QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Review & Pricing 2023

QuickBooks Live and Bookkeeper360 are virtual bookkeeping services that make it possible to outsource your bookkeeping and other financial tasks, combining the automation of accounting software with the guidance of a professional bookkeeper. They differ in terms of the level of service provided, and one major difference is that Bookkeeper360 has add-ons, such as chief financial officer (CFO) advisory services and tax filing. Also, while both work with QuickBooks Online users, Bookkeeper360 also works with Xero.

What It’s Best For	QuickBooks Online users seeking a QuickBooks ProAdvisor to complete basic bookkeeping tasks	Companies using Xero or QuickBooks Online and that want financial advisory services
Monthly Pricing Plans	Starts at $200, plus $30 to $85 per month for QuickBooks Online subscription	Starts at $399 (cash accounting) Starts at $549 (accrual accounting)
Accounts Receivable (A/R) and Accounts Payable (A/P) Tracking	N/A	Starts at $150 per month
Invoice Customers	N/A	Starts at $150 per month
Pay Bills	N/A	Starts at $150 per month
Account Reconciliation	✓	✓
Catch-up Bookkeeping	✓	✓
Account Cleanup	✓	✓
	Visit QuickBooks Live	Visit Bookkeeper360

Who Should Use Each?

Who Should Use an Alternative?

• FreshBooks users: Neither QuickBooks Live or Bookkeeper360 integrate with FreshBooks. However, FreshBooks partnered with Bench to provide virtual bookkeeping services.
• Businesses that need assistance with sales tax returns: Bookkeeper360 provides tax services for income tax compliance—but not sales tax. If you also need assistance with sales taxes, we recommend Bookkeeper.com.
• Businesses that want to track income and expenses at an affordable flat rate: If you’d like an affordable fixed price that isn’t determined by numerous variables, then Merritt Bookkeeping is a good option.

Check out our article on the best online bookkeeping services for more information about the types of assisted bookkeeping available for small businesses.

QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Pricing

While QuickBooks Live’s services are monthly, Bookkeeper360 offers more varied levels of support that range from as-needed to weekly and monthly. The prices for QuickBooks Live and Bookkeeper360 depend on the number of monthly expenses, but Bookkeeper360 also charges differently for cash and accrual accounting methods. There are additional fees for Bookkeeper360’s other services, such as CFO advisory and tax filing.

You must have a subscription to any version of QuickBooks Online to sign up for QuickBooks Live, which starts at $30 per month for QuickBooks Simple Start. There’s an initial cost of $500 for onboarding to QuickBooks Live, and then the monthly fee applies, based on your expenses.

QuickBooks Live doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can book a free consultation for more information about the services it provides. Meanwhile, Bookkeeper360 allows you to choose from its established plans or create a customized quote based on your company’s needs and whether you require add-ons like payroll or tax filing. However, the price of your QuickBooks Online subscription must also be factored into the overall cost.

QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Features

As compared to Bookkeeper360, QuickBooks Live offers the bare minimum when it comes to bookkeeping services. It focuses more on “lightweight” services like account reconciliation, month-end close, and reporting.

While both assign you to a dedicated bookkeeper, QuickBooks Live requires you to be more hands-on, and you must do your own day-to-day bookkeeping like paying bills and sending invoices. Meanwhile, Bookkeeper360 won’t only handle your bookkeeping tasks, but it can also be your one-stop shop for other business needs, such as CFO advisory services, payroll, tax filing, merchant services, and lending.

QuickBooks Live has a couple of features that are unique to the service, the first being its 100% Accurate Books Guarantee, which enables you to request an audit of your books at any time. You can also meet with your bookkeeper via one-way video chat so that you can see them but they can’t see you. Whether you’re a new user or have an established account, QuickBooks Live will assist you with cleanup and setup and provide monthly reports as well as catch-up bookkeeping, if needed.

Because Bookkeeper360 offers the ability to create your own custom plan, the features you opt for depend on your specific needs and the business strategy that you develop during the consultation. You can choose from services such as advisory support, hands-on bookkeeping, tax filing, and payroll. All plans come with your own dedicated bookkeeper, who also serves as your point of contact.

QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Ease of Use

Both QuickBooks Live and Bookkeeper360 are very user-friendly and have an intuitive user interface. Once you enroll in QuickBooks Live, you’ll be assigned a dedicated bookkeeper who will meet with you to learn more about your business. You’ll also be given access to the QuickBooks Live Hub, a secure portal that lets you check on your bookkeeper’s progress and schedule meetings. You’ll be able to view a step-by-step task list, which gives real-time updates on action items.

Meanwhile, after your free consultation with Bookkeeper360, you’ll collaborate with your dedicated account manager to decide on the best strategy for your business and any additional services that may be required, such as payroll or tax filing. They’ll also assist you with connecting Bookkeeper360 to your accounting system—either QuickBooks or Xero. You’ll then use Bookkeeper360’s cloud-based system to collaborate with your dedicated bookkeeper and manage your finances.

QuickBooks Live Hub
(Source: QuickBooks)

QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Integrations

QuickBooks Online subscribers who work with QuickBooks Live have access to built-in and third-party integrations. Meanwhile, Bookkeeper360 users have access to Marketplace, which will analyze your finances and make recommendations for third-party software products that can integrate with the platform

• QuickBooks Live integrations: QuickBooks Payroll, QuickBooks Time, QuickBooks Payments, Shopify, Fathom, Method:CRM, Insightly, Hubdoc, AutoEntry, TradeGecko, and more
• Bookkeeper360 integrations: QuickBooks Online, Xero, Gusto, Bill.com, A2X, Ramp, Divvy, ShipBob, Heartland, Brex, and Critical Financing

QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Mobile App

QuickBooks Live users can view their financial information via the QuickBooks Online app, but there’s no separate app to view information and communicate with your QuickBooks Live bookkeeper. On the other hand, Bookkeeper360 has a separate app priced at $19 per month, and it integrates with Xero or QuickBooks Online to let you view your financial data, track your goals, and access your accounting experts—giving you on-demand access to a full team of bookkeepers, certified public accountants (CPAs), and advisors.

Bookkeeper360 App
(Source: Bookkeeper360)

QuickBooks Live vs Bookkeeper360: Customer Support

Both have a similar approach when it comes to working with your bookkeeper, with QuickBooks Live offering more ways to communicate and a transparent view of the tasks that have been completed. Bookkeeper360 customers that use Xero also have access to a mobile app that provides valuable financial data related to business performance, cash management, and payroll analytics.

Meetings with your QuickBooks Live bookkeeper are conducted via one-way video chat, and if you need to share documents, you can use the screen share feature. There’s no set amount of time per month that you can meet with your bookkeeper, but you can only schedule one appointment at a time. During the meetings, you can ask questions about financial reports and request assistance with bookkeeping tasks. You can also reach out to the extended bookkeeping team or receive product support with the live chat feature.

Meanwhile, your Bookkeeper360 bookkeeper is available via email, live chat, and phone. You can schedule phone meetings every month to review financial reports, and your bookkeeper will grant you access to their screen so that you can view your books.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is included in QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping?

QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping provides you access to QuickBooks ProAdvisors, who will manage your books on a monthly basis after an initial clean-up. They’ll help you to connect your bank and credit card accounts, customize your chart of accounts, categorize expenses, reconcile your bank statements, and provide financial statements. You can meet with them on an as-needed basis via telephone or one-way video chat.

Does QuickBooks Live bookkeeping offer catch-up bookkeeping?

Yes, QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping offers catch-up bookkeeping.

How much does Bookkeeper360 cost?

Bookkeeper360 has two levels of pricing, depending on whether you use the cash or accrual method of accounting and the desired frequency of service. For cash-based businesses, monthly prices start at $399 for monthly service and $549 for weekly service. For accrual-based businesses, monthly prices start at $549 for monthly service and $749 for weekly service. You can also opt for the pay-as-you-go service, which starts at $125 per hour for support plus a $500 retainer.

Bottom Line

Depending on your company’s budget and specific business needs, you’ll be able to determine whether QuickBooks Live or Bookkeeper360 is a better solution for you. While QuickBooks Live has the benefit of enhanced communication and access to QuickBooks ProAdvisors, Bookkeeper360 allows you to add services, such as tax filing, payroll, and HR solutions.