Bench
5/10Online bookkeeping and tax service for US small businesses: a dedicated bookkeeper keeps the books in Bench's own software, with optional tax filing.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Bench is a managed bookkeeping service rather than accounting software you run yourself. A dedicated bookkeeper sorts and reconciles your transactions every month inside Bench's own platform. You can see your profit and loss, balance sheet and year-end financial package there at any time, and message the bookkeeper by phone, chat or video. Bank feeds come in read-only through Plaid. Bench also connects directly to Stripe, Square, Shopify, PayPal, Gusto, ADP Run, Paychex Flex, Justworks and QuickBooks Payroll. Pricing is a flat monthly subscription. Bookkeeping Light costs $199 a month and is limited to businesses with $250K or less in annual revenue. Bookkeeping costs $399 a month, and Bookkeeping + Tax costs $649 a month. Annual billing saves about 20 percent. Separate options include full-service tax, a QuickBooks-certified fractional bookkeeper at $55 an hour, and catch-up bookkeeping. There is no free trial. Bench suits owner-operated small businesses that want monthly books and tax-ready financials without hiring staff. It does not suit companies that need invoicing, bill pay, payroll or accrual-heavy reporting. The biggest risk is the company's track record. Bench shut down abruptly in December 2024, and Employer.com bought its assets and restarted the service in 2025. Reviews since the restart describe slower responses, bookkeeper turnover and late monthly closes. The books also live in a proprietary system rather than QuickBooks or Xero, which makes switching providers harder.
Our Rating
Who Bench is best for
Good fit
Bench's plans and pricing are built around US small businesses that want their bookkeeping done for them.
Less suited
It has direct connections to Shopify, Stripe, Square and PayPal, but no inventory accounting.
The $199 entry tier serves low-revenue businesses, but it is expensive for solo earners.
- Enterprise1/10
It has no multi-entity, AP or ERP capabilities.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A dedicated human bookkeeper does the monthly categorizing and reconciliation, so owners don't need to learn accounting software.
- Flat monthly pricing, with about 20 percent off for annual billing, makes costs predictable.
- The bundled plan adds business tax filing and up to four advisory calls a year from licensed professionals.
- Bench is SOC 2 compliant, and Plaid bank connections are read-only.
- Owners and reviewers describe the dashboard as simpler than QuickBooks for non-accountants.
Cons
- Bench shut down abruptly in December 2024 before Employer.com bought it, and some customers still question its continuity.
- Reviews since the acquisition report slower responses, bookkeeper turnover and late monthly closes.
- It does not handle payroll, invoicing or bill pay.
- Books are kept on a modified cash basis in proprietary software, which makes moving to QuickBooks or Xero harder.
- It is expensive compared with DIY accounting software, and there is no free trial.
Key Features
Not included
- Invoicing
- Accounts Payable
- Payroll
Bench Pricing
Bookkeeping Light
or $1,910/year (save 20%)
- Year-end tax-ready financials
- Monthly bookkeeping by a bookkeeper
- Businesses with $250K or less in annual revenue
- Unlimited bookkeeper access by phone, message and video
Full-service tax
or $2,880/year (save 20%)
- End-to-end business tax filing
- Up to 4 advisory calls per year
- Monthly billing requires a 12-month commitment
Bookkeeping
or $3,830/year (save 20%)
- Same as Bookkeeping Light
- For growing businesses with no revenue cap
Bookkeeping + Tax
or $6,230/year (save 20%)
- Everything in Bookkeeping
- Up to 4 tax advisory calls per year
- Business tax filing by licensed tax professionals
Fractional bookkeeper (QuickBooks Online)
- $55 per hour plus a $1,200 one-time onboarding fee
- Dedicated bookkeeper working inside your own QuickBooks Online account
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Prospective customers book a call with the team to see how the service works and get pricing.
Monthly plans can be cancelled within 15 days of the renewal date, and annual plans need 60 days' notice. Your login stays active after you cancel, so you can still export reports to Excel.
Yes, through the fractional bookkeeper service. It costs $55 an hour plus a $1,200 onboarding fee, and a QuickBooks-certified bookkeeper works inside your QuickBooks Online account.
No. It does not run payroll, invoicing or bill pay. Instead it imports data from tools such as Gusto, ADP Run, Paychex Flex, Stripe and Shopify.
Yes. Bench closed in December 2024, and Employer.com bought its assets. Service resumed in January 2025 under Employer.com ownership.
Bench says it is SOC 2 compliant and runs background checks on its bookkeepers. Bank connections go through Plaid and are read-only.
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