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Top 5 Online Bookkeeping Services Ranked by Public Reviews in 2025

Hey, small business owners—2025 is here, and if your books are still a mess, you’re not alone. Finding the top online bookkeeping services can feel like a lifeline when you’re buried in receipts and spreadsheets. But with so many options, how do you pick? At Mainstay Accounting (www.mainstayaccounting.com), we’ve been helping businesses like yours for years, and we’ve got the scoop on what’s hot in 2025. We’ve ranked the five top online bookkeeping services based on public reviews—think user buzz, not just our opinion. Then, stick around—we’ll make the case for why a U.S.-based CPA firm like ours, with real, seasoned accountants (no robots or outsourced admins here!), might save you more money and stress in the long run. Let’s dive in.

Why Bookkeeping’s a Big Deal in 2025

Before we get to the rankings, let’s level-set. Bookkeeping isn’t just busywork—it’s your business’s backbone.

Cash Flow Clarity

A client once told us, “I thought I was fine until I realized my cash flow was a guess.” Good bookkeeping keeps you in the know, not in the dark.

Tax Season Sanity

Sloppy books can cost you deductions—or worse, penalties. We’ve seen businesses scramble to fix DIY messes come April. Solid bookkeeping avoids that.

Growth Fuel

Need a loan or investor cash? Clean financials are your ticket. A client’s loan got denied over platform-generated chaos—don’t let that be you.

The Top 5 Top Online Bookkeeping Services in 2025

Here’s our take on the top online bookkeeping services, ranked by what folks are saying in 2025 public reviews. These are the platforms getting the most love—but we’ll unpack their limits too.

  1. Bench: The Crowd Favorite

Why It’s Top: Bench consistently tops reviews for its user-friendly vibe and affordable plans (around $299/month). Users love the sleek app and monthly reports.
The Catch: It’s light on human interaction—mostly automated with minimal accountant input. A client ditched it for us when their tax prep got too complex for Bench’s bots.

  1. QuickBooks Live: The Big Name

Why It’s Hot: Tied to QuickBooks Online, it’s a go-to for its name recognition and expert add-ons (starting at $200/month). Reviewers rave about the software integration.
The Downside: You’re still doing some heavy lifting unless you pay extra for full service. It’s not all hands-off, and the “live” part can feel robotic.

  1. Pilot: The Startup Darling

Why It’s Buzzing: Pilot’s a hit with tech startups (plans from $499/month), praised for slick dashboards and CFO options. Reviews highlight its scalability.
The Rub: It’s pricey, and the focus is narrow—great for startups, less so for others. Plus, human contact is limited unless you shell out more.

  1. Bookkeeper360: The Flexible One

Why It’s Loved: Users give it props for customization and add-ons like payroll (starts at $399/month). Reviews call it “adaptable” for growing businesses.
The Hiccup: Costs climb fast, and the platform leans on automation over personal touch. A client switched to us when they needed real strategy, not just reports.

  1. Xendoo: The Weekly Wonder

Why It’s Popular: Weekly updates and tax-ready books (from $395/month) win fans who like frequent check-ins. Reviewers love the mobile app.
The Limit: It’s algorithm-heavy with basic human oversight. Fine for simple stuff, but complex needs? Not so much.

Platform Pros and Pitfalls

These top online bookkeeping services shine in reviews for good reason—tech-savvy, affordable, and easy to use. But there’s a flip side.

Automation’s Edge

They’re fast and cheap upfront. A client tried one and said, “It was great—until it wasn’t.” Software’s slick, but it misses nuance.

Human Light

Most lean on robots or low-level admins, not seasoned pros. That’s where things unravel—tax errors, loan flops, or just plain confusion.

Why a Firm Like Mainstay Beats the Bots

Now, let’s pivot. Those platforms are cool, but the top online bookkeeping services with a human heartbeat—like what we offer at Mainstay Accounting—bring something else to the table. We’re a U.S.-based CPA firm, no outsourcing, all seasoned accountants with real degrees—not robots or cheap admins. Here’s why that matters in 2025.

Real Expertise, Not Just Software

Platforms use QuickBooks-certified folks or AI. We’ve got CPAs with accounting degrees who’ve been around the block. A client told us, “Your team caught tax breaks my app never saw—saved me thousands.”

U.S.-Based, No Outsourcing

Unlike some services shipping work overseas, we’re all here in the States. No language barriers, no time zone hassles—just pros who get U.S. rules. A client ditched an offshore platform after a compliance snafu cost them big.

