America, told customers it was shutting down. Thousands of small business owners had days to download years of records just as they were preparing for tax season. Employer.com acquired Bench within days and brought the service back, but many customers had already moved, and many others started asking a question they had never asked: what happens to my books if my provider disappears?
Three practical lessons came out of it:
Own your ledger. Providers that keep your books in QuickBooks Online or Xero under your company's login are easier to leave than those using a proprietary system. If the provider uses its own software, ask how you would export a full general ledger and supporting documents.
Download regularly. Save monthly financial statements and a trial balance yourself, not just in the provider's portal.
Separate tax from bookkeeping where it matters. If one provider does both and fails, you lose both at once.
None of this means proprietary platforms are bad. Pilot, Puzzle and Digits all run their own software and have strong export options. It means you should check before you sign.
How we chose these eight
We reviewed the bookkeeping and accounting services in our tax directory and focused on those that suit startups and small businesses in the US. We weighted published pricing, what each price actually includes, the mix of software and human accountants, fit by company type, ledger ownership and exportability, tax filing options and reviewer feedback. Prices are as of October 2026.
Others to know: Zeni combines AI bookkeeping with a finance team from $494 a month on annual billing, on top of QuickBooks Online Plus. Bench itself is operating again, from $199 a month. Local CPA firms remain a good choice for businesses that want an in-person relationship, often at similar cost.
Comparison at a glance
Provider
Best for
Starting price
Tax filing
Pilot
Funded startups
$99/mo
From $1,000/yr, with bookkeeping
Kruze Consulting
Funded startups wanting a dedicated team
$650/mo
Quoted
Fondo
Early Delaware C-Corps
$950/yr (annual books)
From $1,450/yr
Inkle
Foreign-owned US companies
Free software; bookkeeping from $49/mo
$850/yr package
Puzzle
Founders who want to own the books
$30/mo
From $1,250/yr plus $250 per state
Digits
Small teams wanting AI-native software
$65/mo
Not offered
Finaloop
E-commerce brands
$245/mo
Extra
Collective
Solo LLCs and S Corps
$199/mo
Business return included
Which provider fits which business
Pre-revenue Delaware C-Corp with a small raise. Fondo or Inkle for low-cost books and filings, or Pilot Essentials if you want monthly closes from the start.
Seed to Series B startup sending monthly investor updates. Pilot or Kruze. Choose Kruze if you value a named accounting manager and startup tax depth, Pilot if you prefer a software-led experience with broader add-ons.
Technical founder who wants to see the books in real time. Puzzle or Digits, with Puzzle's expert review if you want a human check.
Shopify or Amazon brand. Finaloop, because inventory and cost of goods sold accounting is where general bookkeepers struggle.
Consultant or creator running an LLC. Collective, especially once an S Corp election saves on self-employment tax.
Founder outside the US with a US company. Inkle, which handles Form 5472, Delaware franchise tax and registered agent services together.
What bookkeeping prices actually include
Bookkeeping prices are hard to compare because each provider bundles differently. Before signing, check:
Close frequency. Monthly, quarterly or annual. Annual is cheapest but gives you no usable numbers during the year.
Basis. Cash or accrual. Accrual costs more but is needed for SaaS revenue recognition and for audits.
Transaction or expense limits. Most prices step up with monthly expenses or transaction counts.
Catch-up work. Fixing past months usually costs extra, often hundreds of dollars per month of books.
Taxes. Business returns, state filings, Delaware franchise tax, 1099s and R&D credits are frequently separate.
People. A dedicated accountant, a shared team or software with occasional review.
Bookkeeping, R&D credits and taxes
Many startups pick a bookkeeper partly for tax help. Kruze, Fondo, Pilot and Puzzle all offer R&D credit studies, and clean books make the credit much easier to claim because qualifying wages and contractor costs must be traced. Since 2025, US companies can again deduct domestic research costs immediately, which changes the tax picture for many startups. See our R&D tax credit guide for a deeper comparison.
If you sell to customers in other states, bookkeeping providers rarely handle sales tax. Use a separate tool; see our sales tax nexus guide.
Switching providers without losing data
Export everything from your current provider: general ledger, trial balance, balance sheet and income statement for each period, and receipts and invoices.
Pick a cutover date at the start of a month or quarter.
Give the new provider access to bank, card, payroll and billing accounts, and revoke the old provider's access once the transition is complete.
Reconcile the opening balances so the new books start from figures that tie to bank statements.
Tell your CPA or tax preparer about the change if they are separate.
For payroll providers that connect to these bookkeeping services, see our payroll guide. For a comparison focused on startups overall, see best tools for startups.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Bench?
Bench, a Vancouver bookkeeping service used by tens of thousands of US small businesses, abruptly shut down at the end of December 2024, leaving customers with days to download their records in the middle of tax season preparation. Employer.com acquired it within days and restored the service. Bench operates again today, but the episode is why many owners now ask any provider how they can export their books.
How much should bookkeeping cost a startup?
For a seed-stage company with modest transactions, expect $100 to $500 a month for software-led services such as Pilot Essentials, Inkle or Puzzle with review, and $650 to $1,500 a month for a dedicated team such as Kruze. Annual-only bookkeeping, such as Fondo's, can cost under $1,000 a year but only produces year-end books. Tax returns are usually extra.
Cash or accrual accounting?
Cash accounting records revenue and expenses when money moves and is simpler. Accrual accounting records revenue when earned and expenses when incurred, which gives a truer picture for SaaS companies with annual contracts and is required for audited financial statements. Most startups move to accrual before raising a Series A or when investors ask for it.
Do I need a bookkeeper if I use accounting software?
Not always. AI tools such as Puzzle and Digits categorize most transactions well. You still need someone to review the books monthly, handle accruals, reconcile accounts and fix mistakes before tax time. Many founders use software with an expert review add-on rather than full outsourcing.
What does a foreign founder with a Delaware C-Corp need?
Bookkeeping, a federal corporate return on Form 1120, Delaware franchise tax and annual report, and Form 5472 if a foreign person owns 25 percent or more. Missing Form 5472 carries a $25,000 penalty. Inkle and Fondo both handle these filings.
How do I switch bookkeeping providers?
Export your general ledger, trial balance, financial statements and supporting documents from your current provider, ideally from the accounting system itself such as QuickBooks Online or Xero. Choose a cutover date, usually the start of a month or quarter, and give the new provider read access to bank and card accounts. Expect a one-time onboarding or catch-up fee.
Prices and ratings come from each vendor's public pricing pages and review sites as of October 22, 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm with a quote. Nothing here is tax or legal advice.
