Remote Bookkeeping vs. Local Bookkeepers: What’s Best for Your Business?
Hiring a bookkeeper is one of the most important financial decisions a small business can make. But should you hire someone local-or go remote?
Download Our Free Brochure →Let’s break down the pros and cons of each and help you decide what’s best for your budget, timeline, and growth.
Local Bookkeepers: The Traditional Option
A local bookkeeper may offer a sense of familiarity. You might know them personally or meet face-to-face. But traditional doesn’t always mean better.
Common Benefits:
- In-person meetings
- Familiarity with your town, vendors, or state laws
- Often a small business like yours
Limitations:
- Higher hourly rates ($60–$80/hr typical)
- Limited hours (not available evenings or weekends)
- Manual systems-may use spreadsheets or basic QuickBooks
- No backup team if your bookkeeper is sick or leaves
Many local bookkeepers also charge extra for:
- Clean-up work
- CPA coordination
- Additional reports or prep for tax time
Remote Bookkeeping: Modern, Scalable, and Cost-Effective
Remote Books Online offers a dedicated team that handles your books from anywhere, with a fixed monthly fee and faster turnaround.
Why it works:
- Flat-rate pricing (no surprise hourly bills)
- CPA-ready books every month
- Team-based support (you’re never left hanging)
- Easy document upload + 24/7 dashboard access
- First month free – no credit card required
Real Test Case
A fitness studio in California was using a local bookkeeper who charged $75/hour and worked 6–8 hours per month. Total cost: around $550 monthly. Turnaround was slow, and reports were often late.
Download Our Free Brochure →After switching to RBO:
- Monthly cost dropped to $200
- Books were closed faster
- CPA got everything needed for taxes-on time
Direct Comparison
| Feature | Local Bookkeeper | Remote Books Online |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $60-$80/hr | Flat rate ($150-$250/month) |
| Monthly Reports | Sometimes | Always |
| Tax-Ready Books | Not guaranteed | Yes |
| Availability | Business hours | 24/7 portal access |
| Dedicated Team | No | Yes |
| First Month Free | No | Yes |
FAQs
Is remote bookkeeping secure?
Yes. RBO uses bank-level encryption and secure portals to protect your data.
Will I get the same person every month?
You get a dedicated team, so you’re always covered-even if someone’s out.
Can you help clean up old books?
Absolutely. We specialize in catch-up and cleanup services.
Conclusion
Local bookkeepers may work fine for very small businesses-but if you want predictable pricing, faster turnaround, and better reliability, remote bookkeeping is the smarter long-term move.
Remote Books Online gives you everything a local bookkeeper does-plus more-at a fraction of the cost.
Start your free month now or get a custom quote today.
Curious how much a local bookkeeper costs? Our local bookkeeper cost guide breaks down average rates and what factors affect pricing—so you can budget wisely.
Looking for expert support? Our professional bookkeeping services guide highlights the comprehensive solutions we offer—from transaction management and reporting to scalable support for businesses of all sizes.
Need to get your finances back on track? Our Catch-Up Bookkeeping Services guide outlines fast, effective methods to reconcile past transactions and regain clarity.
