How Does Outsourcing Bookkeeping Work?
Bookkeeping is essential to every business-but not every business has the time, expertise, or staff to manage it in-house. Outsourcing bookkeeping is a smart alternative, offering cost savings, expert support, and streamlined financial management. But how does it actually work?
This guide breaks down the full-service bookkeeping outsourcing process and what you can expect when working with a provider like RemoteBooksOnline.
What Is Outsourced Bookkeeping?
Outsourced bookkeeping is the process of hiring an external bookkeeping service to handle your business’s day-to-day financial operations. Instead of hiring and managing in-house staff, you partner with a team that manages your books remotely. This includes transaction categorization, reconciliations, financial reporting, and more.
RemoteBooksOnline offers monthly bookkeeping services starting at $150/month, with no contracts or hidden fees.
What’s Included in Outsourced Bookkeeping?
While each provider is different, most offer:
- Categorization of all transactions
- Bank and credit card reconciliation
- Profit and loss reporting
- Balance sheet and cash flow statements
- Accounts receivable and payable tracking
- Sales tax tracking and reporting
- Payroll integration
- Year-end books for tax filing
- Catch-up and cleanup services if needed
Higher-tier providers may also support white-label bookkeeping for CPAs, real estate bookkeeping, or industry-specific solutions.
How the Process Works: Step-by-Step
1. Discovery and Assessment
You start with a consultation. The bookkeeping provider evaluates your business needs, preferred accounting software (such as QuickBooks or Xero), and volume of transactions. This helps determine your plan and pricing.
2. Onboarding and Setup
Once you sign up, the provider sets up secure access to your bank accounts, receipts, POS systems, and other financial data. Most services use read-only permissions and encrypted data-sharing to ensure security.
3. Catch-Up or Cleanup (If Needed)
If your books are behind, the first step is getting them caught up. RemoteBooksOnline specializes in QuickBooks cleanup and catch-up bookkeeping, handling months (or years) of missing records quickly and accurately.
4. Monthly Bookkeeping
After the books are current, the provider begins ongoing monthly bookkeeping. Your dedicated team reconciles accounts, classifies transactions, and delivers clear financial reports every month.
5. Reports and Communication
You receive monthly reports including the profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. A dedicated account manager is typically available for questions and clarifications.
6. Year-End Financial Package
At tax time, your provider delivers a complete year-end package, making it easy for your CPA or tax preparer to file without delays.
Real-World Example: Retail Store Owner in Dallas
Business: Independent clothing boutique
Problem: The owner was 10 months behind on bookkeeping. She was using QuickBooks but had incomplete records and no visibility into her store’s profitability.
Solution: She signed up for RemoteBooksOnline’s monthly plan with catch-up services.
Results:
- 10 months of backlogged books completed in under 3 weeks
- Ongoing bookkeeping handled monthly
- Monthly financial reports improved cash flow management
- CPA received clean, tax-ready books before deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
Is outsourcing bookkeeping secure?
Yes. Reputable providers use encrypted portals, two-factor authentication, and limited-access user roles to protect your financial data.
Can I still use my own QuickBooks account?
Absolutely. Most services work within your existing accounting software, maintaining full transparency and ownership on your end.
How much does it cost?
At RemoteBooksOnline, bookkeeping pricing starts at $150 per month. Catch-up and cleanup services may cost more based on volume and time frame.
Is this a good fit for my industry?
Outsourced bookkeeping works well for ecommerce, retail, law firms, real estate, construction, medical offices, and professional service businesses.
Can I outsource just a portion of my books?
Yes. You can outsource everything or choose specific functions such as reconciliation, monthly reporting, or catch-up bookkeeping.
Benefits of Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping
- Cost savings: No employee benefits, training, or turnover costs
- Time savings: More time to run your business
- Accuracy: Reduced errors from experts who specialize in bookkeeping
- Scalability: Services scale up or down based on your business volume
- Peace of mind: Professional handling of your books, always tax-ready
Get Started with RemoteBooksOnline
Whether you’re behind on your books or want a long-term bookkeeping partner, RemoteBooksOnline makes the process simple. With flat-rate monthly pricing, no contracts, and certified professionals, we help you stay organized, compliant, and focused on growth.
Explore our full list of bookkeeping services, or get started with a free trial today.