Long-Term Savings

Cheap platforms seem like a deal—until they’re not. Messy books from bots or untrained admins mean cleanup costs, missed deductions, or loan rejections. We had a client whose platform reports tanked a bank pitch; our polished financials got them funded next try. Mainstay’s top online bookkeeping services cost more upfront but save you way more down the line.

How to Pick the Top Online Bookkeeping Services for You

So, how do you choose the top online bookkeeping services in 2025? Here’s your playbook—spoiler: we think we’re the smart bet.

Step 1: Know Your Needs

Basic tracking? A platform might do. Complex taxes or growth plans? You need humans—like us. A client started with a platform but switched when their business outgrew it.

Step 2: Look Beyond the Hype

Reviews love ease and price, but dig deeper. Are they CPAs? U.S.-based? We are—at Mainstay, you get seasoned pros, not bots or temps.

Step 3: Think Long Game

Cheap today can mean expensive tomorrow. Our top online bookkeeping services at Mainstay Accounting save you from tax headaches and loan woes with real expertise.

Hit Us Up

Not sure? Head to www.mainstayaccounting.com or give us a shout. We’ll show you what human-powered bookkeeping looks like.

The Mainstay Difference

Here’s what you get with us over those top online bookkeeping services platforms.

Time Back, Stress Gone

A client said, “I used to wrestle with apps. Now Mainstay handles it, and I’m free.” We do the heavy lifting so you don’t.

Tax Wins

Our CPAs max out deductions bots miss. One business saved enough with us to cover our fees and then some.

Growth Ready

Need a loan or investor? Our books impress. A client landed big funding after we fixed their platform’s mess.

Wrapping It Up

The top online bookkeeping services in 2025—like Bench, QuickBooks Live, Pilot, Bookkeeper360, and Xendoo—are getting rave reviews for a reason: they’re slick, affordable, and tech-driven. But if you want more than a robot or a cheap admin pushing buttons, a U.S.-based CPA firm like Mainstay Accounting (www.mainstayaccounting.com) is your move. No outsourcing, just seasoned accountants with degrees who save you money where it counts—taxes, loans, and peace of mind. Ready to ditch the bots for the real deal? Swing by our site—let’s make 2025 your cleanest financial year yet.

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letstalk@mainstayaccounting.com

Office Location

77 Milford Drive, Suite 204
Hudson, OH. 44236

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110 E Wayne St Floor 12
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Focus On Growing Your Business, Trust Us With The Accounting

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Beth Calderon

Advanced Planning & Succession Team Coordinator

Beth joined our advanced planning team as a seasoned administrative professional with over 16 years of experience supporting C-suite executives in the financial services industry. A master of organization and efficiency, Beth is committed to fostering seamless collaboration and serving as a resourceful and entrepreneurial-minded administrative leader who thrives on wearing many hats. Additionally, Beth enjoys and is very much dedicated to serving as a client concierge, providing best-in-class service to all advanced planning clients.

Ben Lepinski CPA

Ben Lepinski is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Minnesota. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota with a BA in Accounting & Finance with a Public Accounting Concentration. After spending 2.5 years in the Big 4, Ben decided to pursue his passion of working with small business owners to help them navigate complex tax situations for clients who may be overlooked by larger firms. Growing up in rural Minnesota, Ben takes extreme pride in helping his community and those around him. For Ben, accounting is a way to benefit those around him and provide trusted advisory services as well as obtaining financial stability and helping clients understand the importance of accurate financial reporting. Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his fiancée, Rachel, and his Sheepadoodle, Kai. His other interests include cars, trivia, and woodworking. Ben is also very active in local cornhole and cribbage leagues. He currently resides in Dayton, Minnesota, about 30 minutes North of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Lisa Good

Tax Preparer

I started my professional tax career in 1999, at a large retail tax chain. I took advantage of every tax class that I was offered, worked my way up to Senior Tax Advisor and Assistant Manager at my office. I was doing close to 400 personal returns each year and had the highest rate of returning clients. Eventually I became an instructor there. I also took college courses and earned my associate degree in accounting. In 2017 I left there and started my own tax business, in addition to working full time outside my home. I doubled my clients each year, solely from word of mouth. I understand every aspect of the tax return, the beginning, the middle, and the end, which includes the filing of the tax return, federal, state and city. In December of 2022, I was fortunate to be hired here to do taxes full time, which had always been my dream, and now it’s my reality. I continue to learn every day; my colleagues are tremendously knowledgeable. I am in the Canfield, Ohio office, where I handle the local clients and businesses, as well as our clients all over the county. I address all IRS/State notices, meet with clients and electronically file/paper mail all returns that are complete. I do plan to take the Enrolled Agent Exam this fall, after tax season slows down. I love helping people, it is very rewarding for me. I love learning, and I love my work, I am grateful to be here and to know that I am an asset to this company.

