Learn about the QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping service

Your bookkeeper takes the lead on your bookkeeping and runs essential reports so you can focus on your business. First-time QuickBooks customers can choose to explore QuickBooks without committing to a plan by signing up for a 30-day free trial. You can also skip the free trial in favor of locking in 50% off for your first three months — but you can’t choose both. Pilot Bookkeeping customers will find that the software is easy to use, but there are a couple of requirements to keep in mind. Besides having to use QuickBooks Online, Pilot requires you to have electronic transaction access and expense reporting software. Also, to ensure the accuracy of your books, Pilot doesn’t allow any commingling of personal expenses.

• If you use QuickBooks during the year, all you need to do at tax time is print your financial statements.
• You can also use QuickBooks’ ProAdvisor network to find certified accountants and bookkeepers.
• Live Bookkeepers aren’t responsible for errors resulting from incorrect information that you provide, or if you re-open the books by overriding closure after a Live Bookkeeper completes the month-end closure.
• They categorize expenses, reconcile accounts and close your books for you as needed.
• In addition to QuickBooks Live’s fee, you’ll need to pay for a subscription to QuickBooks Online, which starts at $30 for its most basic plan.

Nearly 70% of business owners who have been there, done that, recommend writing a business plan before you start a business. Danielle Bauter is a writer for the Accounting division of Fit Small Business. She has owned Check Yourself, a bookkeeping and payroll service grant accounting that specializes in small business, for over twenty years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and has served on the Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She also regularly writes about business for various consumer publications.

Diverse Service Offerings: Pilot Wins

QuickBooks Payments account subject to credit and application approval. Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. QuickBooks allows you to keep track of financial functions like income and expenses, employee expenses and inventory in real-time and fulfill tax obligations hassle-free. When you are free of financial worries, you can focus on driving business growth and revenue.

With the service, you get a dedicated bookkeeper who will categorize expenses, reconcile accounts and close your books at the end of the month so that you know where your business stands financially at any given moment. If the cost of QuickBooks Live is an issue for you, you might consider Wave Accounting software with the Wave Advisor service add-on as a more cost-effective alternative. Wave Accounting is one of the very few business accounting software providers on the market that’s completely free. Although QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping offers “full-service” bookkeeping, some tasks often fall to in-house or outsourced bookkeepers that aren’t included in the service. And keep in mind this service won’t make tax filings on your behalf, so you’ll have to handle that separately. You have easy access to all the common financial statements like balance sheet, profit and loss (P&L) statement, cash flow statements and taxes filed.

Pricing: QuickBooks Live Wins

We evaluated QuickBooks Live based on tax and consulting services, personal bookkeeper, user reviews, bookkeeping services, and pricing. While QuickBooks Online does have its own free mobile app—which allows you to enter transactions, record expenses, invoice customers, and send reports—the app cannot access QuickBooks Live features. Access to the QuickBooks Live Hub is limited to your desktop or laptop computer. QuickBooks vets bookkeepers to ensure they are certified in QuickBooks accounting software and have the experience to manage accounts.

A QuickBooks live bookkeeper is a dedicated bookkeeper provided to your business through the QuickBooks Live subscription. They categorize expenses, reconcile accounts and close your books for you as needed. QuickBooks Live, Decimal and Ignite Spot Accounting are three competitors that offer subscription bookkeeping services. All three boast a dedicated team to ensure that your bookkeeper learns about your business and what makes it tick.

You’re in good company

For instance, if you have limited accounting knowledge and want someone to handle the initial set-up of your QuickBooks account and provide ongoing support, then it may be worth considering. Besides that, if you have a busy schedule and prefer to have someone else manage your bookkeeping, it is also a convenient option. However, if you are comfortable setting up and maintaining your QuickBooks account on your own, then the additional cost may not be worth it.

If you want a free option, check out our top-recommended free accounting software. QuickBooks can help small businesses manage their sales tax obligations by calculating sales tax, preparing sales tax returns, and generating reports on sales tax liability. It can automatically calculate sales tax for transactions based on the tax rates and rules for the customer’s location.

Time tracking

Once done, QuickBooks tracks your bills and expenses automatically. In a fast-paced business environment where every decision matters, having the right financial tools and support can make all the difference. QuickBooks Live is more than just accounting software; it’s a partner in your business’s journey towards success. Embrace the power of QuickBooks Live today and take your financial management to the next level.