Block Advisors Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives 2023
Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and CPA with 25 years of experience. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s accounting content.
Danielle is a writer for the Finance division of Fit Small Business. She has owned a bookkeeping and payroll service that specializes in small business, for over twenty years.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
Block Advisors, a branch of H&R Block, provides tax, bookkeeping, and payroll support to small businesses. You have the option of working one-on-one with a tax professional or handling almost everything yourself, with assistance available via phone, live chat, or video conference. Block Advisors’ professionals are certified small business tax experts who’ll work with you to determine the best solution for your business.
The plans are affordable and can be customized based on your needs. Prices for tax filing start at $195 for do-it-yourself (DIY) and $220 for full-service assistance. Bookkeeping and payroll services are also available, starting at $50 per month for the starter package and $150 per month for full service. Payroll services start at $59 per month for self-employed payroll and $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run, for those with employees.
Block Advisors
Overall Score: 4.30
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Both plans offer free unlimited live expert help
- Transaction syncing
- Import documents like W-2s and 1099s by snapping a photo
- Import info from other tax preparers or pull directly from prior year’s tax return
- Year-round accounting assistance, including bookkeeping and payroll services
What's Missing
- DIY option unavailable for corporate and partnership returns
- No desktop software
- Unable to file unlimited amended returns
- Block Advisors only partners with Xero accounting software
- No dedicated mobile app
If you’re unsure whether assisted bookkeeping is right for you, read our guide to the best small business accounting software for great DIY accounting software options.
Block Advisors Deciding Factors
Supported Bookkeeping Software | Xero |
Pricing | Full-service bookkeeping starting at $150 per month |
Free Trial | None |
Assigned a Personal Bookkeeper? | ✓ |
Bookkeeper Communications | In-person or virtually |
Monthly Account Reconciliations & Financial Statements | ✓ |
Back-office Services, Such as Customer Invoicing and Bill Pay | ✕ |
Full-service Payroll Available | ✓ |
Tax & Consulting Services Available | ✓ |
Block Advisors Alternatives
Best for: Businesses that want to prepare their taxes using desktop software with the option of Online Assist | Best for: Businesses seeking inexpensive tax software with support from a tax pro | Best for: Businesses looking for bookkeeping assistance with QuickBooks |
Service fee: $79.95 for Premium & Business version plus $194.99 for Self-Employed Online Assist | Service fee: $59.95 for Self-Employed version plus $39.95 per state—includes tax support | Service fee: Starts at $200 per month, depending on monthly expenses |
Block Advisors offers two levels of pricing: one is an option to file online with unlimited access to a tax pro, while the other is where you let a Block Advisor prepare and file the return for you. However, the DIY option is only available for self-employed individuals, not for those who need to file a corporate or partnership return. Bookkeeping and payroll services are also offered along with a one-hour consultation, wherein you can ask questions specific to your business.
Self-Employed | S-corp | C-corp | Partnership | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tax Filing DIY Cost | Starts at $195 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tax Filing Full-service Cost | Starts at $220 | Starts at $250 | Starts at $250 | Starts at $250 |
Bookkeeping Starter Cost | Starts at $50 per month | |||
Bookkeeping Full-service Cost | Starts at $150 per month | |||
Self-Employed Payroll | Starts at $59 per month | |||
One+ Employees Payroll | Starts at $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run | |||
Personalized Consultation | $50 for a 1-hour session | |||
Block Advisors offers Starter and Full-Service plans for bookkeeping services, available for self-employed, corporations, and partnerships. Both provide on-demand access to expert accounting help, a review of your books year-to-date, and a quarterly action plan. Your dedicated account manager will assist with onboarding, and your files will be managed with Xero accounting software, which you can also access on your own.
If you opt for the Full-Service plan, you’ll also receive a monthly account reconciliation and financial statements, such as your profit and loss (P&L) and income statements. Block Advisors will categorize your transactions and your books will be finalized for tax time. For more information, you can schedule a free 30-minute consultation with an account manager.
Block Advisors has a couple of very important guarantees that stand behind its level of accuracy and ability to help you obtain the maximum refund. Its accessible support makes it an attractive option for those who value exceptional service when working with a tax professional.
- Bookkeeping services: Block Advisors provide year-round bookkeeping support at two levels, Starter and Full-Service. Both give you free on-demand access to Xero, an online accounting program for small businesses. The Starter plan gives you access to an accounting pro who’ll work with you to create an action plan. If you’re a Full-Service subscriber, you’ll also receive financial statements, such as your monthly P&L. Your accounts will be reconciled and transactions categorized in real-time, and your books will be finalized for tax time.