Chad Reineke

Advanced Planning & Succession Team Lead

Chad is an experienced investment and advanced planning professional specializing in capital gains, estate tax, investment strategies, business succession, and post business sale planning. After retiring from professional baseball in 2014, Chad completed his MBA and joined a regional financial planning firm to begin his career in financial services. Within a few years in the business, he realized that his passion was working with entrepreneurs and helping them solve their biggest challenges. With that in mind, he began developing a team of strategic partners around him that specialize in all the areas of planning that business owners require. Chad's role is to help our clients identify current and future planning "blind spots" and to coordinate the appropriate resources to appropriately address those needs.

Jamila Mansour, CPA

Sr Tax Preparer

Jamila Mansour is a Certified Public accountant licensed In Ohio. With over 7 years of professional experience, she has developed a deep understanding of tax regulations and practices. In previous positions, her expertise allowed her to to work with high net worth individuals, trusts, corporations, and partnerships, providing them with comprehensive tax planning and compliance services. She enjoys building strong client relationships and providing personal guidance to help achieve goals.Jamila is a Cum Laude graduate from Cleveland State University where she was involved with many organizations including Beta Alpha Psi. Outside of her career, she enjoys spending time with her husband Mohammad and two sons Zach and Noah.

Emery Rich

Sr Tax Preparer

I grew up in South Texas, I started my journey at H&R Block, I fell in love with tax compliance with individuals and small businesses specializing in working in tax research. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from A&M Corpus Christi in 2022. Moved to Minnesota that summer and I worked at a local mid-size regional firm in Minneapolis where I furthered my knowledge working with a large team of CPAs and gaining more experience in organizing small businesses (S-Corp & Partnership financials), quarterly estimates, and K2/K3 preparation. I'm currently working on obtaining my CPA license here in Minnesota. I look forward to building on the experience I've obtained, my desire to learn and improve is one of my strongest characteristics.

Mark Walker CPA

Director of Tax

Mark is a Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years of tax and investment experience, primarily with HNW clients. While still a student at Pace University, he was recruited into a HNW tax pilot program at Coopers and Lybrand (now Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP). Subsequently, he worked in various HNW tax programs including Rockefeller and Company, the current Rockefeller Capital Management, before he was recruited to financial services. Mark was a Managing Director at Citigroup Global Markets Inc for 19 years, moving to Morgan Stanley where he worked in discretionary and non-discretionary advisory programs before making an intra-firm move to Graystone, the institutional arm of the firm. He currently holds Series 27 and Series 66 licenses. Mark has a BBA in Public Accounting from Pace University and an MBA in Finance from Fordham University. He is married 35 years to his wife Eileen, has four adult children, and currently lives in Pearl River, NY.

Jackie Kwasinski

Accounting Manager

Jackie has over 22 years of experience in the accounting industry. She spent most of her career at a mid-size accounting firm in the Chicagoland area, where she started right out of college and served as their Controller for almost 15 years. As a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Jackie leverages her expertise to help small businesses streamline their financial processes. Making the switch from being on the corporate side of accounting to helping small businesses has not only been rewarding for her, but seeing the impact it makes on small businesses has driven her to go above and beyond. Jackie’s personable attitude and attention to detail enable her to tailor each project to the specific needs of her clients. She is strongly committed to providing efficient results and creating solid relationships with her clients. Jackie graduated magna cum laude from Elmhurst University and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Brenda Weingardt

Office Manager

Brenda Weingart, Certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor Office Manager, Canfield Office Over 20+ years of bookkeeping, office, and QuickBooks experience (both Desktop and now Online versions).

Responsible for local and non-local customer relations (via in person/phone/email), general office tasks, co-managing TaxDome portal, client accounts, compiling final tax return invoices and tax return access to clients.

Outside of work, I love to participate in Revolutionary War Re-enacting and camping. I have 2 grown children, 4 cats, 1 dog, and my daughter (still at home) has 3 indoor rabbits.He’s been fortunate to mentor under a couple of well known and highly regarded tax and financial advisors, becoming practiced at coordinating the financial, legal, and accounting teams needed to solve the multitude of tax exposures faced by the SME community.

Ian Grove

Founder

Ian came into professional services in 1999 via the banking industry and moved into regional mortgage operations management. He remained active in the banking sector as an operations manager through 2011. After a 3 year sabbatical, he decided to pursue a career within the financial service space with a focus on HNW families and their business interests.

He’s been fortunate to mentor under a couple of well known and highly regarded tax and financial advisors, becoming practiced at coordinating the financial, legal, and accounting teams needed to solve the multitude of tax exposures faced by the SME community.