Bench

A dedicated human bookkeeper does your books monthly on Bench's own platform

Solo-ReadySetup: Multi-dayActs + logs everythingClear flat priceChecked · prices checked 2026-11-04
Solo Founder AgentsChecked
Solo-fit verdictSolo-Ready

Ideal if you want a named human and zero software to learn — the catch is its 2024 shutdown, so verify data export before committing.

True solo cost — low volumeAbout $199/month on Bookkeeping Light for 1 user at low volume, assuming revenue of $250K a year or less.
True solo cost — typical volumeAbout $399/month on Bookkeeping for 1 user at typical solo volume, assuming you want unlimited access to your bookkeeper and no revenue cap.
No-code score (5/5)

Setup: Multi-day · Control: Acts + logs everything

Visit Bench ↗ Compare all do the books agents

What Bench is — in our words

Bench is the human-first option in this list. You connect your accounts, a dedicated bookkeeper categorises transactions and delivers monthly books and a year-end, tax-ready package on Bench's own software, and you can message, call or meet your bookkeeper rather than learning a ledger yourself. Higher tiers remove the revenue cap, add unlimited communication, and bundle licensed tax professionals who advise through the year and file your business return, with personal filing included on the combined plan. Any honest profile has to address Bench's history directly: the company shut down abruptly in late December 2024, was acquired by Employer.com, and relaunched, with some returning customers reporting billing disputes in early 2025 that the new owner disputed. It is operating and accepting customers in 2026, and many solos still value a real person who knows their books. But that history makes data portability a question you should ask before you commit — confirm how you can export complete books, and keep your own copies of statements and reports. Bench does not run payroll, invoicing or bill pay itself, and its software is proprietary rather than QuickBooks, although a separate hourly service puts Bench bookkeepers inside your QuickBooks file if you prefer that.

What it does end-to-end

  • Assigns a dedicated bookkeeper who categorises and closes your books monthly
  • Delivers profit and loss, balance sheet and a year-end tax-ready package
  • Reports 1099s and provides unlimited bookkeeper access on the standard Bookkeeping tier
  • Files business taxes and advises year-round on the Bookkeeping + Tax tier
  • Offers hourly QuickBooks-certified bookkeeper support inside your own QBO file

What it does NOT do

  • Does not run payroll, invoicing or bill pay itself
  • Books live in Bench's proprietary software, not QuickBooks, on the main plans
  • Monthly pricing on Bookkeeping + Tax requires a 12-month commitment
  • History of an abrupt 2024 shutdown means you should verify export and portability up front

Pricing — checked 2026-11-04

Published monthly tiers by service level; annual billing is discounted versus the monthly prices shown.

PlanPublished price
Bookkeeping Light$199/mo
Bookkeeping$399/mo
Bookkeeping + Tax$649/mo
Billing unitper month, per business
Free tier / trialNone published
Pricing clarityClear flat price
SourceOfficial pricing page ↗
Checked 2026-11-04

Setup, control and fit

Setup timeMulti-day
Human controlActs + logs everything
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android
Best forFreelancers and sole proprietors · Small service businesses · E-commerce sellers · Anyone who wants books done, not software to learn

Integrations we verified: Bank and card connections, QuickBooks (hourly bookkeeper service)

Pros — our take

  • A real, dedicated bookkeeper is included — no software for you to operate
  • Tax filing can be bundled with bookkeeping in one relationship
  • Clear published pricing for a human service, unusual in this market

Cons — our take

  • Abrupt December 2024 shutdown and disputed rebilling after its acquisition are real trust baggage
  • Proprietary platform raises portability questions versus QuickBooks or Xero
  • No payroll, invoicing or bill pay of its own

Other do the books agents

A ledger that keeps your books current every day, not just at month-end

Excellent solo fit if you will review exceptions weekly — the catch is there is no human bookkeeper in the price.

True solo cost (typical)About $100/month on Core for 1 user at typical solo volume, assuming you want dimensional tracking and automated schedules.
No-code
Solo-ReadySetup: Same dayActs + logs everythingChecked · prices checked 2026-11-04

Self-driving bookkeeping that categorises, reconciles and hunts deductions for you

One of the best-value solo options — the catch is tax filing and complex accrual work still sit outside it.

True solo cost (typical)About $40/month on Basic for 1 user at typical solo volume, assuming one entity and unlimited categorisation billed annually.
No-code
Solo-ReadySetup: Under 1 hourActs + logs everythingChecked · prices checked 2026-11-04

The default small-business ledger, now with built-in AI agents doing the routine posting

The most portable solo choice — the catch is it is software you run, not a service that runs your books for you.

True solo cost (typical)About $85/month on Essentials for 1 user at typical solo volume, assuming you need bill management and time tracking; Plus at $140/month if you need inventory or projects.
No-code
Solo-ReadySetup: Same dayApproves before actingChecked · prices checked 2026-11-04

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