What Services Are Included in Professional Bookkeeping?
Whether you’re hiring a part-time bookkeeper or outsourcing to a full-service firm, it’s important to understand what you’re actually paying for. Professional bookkeeping goes beyond just recording expenses-it’s about keeping your business financially healthy and audit-ready.
Download Our Free Brochure →Here’s what a complete bookkeeping service should include-and how to make sure you’re getting what you need.
Core Bookkeeping Services You Should Expect
1. Transaction Categorization
- Classifying every income and expense item
- Applying consistent accounting rules (e.g. GAAP)
- Assigning correct tax codes
2. Bank and Credit Card Reconciliation
- Matching internal books with external statements
- Identifying and correcting discrepancies
- Ensuring all activity is accounted for monthly
3. Monthly Financial Reports
- Balance Sheet
- Profit & Loss Statement
- Cash Flow Report
These reports help you understand where your money is going and support smarter decision-making.
4. Chart of Accounts Management
- Creating and maintaining custom account structures
- Organizing financial data by category (e.g. payroll, marketing)
5. Document and Receipt Tracking
- Uploading receipts, invoices, and vendor records
- Keeping documentation audit-ready
- Optional: integrating with apps like Dext or Hubdoc
Value-Added Services Offered by Leading Providers
6. CPA Coordination & Tax Prep Support
- Delivering books in tax-compliant format
- Supporting year-end filings with clean reconciliations
- Answering CPA questions directly
7. Catch-Up Bookkeeping
Download Our Free Brochure →- Cleaning and organizing past months or years of records
- Rebuilding transaction history and correcting past errors
(See our Catch-Up Bookkeeping Services for more)
8. Ongoing Support and Communication
- Email and phone support
- Regular meetings or check-ins
- Secure online portal for real-time access
What’s NOT Usually Included
While some bookkeeping services offer payroll, invoicing, or bill pay, those are often considered add-ons. Be sure to clarify:
- Will they handle payroll taxes or just categorize them?
- Do they process invoices or just record them?
- Is accounts receivable management included?
At Remote Books Online, we focus on core bookkeeping, and work closely with your CPA or payroll provider for a seamless experience.
Test Case: Knowing What You’re Paying For
One restaurant group in New Jersey thought they were getting “full bookkeeping” for $500/month. But their bookkeeper only logged transactions-no reconciliations, no reports. After switching to RBO:
- They received CPA-ready monthly reports
- Caught $4,300 in duplicate vendor charges
- Reduced end-of-year tax prep costs by 35%
FAQs
Do you include invoicing and payroll?
Not by default. We focus on bookkeeping, but can work with your payroll provider and categorize invoices.
Can I add additional services later?
Yes. We can customize your plan as your needs grow.
How often do I get reports?
We deliver financial reports monthly, with optional quarterly or custom reporting.
Conclusion: Know What You’re Getting
Not all bookkeeping services are created equal. A true professional bookkeeping service will provide accurate, consistent records, clear monthly reports, and support when you need it.
At Remote Books Online, we do just that-with flat-rate pricing, real humans, and a 30-day free trial.
Ready to experience better bookkeeping?
Request a free quote and see how easy it is to get started.
Considering outsourcing your books? Our outsourced bookkeeping services guide highlights key benefits like cost savings, scalability, and expert accuracy-so you can decide with confidence.
Need help catching up your finances? Our Catch-Up Bookkeeping Services guide shows how we quickly reconcile past records and bring you up to speed.
Want to know what an online bookkeeper actually does? Check out our online bookkeeper services guide to see how they manage transactions, reconcile accounts, generate reports, and support your business remotely.
