Why are so many small businesses abandoning DIY financial tracking for outsourced bookkeeping?
With the current economy being fast-paced, almost 62% of small businesses intend to outsource more of their bookkeeping next year in search of smarter, more efficient ways to keep their books (Global Growth Insights).
Although the terms bookkeeping and accounting are similar, they serve different purposes in financial management. Bookkeeping refers to organizing all the financial transactions- a crucial base of proper financial reporting, tax filings, and decision-making (Wifi Talent).
To most business people, this is a burden in terms of time and finances, given the need to make daily entries, reconcile, and report.
This has changed the bookkeeping services market in 2025: over 65% of companies today are choosing to outsource bookkeeping to relieve themselves of administrative load and improve the accuracy of their financial records (Global Growth Insights).
The environment has changed with cloud-based functionality and automation, with more than 70% of companies using digital platforms for real-time financial visibility and to work in harmony with outsourced teams (Global Growth Insights).
Outsourcing bookkeeping is not merely a question of relieving them of some of the scutwork. Companies that outsource also tend to save a lot of money, paying a small percentage of what an internal accountant would charge them and still having access to high-level technology and professional financial management (LinkedIn).
The plan will free internal workforces to focus on essential operations such as customer care, growth activities, and innovation, and establish a leaner, more responsive operation without compromising precision or compliance (LinkedIn).
Why Companies Are Choosing To Outsource Their Bookkeeping Services
By outsourcing their bookkeeping services, business owners can free up their existing resources and reinvest them in their company’s core areas to drive business growth. This way, their small team can help them analyze and identify areas for development and explore new opportunities for business growth.
The most compelling advantage of outsourced bookkeeping is cost efficiency. Hiring and training a full-time in-house bookkeeper can cost your business significantly more than hiring an outsourcing bookkeeping firm to manage your bookkeeping.
For example, Expertise Accelerated’s highly skilled offshore bookkeepers, trained by a US-based team, can provide you with exceptional bookkeeping services at just a fraction of the cost in the US.
Moreover, with outsourced bookkeeping, you gain greater access to your financial records and more flexibility in the compensation contract. For example, you can hire an outsourcing bookkeeping firm for a specific amount of time and end the contract once your requirements have been met. This can be handy if your employees go on a long vacation or quit abruptly.
Read more about the benefits of outsourced bookkeeping here.
Outsourced bookkeeping also means that your data is more secure and highly accessible. Since outsourced bookkeeping firms use a cloud-based platform, you can access your financial records 24/7, which may be just a few clicks away.
In addition to this, business owners usually opt to outsource their bookkeeping when:
- It gets hard for them to verify if their financial data is accurate.
- Keeping track of their business finances takes too much of their precious time.
- It becomes a hurdle toretainingn employees.
- They have difficulty tracking accounts payable and accounts receivable.
- Tax compliance becomes a time-consuming process.
The following are the ten best bookkeeping outsourcing services that can help you focus on core areas of your business and gain a competitive foothold in the industry.
1.Bench
Bench is an accounting outsourcing firm based in Canada. It is a cost-effective alternative for small businesses that need help with bookkeeping. Bench offers month-end financial reporting, tax advisory, and monthly bookkeeping.
Moreover, with its industry-tailored accounting software, Bench can seamlessly manage your bookkeeping while you focus on the core areas of your business. Before hiring Bench, make sure that your accounting software is compatible with theirs.
- Founded in 2013.
- Remote-first company with a global presence.
- 600+ employees.
- Experts in monthly bookkeeping, tax filing, and catch-up bookkeeping.
2.TOA Global
TOA Global is one of the best providers of accounting talent solutions in the industry. Known for their top talent pool of more than 3400 Filipino professionals, and having hundreds of clients worldwide. TOA Global’s standards ensure that you get access to industry professionals who are highly qualified in their skillset and deliver high-quality accounting services.
- 10+ years of service to the industry.
- 1,180+ international clients.
- 3,700+ accountants.
3.Paro
Paro connects business owners with US based accounting professionals who can help them manage their bookkeeping and accounting. Paro hires highly qualified accountants who are the most experienced in their respective industries. This ensures that you have the most qualified individuals at your disposal.
In addition, their AI software has been developed to match your company with the right talent to accelerate their recruiting processes.
- Custom Accounting Solutions.
- 250+ employees.
- Services include Accounting & Bookkeeping, Fractional CFO Services, Financial Planning & Analysis & Tax & Compliance Services.
4.Expertise Accelerated
Among other accounting services, EA also gives you the cost-effective alternative to outsource your bookkeeping to skilled professionals, trained by a US-based team. Our services are highly tailored to your business needs, providing you with best practices in bookkeeping to enhance your business processes.
- EA’s CEO has 25+ years of experience in FMCG/CPG.
- Trade Promotions Management.
- Accounting, Finance, Audit & Supply Chain Services.
- Outsourced Bookkeeping Services
5.Bookkeeper360
Bookkeeper 360 is an attractive option for small businesses that cannot hire an in-house accountant due to limited resources. It offers a range of accounting services, including bookkeeping, payroll, and accurate financial reporting.
Their software is compatible with most bookkeeping programs. It offers a seamless alternative that lets you hand off the repetitive work of recording entries to the experts while you focus on the core areas of your business.
- Founded in 2012.
- 1000+ small business clients.
- Recognized as a top online bookkeeping solution by publications such as Nerd Wallet, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine.
6.QuickBooks Live
QuickBooks-certified experts assist businesses in maximizing automation, staying compliant, and keeping books clean and audit-ready throughout the year. The role of outsourced professionals in the growth of companies on QuickBooks is being maximized to achieve the greatest accuracy, automation, and real-time financial visibility without the excessive burden of internal teams.
