Outsourced bookkeeping means paying someone outside your business to keep your books. For decades that meant a freelance bookkeeper or a firm. There's now a lower-cost version of the same idea: a monthly subscription where you still hand the job off, modern tooling does most of the heavy lifting, and a person checks it. Either way, the point is the same — the books get done without you doing them.
Side-by-side
- Traditional outsourced bookkeeper — commonly $300–$800+/month; personal relationship; turnaround depends on their schedule; best for businesses with payroll, inventory, or complex accounts.
- DIY accounting software — $20–$90/month; you do the work; best if you enjoy it and have the time.
- A done-for-you bookkeeping subscription — lower flat monthly price (LedgerFast: $79); you send files, the service does the books with human review; fast turnaround; best for owner-operators and cash-heavy service businesses.
Related: AI Bookkeeper vs. Human Bookkeeper: An Honest Comparison · AI Bookkeeping for Small Business: What You Actually Get and What It Costs · free bookkeeping tools and templates
When a traditional bookkeeper is worth it
If you run payroll for several employees, carry inventory, have multiple entities, or need accrual accounting, a human bookkeeper or CPA firm is the right call. That's real complexity.
When a subscription wins
If you're a landscaper, cleaner, stylist, contractor, or food truck with one bank account, some cash and Venmo income, a few helpers, and a tax preparer in April — you need clean, categorized books and year-end totals, not a full accounting department. That's what a done-for-you subscription is priced for.
Questions to ask any provider
- Do you handle cash and payment-app income?
- Does a human review the work?
- What do I receive, and do I own the files?
- What's the refund policy?