- Payroll services: Whether you’re a team of one or have employees, Block Advisors can assist with running payroll and creating and filing payroll tax forms. You also get a dedicated account manager who will assist you with setting up your account and answering any questions that come up. Prices start at $59 per month for the Self-Employed plan and $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run, for those with employees.
- Accessible support: Whether you opt to do your own taxes with the help of an expert or to work directly with a tax pro, support is available via phone, video, and live chat. If you decide to file with a tax pro, you can meet with them in person at a location near you.
- Small business expertise: Your Block Advisor has received specialized training in small business taxes. They’ll take care of everything, from Schedule C returns to reviews of your P&L statement.
Block Advisors Mobile App
Block Advisors doesn’t have its own dedicated mobile app. However, H&R Block does offer MyBlock, a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, which is essentially your H&R Block account and is for users of the online version.
Block Advisors Reporting
Depending on the type of service you sign up for, you’ll receive reports that will assist you in making decisions and ensuring that your business is compliant. For taxes and bookkeeping, you’ll receive a P&L statement and a business entity structure analysis on a monthly basis. Your Block Advisor will also create a quarterly action plan, which provides specific recommendations as to how to achieve your business goals.
If there are other reports you need, you can work with your Block Advisor to customize them. Through Xero, you can access a variety of reports, such as an Accounts Receivable (A/R) Aging or Expenses by Vendor report. For payroll clients, you’ll receive monthly and pay period reports for review.
Block Advisors offers two different options for filing taxes—DIY with a tax pro on standby if needed or have a tax pro handle everything for you. In either case, you have unlimited access and multiple ways to communicate.
DIY Filing
To file your own taxes, you must first gather all of your documents. Block Advisors has put together a small business tax prep checklist, which will help to ensure that you have everything you need. These documents will help to answer questions about your business when you set up the software. Once everything is entered, you’ll have an opportunity to review the return before filing.
One of the best parts about working with Block Advisors is that you have free access to unlimited live help from a tax expert. The software itself is quite intuitive, and the navigation flows well. If you’re unsure about a particular form or tax situation, you can chat on-demand via video and share screens if there are documents you have questions about.
Are you interested in learning more about filing your own taxes? Check out our recommendations for the best small business tax software.
Full-service Filing
Once you sign up with Block Advisors, you’ll be given the option to meet with a tax pro in person or via phone, video conference, and live chat. They’ll work with you to determine the documents they’ll need, which you can either send virtually or bring to your meeting.
Your tax pro will then take over, completing the necessary forms and making themselves available for any questions. You’ll have an opportunity to review the return before they file it for you. They’re available year-round, and you receive the same unlimited tax help as is offered with DIY filing.
100% Accuracy Guarantee
If Block Advisors makes an error on your return, you’ll be reimbursed for any resulting penalties and interest. To qualify, the error can’t be due to inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent information that you supply.
Maximum Refund Guarantee
If you discover a Block Advisors error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund or smaller tax liability, they’ll refund the tax prep fee for the return and file an amended return for free.
Personalized Tax Assistance
Your tax pro has received Block Advisors’ proprietary certification and has an average of 12 years of experience. Not only are they available at tax time, but they’ll also work with you year-round.
Add-on Services
For an additional fee, you can select additional support such as a year-end filing service, business tax audit support, and estimated quarterly tax payment evaluation.
Block Advisors Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Block Advisors the same as H&R Block?
Block Advisors is a branch of H&R Block that provides bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services for small business owners.
Can you meet with a Block Advisor in person?
Yes, you can meet with a Block Advisor in your area in person or meet virtually.
How much does Block Advisors cost?
Prices start at $50 per month for on-demand bookkeeping support and $150 per month for full-service bookkeeping. Depending on whether you opt to file taxes yourself or rely on a tax expert, you’ll pay prices starting at $195 for DIY tax filing and $220 for full-service tax filing. Payroll services start at $59 per month for self-employed and $79 per month for one or more employees, plus $10 per employee, per pay run.
Bottom Line
Block Advisors allows you to either fully or partially outsource your tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services. With the option of customizing a plan that works for your business, it’s best for small business owners and self-employed individuals. Block Advisors’ personalized assistance and accessible support allow you the ability to reach out for help at any time. Combined with its accuracy guarantee, it’s a great option if you’re looking for reliable and efficient support.