- It is one of the most widely used bookkeeping platforms, with 80%+ of small businesses using the software.
- Up to 60% savings in costs where QuickBooks bookkeeping has been outsourced as compared to being managed in-house.
- QuickBooks experts have 70% shorter reporting cycles using automation and cloud-based processes.
7.Maxim Liberty
Maxim Liberty has been offering flexible, cost-effective outsourced bookkeeping services to CA firms since 2005. It ranks highly in the industry for its low-cost, high-quality bookkeeping services.
- Founded in 2005.
- Clients in all 50 states and territories of the USA and Canada.
- 1000+ clients.
8.Bookkeeper.com
With over 25 years of bookkeeping experience, Bookkeeper.com offers an all-in-one small business solution. With them, you can gain access to a pool of global talent who can assist you in a range of accounting functions. This is a remote-friendly option for firms looking to set up remote bookkeeping processes for their small business.
- Services include bookkeeping, payroll, bill pay, and tax planning and preparation.
- 37+ years of experience.
9.inDinero
Best for established startups, offering scalable solutions and a variety of payment plans. Its services include dedicated account managers and direct employee reimbursements.
- Services include tax accounting, bookkeeping, and CFO services.
- 13+ years of experience.
- 125+ Accounting professionals on staff.
- 30 Days or less for new clients to be onboarded.
10.Merritt Bookkeeping
Merritt Bookkeeping is a cost-effective option for businesses with limited resources. They offer flat-rate pricing that might not deplete your existing financial resources. It provides only basic bookkeeping, such as recording monetary transactions and account reconciliation. If you are looking for an outsourcing firm that offers only bookkeeping services, then this may be a viable choice.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
- Track record of client reviews.
- Fundamental business insights.
10 Tips to Get Bookkeeping Outsourcing Services to Improve Your Business Today:
1.Select a Provider that has a History of Industry.
Not every bookkeeping company realizes the specifics of each industry. The bookkeeping requirements of a retail business are far different from those of a SaaS startup or a manufacturing company.
Most recent surveys indicate that companies that engage industry-specialized bookkeepers report fewer compliance errors and close month-ends faster than those that use general bookkeepers. Find companies that already target companies similar to yours and know industry-specific tax regulations, inventory management, and reporting.
2.Value Cloud-Based Bookkeeping Potential:
Bookkeeping is no longer Excel-based. More than 70 businesses currently rely on cloud accounting systems to access real-time financial information. A compatible outsourcing partner integrates well with other technologies such as QuickBooks Online, Xero, or NetSuite, ensuring transparency, easy collaboration, and immediate access to reports regardless of where you are working.
3.Assess Data Protection and Compliance Requirement:
Financial data breaches are on the rise, and accounting systems are the most vulnerable. Respected outsourcing companies for bookkeeping spend considerable money on encryption, restricted access measures, and adherence to global data security standards. Before signing, make sure your provider has robust cybersecurity measures and well-defined data-handling, backup, and confidentiality policies.
4.Find Scalable Service Models:
The bookkeeping requirements you have today will not be the same as they are half a year down the road. Manual processes quickly become bottlenecks as volumes increase. The most effective outsourcing services provide scalable packages, which grow as your business grows that is, as your business adds payroll and financial reporting, or accounts payable services, without having to acquire and train additional employees.
5.Clear and Time-Sensitive Financial Reporting
Good bookkeeping can only be useful when it is converted into insights. Businesses with well-prepared monthly financial reports are in a better position to manage cash flow and control costs. A good outsourcing partner must be able to deliver balance sheets, income statements, and cash-flow summaries that are not easy to interpret- simple numbers only.
6.Compare Beyond Hourly Rates Costs:
The practice of outsourcing bookkeeping is not only associated with paying less but also with delivering more value for every dollar. According to recent cost comparisons, outsourcing can save bookkeeping costs by up to 40-60% when salaries, benefits, training, and even software costs are taken into consideration. Critically appraise pricing schemes and seek clear and flat payment schemes with no under-the-carpet options.
7.Make sure of effective Communication and Support:
A very common outsourcing error is selecting a provider that is hard to reach. The most successful bookkeeping companies will have a responsive team, a point of contact, and frequent check-ins to ensure that problems are resolved early and your financial records are up to date and precise.
8.Liberate Your Own Team to High-Value Work:
A silent productivity killer is administrative overload. Research has shown that small-business owners devote more than one-fifth of their time to administrative and financial matters. By outsourcing bookkeeping, you can keep your internal staff focused on other revenue-generating activities, such as customer interactions, strategy, and growth, without jeopardizing financial control.
9.Verification of Integration with Other Financial Functions:
The best bookkeeping outsourcing solutions do not operate alone. They provide easy support for payroll, tax preparation, inventory management, and financial planning tools. This integrated method eliminates duplication and increases the accuracy and consistency of your financial operations.
10.Client Feedback and Review Track Record:
Finally, reputation matters. Firms that select providers that have high client retention and secured reviews have fewer service interruptions and increased long-term performance. Find examples and reviews of other cases, recommendations, and testimonials that can show reliability, accuracy, and measurable business value.
Conclusion
Hiring the best bookkeeping outsourcing services depends on your business needs and budget. You can also consult a financial expert to help you make an informed decision before hiring a bookkeeping service provider. The important thing is to weigh the advantages that outsourcing bookkeeping can bring to your business, i.e., whether it is a cost-effective option and whether you are getting access to high-quality bookkeeping experts.