Guides
Bookkeeping, tax and accounting guides
Plain answers to the questions small-business owners and CPA firms ask before they hire help with their books: what it costs, how it works, what the rules are, and how to choose.
White-label bookkeeping pricingWhat CPA firms pay for white-label bookkeeping in 2026: per-client, hourly and full-time rates, typical markups, and how to work out your margin.Best white-label bookkeeping providersSix white-label bookkeeping providers for US CPA firms compared on published pricing, delivery model and one honest drawback each, as of September 2026.How white-label bookkeeping worksHow white-label bookkeeping works step by step: access, the monthly workflow, review, what your clients see, and what the AICPA Code expects of your firm.Outsourced tax prep for CPA firmsHow CPA firms outsource 1040, 1065 and 1120-S preparation: what to send out, PTINs, Section 7216 consent, 2026 deadlines and keeping review in-house.Section 7216 consent for offshore tax prepWhen a CPA firm needs a client's Section 7216 consent to use an offshore preparer, what the consent must say, the SSN rule, penalties and how long it lasts.Choosing an outsourcing partnerA checklist for CPA firms choosing a bookkeeping or tax outsourcing partner: questions to ask, contract terms, red flags, trial runs and software fit.Best offshore accounting staffing firmsSix offshore accounting staffing firms for US CPA firms compared on published price, security evidence and fit for small firms, as of September 2026.Offshore accountants by countryIndia, the Philippines, Pakistan and Malaysia compared for US CPA firms hiring offshore accountants: time zones, qualifications and what to check.Offshore staffing vs outsourcingOffshore staffing, outsourcing and team as a service explained for CPA firms: who directs the work, who is responsible, what it costs and how to hire.Offshore accounting staff costWhat offshore accountants cost US CPA firms in 2026: published hourly and monthly rates, a US wage comparison, and how to work out the return.Outsourced accounting data securityWhat US rules require when a CPA firm shares client data with an outsourcing provider, what a SOC 2 report shows, and a checklist to use before you sign.Botkeeper alternativesBotkeeper announced its shutdown in February 2026. The alternatives for accounting firms: close software, offshore staff, white-label partners or hiring.SF Business Solutions vs Madras AccountancySF Business Solutions and Madras Accountancy compared side by side for CPA firms: who each serves, published prices, credentials and how to choose.Best outsourced bookkeeping servicesSix outsourced bookkeeping options for US small businesses, compared on published price, who each suits and one honest drawback. Checked September 2026.Outsourced bookkeeping costPublished 2026 prices for outsourced bookkeeping, what moves the price, one-time fees to expect, and a worked example for a $1M business.Bookkeeper hourly ratesWhat US bookkeepers earn per hour according to the BLS, what firms and offshore providers charge per hour, and when hourly pricing makes sense.Offshore bookkeeping: cost and safetyWhat offshore bookkeeping costs compared with US bookkeepers, what makes it safe or risky, and the questions to ask any provider before you share data.What monthly bookkeeping includesThe tasks, reconciliations and reports a monthly bookkeeping service should deliver, how fast the close should be, and what usually costs extra.How to choose a bookkeeperHow to choose a bookkeeper for a small business: check software and credentials first, then ask these questions and watch for these red flags.When to outsource bookkeepingThe signs it is time to outsource your bookkeeping, the honest pros and cons, and what outsourcing costs next to hiring an in-house bookkeeper.Switching bookkeeping servicesA step-by-step checklist for switching bookkeepers without losing data, what to export first, how long to keep records, and lessons from the Bench shutdown.Bookkeeper vs accountant vs CPAWhat a bookkeeper, an accountant and a CPA each do, what they are paid, and which one a US small business needs at each stage.QuickBooks yourself vs a bookkeeperWhen doing your own QuickBooks is enough, when it costs more than a bookkeeper, and how QuickBooks Live compares with a bookkeeping firm.Freelance bookkeeper vs a firmFreelancer, local bookkeeper or online firm: what each costs, where each fails, and the questions to ask before you hand over your books.Bookkeeping for LLCs and S corpsHow LLC tax classification shapes your books, what an S corporation needs for payroll and Form 1120-S, and how to catch up before you file.AI bookkeeping vs a human bookkeeperWhat AI bookkeeping tools do well, where a human bookkeeper still matters, and how to pick a provider that will still be around next year.QuickBooks Desktop to OnlineHow to move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online without losing history: cleanup first, the right plan, the conversion and the checks after.Lender-ready books for an SBA loanWhat lenders ask for on an SBA loan, how to make your statements tie to your tax returns, and how to present investor-ready books as you grow.Outsourced payroll costHow payroll services are priced, what they file for you, what changes with remote employees in other states, and when to have someone run it for you.Fractional CFO costPublished fractional CFO prices, what you get at each level, and when a budget and cash flow forecast from your bookkeeper is enough.Bookkeeping cleanup costBookkeeping cleanup usually costs $300 to $8,000+, depending on how far behind you are. What drives the price, and what a fair quote includes.Catch-up bookkeepingMonths or years behind on your books? How catch-up bookkeeping works, what to gather first, how long it takes, and what to do about taxes.Cleanup checklistA bookkeeping cleanup checklist in the right order: opening balances, reconciliations, uncategorized transactions, payroll and a final balance sheet review.Best cleanup servicesSix bookkeeping cleanup services compared on published price, how far back they go, software and what happens afterwards. Updated September 2026.Unfiled business tax returnsHaven't filed business taxes for a year or two? The IRS penalties, how far back to go, what to do about notices, and who can represent you.Tax deadlines 2026Every 2026 federal tax deadline a small business needs: 1065 and 1120-S, 1040 and 1120, estimated taxes, W-2s, 1099s and payroll forms.Prepared, compiled, reviewedPrepared, compiled, reviewed