Startup bookkeeping services compared

Last updated 2026-10-17. Prices and terms checked against each linked source on 2026-10-17; vendors change them, so confirm before you buy.

Done-for-you bookkeeping for startups ranges from about $100 a month for automated, cash-basis books to $650–$1,500 a month (and more by quote) for a CPA firm with accrual books and a dedicated manager. The published entry prices below come straight from each firm's pricing page.

Pre-seed: Keep it lean: a bank, a card, simple books and Stripe.

Tool	What it is	Pricing
Bench	Done-for-you bookkeeping and tax filing for small US businesses, run by in-house bookkeepers. Owned by Employer.com since Dec 2024. Bench abruptly shut down on Dec 27, 2024, was acquired by Employer.com days later, and resumed service in January 2025. As of October 2026 it is operating and taking new customers under Employer.com ownership. Ask about data export and contract terms before you sign.	Bookkeeping Light $199/mo (businesses with $250K or less in annual revenue); Bookkeeping $399/mo; Bookkeeping + Tax $649/mo; save 20% paying yearly.source	Visit
Bookkeeper360	Bookkeeping, payroll and advisory for small businesses.	See pricing: https://www.bookkeeper360.com/pricing	Visit

Seed: You raised and are hiring: add spend controls, real books, payroll and a forecast.

Tool	What it is	Pricing
Pilot	Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups.	Essentials $99/mo: AI categorizes and reconciles, cash-basis books closed monthly, up to $100K in monthly expenses. Core (US-based bookkeeper, cash or accrual, reports by the 10th business day) is priced by monthly expenses.source	Visit
Kruze Consulting	Accounting, tax and finance for VC-backed startups.	Basic $650–$850/mo; Founder Timesaver $850–$1,500/mo; Premium by quote; one-time onboarding fee per entity. Accrual-basis bookkeeping with a dedicated accounting manager.source	Visit
Zeni	AI bookkeeping with a finance team for startups.	See pricing: https://www.zeni.ai/pricing	Visit
inDinero	Outsourced accounting, tax and finance for growing companies.	See pricing: https://www.indinero.com/pricing	Visit

Order within each stage follows our editorial list and is not affected by payment. Paid placements are labeled Featured.

How to choose

Cash vs accrual: entry plans are often cash-basis. If investors or an audit need accrual books, check which plan includes them.
Ask which ledger they use and whether you keep it if you leave.
Check minimums and focus: some firms only take funded C-corps.
Ask what the close date is (for example, reports by the 10th business day) and whether tax filing is included or extra.
Check ownership and data portability. Bench shut down without warning in December 2024 before Employer.com bought it and restarted service, and customers briefly lost access to their books. Whoever you pick, export your ledger and reports regularly.

FAQ

How much does startup bookkeeping cost?

Published entry prices range from $99/mo (Pilot Essentials, cash basis, up to $100K monthly expenses) and $199/mo (Bench Bookkeeping Light, up to $250K annual revenue) to $650–$850/mo (Kruze Basic, accrual, for funded C-corps).

Does Kruze work with bootstrapped startups?

Kruze says it specializes in funded Delaware C-corps that have raised at least $500K.

Is Bench still in business?

Yes. Bench shut down on Dec 27, 2024, was acquired by Employer.com days later and resumed service in January 2025. As of October 2026 it is operating under Employer.com ownership and lists the same $199–$649/mo plans.

Is Pilot Essentials accrual?

No. Pilot lists Essentials as cash-basis; its Core plan offers cash or accrual with a US-based bookkeeper.

More guides

All guides · All tools · Founder stacks