1-800Accountant is a nationwide virtual accounting firm that will handle all of your accounting needs, from bookkeeping to tax preparation and filing, providing year-round support and advice with a team of experienced professionals. You’ll have access to bookkeepers, tax and financial advisors, payroll specialists, and a dedicated accountant who is an expert in your state and industry.
It’s ideal for small businesses that want a full-service accounting firm at an affordable price. With its powerful mobile app, it’s also useful for businesses working remotely. Annual subscriptions start at $139 monthly, and if you need help setting up your business, there are entity formation services available for an additional fee. Bookkeeping services start at $399 monthly and one major drawback is that they are only available with the Enterprise plan, which also includes priority support and access to financial reports.
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Pros
- Has dedicated accountants
- Can manage multiple business entities
- Offers a capable mobile app
Cons
- Lacks a monthly subscription option (must commit annually)
- Offers financial reports and bookkeeping services only with an Enterprise plan
- Has multiple unresolved complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
1-800Accountant Alternatives & Comparison
Monthly Pricing | Free Trial | Account Reconciliations | Invoicing & Bill Pay | Full-service Payroll | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $399 (billed annually) | ✕ | Enterprise plan only | ✕ | Additional fee |
 | $499 to $699 or custom pricing (billed annually) | ✕ | ✓ | Additional fee | ✕ |
 | $300 to $700 (billed monthly) | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | QuickBooks Payroll integration |
 | Starts at $399 for monthly and $549 for weekly or pay-as-you-go for $49 per month plus $125 per hour for support | ✕ | Monthly and weekly plans only | Additional fee | Additional fee |
Best For | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|
| Companies seeking chief financial officer (CFO) advisory services: If your business is seeking CFO advisory services, Pilot is a great option. Services include monthly engagement, annual budgeting and forecasting, and fundraising strategy and support. Pilot CFOs will review your financial health and processes, support vendor contract review and negotiations, and provide recommendations for benchmarking and sales efficiency. | |
| Small businesses using QuickBooks Online: We selected QuickBooks Live as one of the best online bookkeeping services, specifically for companies wanting assistance with QuickBooks Online. Your bookkeeper will provide assistance with setup and training and meet with you on a monthly basis to review your financial reports and answer questions. | |
| Small businesses using Xero: Bookkeeper360 is a Xero Platinum Partner and is ideal for small businesses using Xero and that want both bookkeeping and business advisory services. Full-service payroll is integrated with your bookkeeping for an additional fee, and accrual-based accounting is also. |
If you’re unsure if assisted bookkeeping is right for your business, check out our guide to the best small business accounting software for great do-it-yourself (DIY) accounting software options.
1-800Accountant Reviews From Users
| Users Like | Users Dislike |
|---|---|
| Dedicated bookkeepers who are patient, knowledgeable, and organized | Reports of lengthy wait times for answers to tax-related questions |
| Personalized tax assistance and advice | Packages are only available on an annual basis, not monthly |
| Additional services like business formation and audit defense | No registered agent service included |
Users who shared a 1-800Accountant review stated that the dashboard is user-friendly and easy to navigate—and we agree. Reviewers also praised the virtual accounting firm’s business formation services and the transparency of fees and services. The biggest complaints about 1-800Accountant are its lack of communication and follow-through. Customers also cited a long wait time before actually receiving a response when tax-related questions came up
The firm has earned the following average scores on popular review sites:
- BBB[1]: 3.67 out of 5 stars based on about 550 reviews
- Trustpilot[2]: 4.6 out of 5 stars based on more than 5.700 reviews
- Google Play[3]: 2.9 out of 5 stars based on around 120 reviews
1-800Accountant Pricing
A free live bookkeeping consultation is required before signing up, and paid services are billed annually. You also have the option of customizing a package that’s more specifically tailored to your business needs.
1-800Accountant offers another plan called Startup, which provides services for startups, and prices start at $0 per month, plus a state fee. This includes a verified name availability search, customized articles of organization, secure online access to incorporation documents, and unlimited phone and email support.
Business | Corporation | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee Billed Annually | $139 | $239 | $399 |
Access to Portal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Dedicated Accountant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Year-round Tax Advice | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Proactive Tax Planning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Quarterly Reviews | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Personal & Business Tax Preparation | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Bookkeeping Services | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Priority Support | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Financial Reports | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
1-800Accountant Features
1-800Accountant offers several useful features, including a robust mobile app and secure online portal that allows you to communicate with your bookkeeper and access your documents. It can also assist with filing your personal and business tax returns, provide tax advice, and assistance with entity formation. If you have fallen behind on your books, 1-800Accountant also provides catch-up bookkeeping services.
Available for both iOS and Android users, 1-800Accountant’s mobile app allows you to perform the same tasks as with your computer. These include creating and sending invoices, generating financial reports, creating journal entries, and syncing your bank accounts.