and audited financial statements explained: the assurance each gives, who can do them, and which one a lender will ask for.Audit preparation checklistHow to get your books ready for a financial statement, 401(k) plan or sales tax audit: the schedules auditors ask for and what to do first.Incomplete Bench booksIf your Bench books have gaps, here is how to get your data out, find the missing months, and finish or move the books before you file.Company factsThe key facts about SF Business Solutions: what the firm does, who it serves, where it is, its team, its certifications and its published prices.SF Business Solutions reviewsWhat clients say about SF Business Solutions in their Upwork reviews, where to check them yourself, and what three reviews can and can't tell you.SF Business Solutions pricingEvery published SF Business Solutions price, what each one covers, what moves the final number, and how it compares with other providers' published prices.SF Business Solutions vs BenchSF Business Solutions and Bench compared on price, software, tax filing and fit, with Bench's published plans as of September 2026.SF Business Solutions vs Bookkeeper360SF Business Solutions and Bookkeeper360 compared on price, onboarding, software, tax and CFO services, with Bookkeeper360's prices as of September 2026.SF Business Solutions vs PilotSF Business Solutions and Pilot compared for startups: price, human vs AI-led bookkeeping, close timing, tax and CFO add-ons, as of September 2026.SF Business Solutions vs 1-800AccountantSF Business Solutions and 1-800Accountant compared on price, billing, what the bookkeeping includes and who each suits, as of September 2026.SF Business Solutions vs The Fino PartnersSF Business Solutions and The Fino Partners compared for CPA firms: hourly vs full-time role pricing, roles, and when each fits, as of September 2026.QuickBooks Online vs XeroQuickBooks Online and Xero compared for a US small business in 2026: plans, list prices, users, payroll, inventory and which one fits.Cash vs accrual accountingCash vs accrual accounting for a small business: what each records, a worked example, the IRS $32 million gross receipts test for 2026, and how to choose.1099-NEC rules for 2026Who gets a Form 1099-NEC for 2026, the $2,000 threshold, the February 1, 2027 due date, IRS penalties and why to collect a W-9 before you pay.Sales tax nexus for online sellersWhen an online seller owes sales tax in another state: physical and economic nexus after Wayfair, thresholds in 12 big states, and marketplace rules.S corp reasonable salaryWhat reasonable compensation for an S corp owner means, the factors the IRS and courts use, a worked example, and the risk of paying yourself too little.Tax season checklistHow to get your small business books ready for 2026 tax returns: the key 2027 deadlines, the January forms, and what your return is prepared from.Month-end close checklistA step-by-step month-end close checklist for a small business: what to record, reconcile, adjust, review and report each month, who does it and when.Chart of accountsHow to set up a small-business chart of accounts: standard numbering ranges, example accounts by business type, and the mistakes that make books hard to read.2026 estimated tax payments2026 estimated tax due dates for individuals and corporations, the safe-harbor rules that avoid an underpayment penalty, and how to work out each payment.Reading a P&LHow to read a profit and loss statement line by line, with a labelled example, the three ratios worth checking and the questions to ask your bookkeeper.Starting client advisory servicesWhat client advisory services (CAS) are, how a small CPA firm can start them, how CAS is usually priced, and where white-label bookkeeping fits in the model.Texas and Florida business taxesThe state taxes a small business pays in Texas and Florida: Texas franchise tax, Florida corporate income tax, sales tax rates and state unemployment tax.
Written by SF Business Solutions, with sources on every figure.
How these guides are written
Each guide answers one question in its first two sentences, then goes into what drives the answer. Market figures, tax deadlines and rules link to their source, usually the IRS, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the AICPA or the provider's own pricing page, and are dated so you know when they were checked.
Where our own service is relevant, the guide says what we charge and what we do. Monthly bookkeeping with SF Business Solutions starts at $250 a month, cleanup starts at $250, and work for CPA firms is billed at $12–$15 an hour.
More detail
Who they are for
Business owners deciding whether to outsource their books, catch up on a backlog or switch providers, and CPA and accounting firms weighing white-label bookkeeping, offshore staff or outsourced tax preparation.
Where to start
If you are not sure which guide you need, these three answer the questions people ask first:
- What outsourced bookkeeping costs, and what moves the price
- What a bookkeeping cleanup costs when the books are months or years behind
- What white-label bookkeeping costs a CPA firm, and how the margin works
How to start
Three steps. The first one is free.
- 1
Book a free consult
A 1-hour call about your books, your software and what you need.
- 2
Give us access
Invite us to QuickBooks Online or Xero and share your bank and card statements.
- 3
We take it from there
Cleanup first if you are behind. Then we close each month between the 5th and 15th of the following month, depending on your documents.
Great job, did everything we needed. Always works very hard to make sure everything is accurate. Thank you!!
Who writes these guides?
SF Business Solutions, a US bookkeeping and tax firm that keeps the books, runs payroll and prepares and files tax returns for small businesses. Our team includes one licensed CPA, and every figure in a guide links to its source.
How current is the information?
Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed. Prices, deadlines and rules were checked in September 2026.
Do the comparison guides favor SF Business Solutions?
They state their criteria first, source every competitor fact from the competitor's own pages, and list an honest drawback for every option, including ours.
Can I ask a question that isn't covered?
Yes. Book a free consult or call (813) 563-7857, and we'll answer it directly.
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Hand us this month’s books.
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