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QuickBooks Live Review

Monday, July 7th

2025 Bookkeeping Service Reviews

QuickBooks Live Review 2 Star Rating

QuickBooks Live

2 Star Rating
  • Four flexible plans ranging from $35 to $235/month, with a 50% discount for the first three months ($17.50 to $117.50)
  • 30-day free trial
  • Access to QuickBooks-certified bookkeepers for guidance and questions with all plans
  • Full-service upgrade for dedicated bookkeeper support and complete bookkeeping management
  • Seamless connection with QuickBooks Online for streamlined accounting
  • Transaction categorization, account reconciliation, and task automation
  • Access to key financial reports, including profit & loss statements and balance sheets
  • Tax resource support and preparation assistance for tax season
  • Support for multiple users depending on plan level (up to 25 users on Advanced plan)
  • Higher tiers include inventory tracking, project profitability tools, and workflow automation
  • Direct bank connections with 3.00% APY on banking services

Do you want someone to handle your business's books but aren't sure where to start? You might have heard of QuickBooks Live, a service designed to complement Intuit's popular accounting software. While QuickBooks Online gives you the tools to manage your own finances, QuickBooks Live adds professional bookkeeping support - but there's a key difference between their Expert Assisted and Full-Service options that you'll want to understand.

Four plans starting at $35/month

QuickBooks Live appears to have revamped their pricing structure. Their old model was expense-based: you'd pay $200 monthly for expenses under $10,000, $300 for $10,001 to $50,000, and $400 for expenses over $50,001. Each plan included a dedicated bookkeeper who'd handle cleanup, maintain your books, and provide tax-ready financials. Now, you'll find a more flexible, feature-based pricing system, and you can even try any plan free for 30 days to make sure it's the right fit. Here's what you'll pay (with a 50% discount for your first three months in parentheses):

  • Simple Start $35/month ($17.50): Great if you just need the basics - tax help powered by TurboTax, banking with 3.00% APY, essential bookkeeping tools, and basic reporting.
  • Essentials $65/month ($32.50): Steps it up with enhanced reports, multiple currencies, and support for up to 3 users.
  • Plus $99/month ($49.50): The crowd favorite - adds inventory tracking, project profitability tools, and financial planning for up to 5 users.
  • Advanced $235/month ($117.50): The whole package with all their bells and whistles - think 24/7 support, workflow automation, custom controls, and room for up to 25 users.

Get live support with Expert Assisted

All QuickBooks Live plans come with Expert Assisted service. You'll be managing your own books, but you'll have access to experienced bookkeepers who can guide you through the software. They'll help you automate your QuickBooks setup, ensure you're categorizing transactions correctly, walk you through important business reports, and keep you on track for tax season. Just keep in mind that this isn't the same as having someone do your books for you - you won't get services like book cleanup, dedicated bookkeeper support, or financial advisory services (with answers to questions like whether cash or accrual accounting is right for you). However, these services are available with QuickBooks' Full-Service Bookkeeping.

Cleanup could cost between $800 to $1500

Unfortunately, we had a really tough time getting pricing information about Full-Service Bookkeeping. We found a page on QuickBooks Live's website advertising Live Expert Cleanup separately starting at $800 a month, but we weren't sure if that price would still apply if we were already paying for a plan. When we reached out to an agent to clarify this point, the conversation went in circles for about 15 minutes before we were given any concrete information. Finally, we were told that if we purchased the "Plus” QuickBooks Live plan, Full Service bookkeeping would be an additional $1500 for a whole year. Combined with the cost of Plus, that breaks down to roughly $224/month - not terrible compared to rivals, but not as cheap as it seemed on the surface.

Best Bookkeeping Services

Customer service leaves much to be desired

If you're still considering QuickBooks Live for your bookkeeping needs, you'll want to be aware of some serious customer service concerns. Our own experience with their live chat aside, we found dozens of reports of frustrating experiences with their support system, including a 24-48 hour callback window and no email support options. Even more concerning, when customers request to speak with supervisors, they're often caught in an endless loop of promised callbacks that never materialize - one customer waited 10 days before giving up.

The bookkeeping quality might make your financial life harder, not easier

While QuickBooks Live promises to simplify your bookkeeping, many users report the opposite experience. One accountant noted that clients frequently come to them after unsatisfactory experiences with QuickBooks Live, citing issues with inconsistent categorization and questionable accounting practices. Another user reported that the service actually made their books worse, with errors like double-booked revenue and misclassified expenses - despite repeated attempts to correct these issues. One customer was even charged a $1,500 cleanup fee to fix mistakes that QuickBooks Live's own bookkeepers had made. (Perhaps not by accident, we can no longer find an official mention of their once-advertised "Accurate Books Guarantee”.)

