What Do Bookkeeping Services Include?
“Bookkeeping services” can mean different things from provider to provider. This guide shows the baseline you should expect in a monthly plan, the common add‑ons, and how scope connects to price so you can compare apples to apples.
Core Inclusions You Should Expect in Every Monthly Plan
- Bank/credit‑card reconciliations: Match statements to your ledger so balances are accurate.
- Transaction categorization with rules: Consistent vendor naming and chart‑of‑accounts mapping.
- Software included: QuickBooks or Xero subscription, setup, user access, backups.
- Monthly financial statements: P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, plus a brief variance summary.
- Basic support SLAs: Acknowledgment within X hours, typical close by day X each month.
The Monthly Close-What Actually Happens
- Import feeds & fetch documents (bank, cards, payroll, receipts).
- Categorize transactions; apply rules; flag exceptions.
- Reconcile all accounts; tie out balances.
- Prepare financials; perform quick reasonableness checks.
- Deliver reports + summary notes; gather follow‑ups.
Common Add‑Ons (Ala Carte or Bundled)
- Payroll: Setups, pay runs, filings, year‑end W‑2/1099.
- Sales‑tax: Nexus monitoring, rate application, monthly/quarterly filings.
- AP/AR support: Bill pay, invoice sending, collections, aging reviews.
- Catch‑up/Cleanup: Prior months/years to become tax‑ready fast.
- Entity complexity: Multi‑entity consolidations; intercompany; FX.
What Drives Scope (and Price)
- Accounts reconciled monthly (bank, card, loans).
- Volume (monthly expenses and transaction counts).
- Industry complexity (construction job‑costing, restaurant payroll/tips, e‑commerce processors, SaaS rev‑rec light).
- Add‑ons (payroll, sales‑tax, AP/AR, catch‑up).
How to Compare Providers-Quick Checklist
- Software included? Named bookkeeper + CPA review? Close cadence? Security controls? Add‑on pricing table? References/case studies?
FAQs
Do monthly plans include QuickBooks or Xero?
Yes-our monthly plans include the accounting software subscription and user setup.
Can I add payroll or sales tax later?
Yes. Add or remove add-ons as your needs change without switching providers.