You can also track mileage and upload receipts, invoices, and other important documents into 1-800Accountant’s secure document center from a saved file on your phone or by taking a photo in the app. If you need assistance, you can schedule an appointment or request a call from your dedicated accountant.
1-800Accountant mobile app
1-800Accountant’s client portal provides secure online access to your documents and records and the ability to message directly with your accountant and schedule an appointment.
1-800Accountant Dashboard (Source: 1-800Accountant)
With any plan, you’ll be matched with a dedicated accountant who is knowledgeable in your industry and location. The Business and Corporation plans provide tax assistance only, but with the Enterprise plan, your accountant will categorize your transactions, reconcile accounts, run reports, make recommendations, and help you stay compliant.
1-800Accountant will file your business and personal taxes, provide tax consulting and planning, and even audit defense. It will also process payroll for your employees, and a payroll specialist will help ensure compliance with the IRS.
1-800Accountant Business Tax Information
1-800Accountant will prepare and file your articles of organization, file for your employer identification number (EIN), serve as your registered agent, and help you set up your business for maximized tax savings.
No matter how far behind you are, 1-800Accountant will help you get your financials up-to-date and IRS-compliant in a quick and efficient manner.
1-800Accountant offers a variety of financial reports, which include a balance sheet, income statement, invoices, mileage log, reconciliations, transactions by account, journal entries, general journal, and general ledger. You customize reports by selecting a period of time, and you can compare different segments. You can also generate your own reports using ClientBooks, with the ability to customize them to obtain the data you’re seeking.
Accessing reports from 1-800Accountant’s dashboard
1-800Accountant: Working With Your Bookkeeper
Once you enroll with 1-800Accountant, you will receive a welcome email with instructions to log in to your client portal. Before logging in, you can schedule a phone call with an expert bookkeeper based on your availability, and the appointment will run anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. You will be matched with a bookkeeper who has experience in your industry and is knowledgeable about your location. They can answer your questions and provide assistance with logging into the portal if you haven’t yet done so.
If you have fallen behind in your bookkeeping, 1-800Accountant can help you get caught up, as far back as needed. It uses the proprietary software ClientBooks, an all-in-one back office tool with advanced features to help you stay focused on growing your business.
ClientBooks allows you to create invoices, categorize your transactions, and access your financials, and its mobile app lets you track your mileage and upload receipts and business documents. You won’t need any other software, but ClientBooks can integrate with whatever accounting software you already use.
1-800Accountant: Customer Service
If you’re in need of customer support, you can contact 1-800Accountant via phone, chat, email, or secure messaging within the client portal.
It should be noted that 1-800Accountant has received around 260 complaints that were filed with the BB since September 2020. Of those complaints, around 85 were resolved satisfactorily, while the rest are still open or cited as unresolved by the client. Nevertheless, 1-800Accountant has an A- rating from the New York BBB.
Communicating with your 1-800Accountant bookkeeper
How We Evaluated 1-800Accountant
We evaluated 1-800Accountant based on the following criteria:
35% of Overall Score
Because each plan depends on many factors, we looked at the value provided in terms of the time and potential money that you’re saving by using the service.
20% of Overall Score
You should be able to access a dedicated bookkeeper for any questions or advice and one-on-one assistance.
15% of Overall Score
The best online bookkeeping service should offer a wide range of bookkeeping solutions, including catch-up bookkeeping, invoicing, bill pay, bank reconciliation, payroll, and tax filing.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated whether the online bookkeeping service offered tax and consulting, and the scope of those services.
20% of Overall Score
We consider the opinions of users and the service’s ratings on various review sites. These criteria were disregarded for providers where no reviews were found.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1-800Accountant offers a diverse menu of services that include small business taxes and advisory, bookkeeping and payroll, and assistance with entity formation.
Yes, catch-up bookkeeping is available no matter how far behind you have fallen with your books.
The team is comprised of licensed tax professionals, including certified public accountants (CPAs) and enrolled agents (EAs). They are qualified to prepare and file your taxes and have an average of 17 years of professional experience.
1-800Accountant’s free plan is designed for startups and new businesses looking to file a limited liability company (LLC) and doesn’t include a state fee. It will assist with a customized articles of organization, verified name availability search, secure online access to your incorporation documents, and unlimited phone and email support.
Bottom Line
The services of 1-800Accountant include advisory, tax, bookkeeping, payroll, and entity formation. The company combines personal support from a nationwide team of experts at an affordable flat rate that starts at $139 per month. You’ll even have access to a full-featured mobile app when you’re on the go. For $399 monthly, you’ll receive industry-specific guidance from a local bookkeeper who will also manage your books. Depending on the service you enroll in, you’ll also have access to entity formation bookkeeping payroll, and tax preparation services.
[1]BBB
[2]Trustpilot
[3]Google Play