The bottom line: consider alternatives for more reliable service

Looking at the evidence, QuickBooks Live appears to be a hit-or-miss service that reflects its budget-friendly pricing. While it might seem attractive as an affordable option - with current plans ranging from $35 to $235 monthly - you could end up paying more than the sticker price. (Maybe much more, depending on your luck.) As one customer put it bluntly after a particularly frustrating experience, "Do not do it - not worth it". While QuickBooks Live's pricing may seem attractive initially, the potential costs of fixing errors and dealing with support issues could make it a more expensive option in the long run. We suggest exploring a higher-rated bookkeeping service first - especially since QuickBooks itself integrates smoothly with almost every service reviewed here.

What is the Best Bookkeeping Service?

Are you a small business owner juggling countless tasks? Or perhaps you're a freelancer struggling to keep your finances organized? If tracking expenses, managing invoices, and preparing for tax season feels overwhelming, a professional bookkeeping service might be exactly what you need. These services can transform financial chaos into clear, organized records and giving you back precious time to focus on what matters most: growing your business.

Modern bookkeeping services come in various forms, each designed to meet different business needs and preferences. The traditional cash-based accounting approach tracks money as it physically moves in and out of your accounts, perfect for smaller businesses with straightforward transactions. Meanwhile, accrual-based bookkeeping records transactions when they're initiated rather than completed - ideal for businesses with complex revenue streams or longer payment cycles.

The Best Bookkeeping Services Compare Bookkeeping Services Compare Bookkeeping Service Reviews What are the best Bookkeeping Services Best Bookkeeping Service Reviews

Bookkeeping Service FAQ

The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Keep in mind that bookkeeping generally refers to the tracking and management of your financial data, while accounting analyzes and expands on the data bookkeeping to provide insights into your company's performance. Accounting is best done by a CPA (certified public accountant), so be sure to check the credentials of your service provider.
Cash accounting doesn't actually handle cash, but it only counts when you receive revenue and pay expenses. Accrual accounting on the other-hand takes into account expenses and revenue that have yet to process, giving you a much better picture of the overall financial health of your business. Because cash accounting is generally cheaper than accrual accounting, and not all companies will need the insights of accrual accounting, it can be a great choice for a freelancer or small businesses.
CFO stands for Chief Financial Officer, and if you're looking for some outside advice on growth, expense management, or anything in between, then it could be quite beneficial. However, CFO services can come at a decided premium (depending on who you choose), and many higher-quality platforms will offer CFO services as part of their top-tier packages.
This is going to depend on your budget, and the size of your business. Many accounting services are going to price their services based on your monthly expenses. In general, a business with under $50,000 dollars per month in monthly expenses will qualify for budget options anywhere from $200 to $399 per month depending on the service. Anything more than that, and it will probably qualify as a premium service. In short, keep in mind that your bookkeeping costs are largely going to depend on your expenses or annual gross revenue, which gives you a good heuristic for comparing prices across companies.
Don't worry if you're behind on your books: that's a common thing, and no one is going to bat an eye (and if they do, take your business somewhere else). In fact, many companies specialize in budget-friendly catch-up bookkeeping and can get you up-to-date with little to no hassle.
While some bookkeeping services include accounting, that isn't the case for all of them. Often, tax filing is billed as extra, or as part of a premium package. Keep that in mind as you browse your options.
Any business looking to catch up on their books, receive professional CFO guidance, or just free up some valuable time will benefit from an online bookkeeping service. Keep in mind that certain services specialize in different industries, so be sure to look for one that responds to your unique needs.
Not at all. Many bookkeeping services proudly incorporate low-stress software integrations into their services. Additionally, many services specialize in more tech-forward bookkeeping support. So whatever you're bringing to the table, you'll be sure to find a service that will meet you there.
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Continued from above...

The landscape has evolved dramatically with the rise of AI-powered solutions. These automated systems can categorize transactions, reconcile accounts, and even predict cash flow patterns with impressive accuracy. However, any bookkeeping service worth its salt won't be entirely hands-off - human oversight remains crucial for handling exceptions and ensuring accuracy. Responsible AI-powered services offer a hybrid approach, combining AI efficiency with professional review for the best of both worlds.

When it comes to service models, you'll find options ranging from self-service platforms (where you maintain control while using sophisticated tools) to fully dedicated bookkeepers who handle everything for you. Your choice often depends on your comfort level with financial matters, how much time you're willing to invest, and how much assistance you can afford.

Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you make your decision:

  • Integration capabilities. Does the service connect with all your current financial tools and software? How much manual data entry is required? What automation features are available? Choose a service that offers seamless integration with your existing financial ecosystem to minimize manual work.
  • Scalability. What volume of transactions can the service handle? How easily can you upgrade as your business grows? What additional features become available at higher tiers? Look for a service with flexible plans that can grow alongside your business needs.
  • Reporting features. What types of reports are included? How customizable are the reporting options? Can you easily access the specific insights you need? Select a service that provides clear, actionable reports that match your business intelligence needs.
  • Reputation and reviews. What do current clients say about the service? Are there verified reviews available? What is their track record for reliability and customer satisfaction? Look for services with strong testimonials and a proven history of delivering quality bookkeeping support.

Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best bookkeeping services available today. We've carefully assessed each option's features, pricing, and real-world performance to help you make an informed decision. We hope our reviews help you find the perfect bookkeeping solution for your business needs.

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