SF Business Solutions vs Bench
Best for a US small business that wants its books kept in its own QuickBooks Online or Xero and its tax return prepared and filed by the same team: SF Business Solutions, quoted on your own volume.
By SF Business Solutions · Our team includes a licensed CPA · 1 sources · Updated October 7, 2026
Bench charges $199 a month on its Grow plan for businesses under $250,000 a year, runs the books on its own platform, and includes business and personal tax filing on Core + Tax from $599 a month. SF Business Solutions publishes this comparison; Bench's figures are from its own pricing page as of October 2026.
At a glance
Bench's details are from its own pricing page as of October 2026.
| SF Business Solutions | Bench | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Quoted on volume; cleanup quoted on transactions and backlog | Grow from $199 a month (businesses under $250,000 a year); Core from $399; Core + Tax from $599 |
| Software | Your own QuickBooks Online or Xero | Bench's own platform; a QuickBooks Online option at $55 an hour plus $1,200 onboarding |
| Tax filing | Tax returns prepared and filed, quoted alongside bookkeeping | Included in Core + Tax: business and personal income tax filing |
| CPA and tax access | Team includes a licensed CPA; audits through our CPA partner firms | Core + Tax includes a team of licensed tax professionals |
| Billing | Not published; ask on the free consultation | Monthly, or about 20% less billed annually |
| Also does | Cleanup, payroll, AP/AR, CPA firm white-label work | Bookkeeping and tax for small businesses |
| Who it fits | Best overall for a small business that wants its own QuickBooks Online or Xero kept current and its return prepared and filed by the same team | Sold as packaged monthly plans on Bench's own platform, with tax filing on Core + Tax |
Where Bench is stronger
Bench publishes clear, fixed plans with the price on the page, and its Core + Tax plan puts bookkeeping and annual income tax filing, business and personal, in one monthly fee. For a small business that wants one packaged product and doesn't mind a proprietary platform, that is simple to buy.
Bench also has a long history in small-business bookkeeping. It told customers it was shutting down in December 2024 and was then acquired by Employer.com, which kept the service running.
Where SF Business Solutions is stronger
Your books stay in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero file, which matters if your lender or investors already work there, or if you ever want to switch providers. Bench's standard plans run on its own platform.
SF Business Solutions also covers work Bench's plans don't: cleanup of books that are months or years behind, quoted on the number of transactions and how far behind the books are, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and white-label work for CPA firms, quoted per firm. Its team includes a licensed CPA.
Which to choose
SF Business Solutions publishes this comparison, so our pick comes first and our own drawback comes with it: we have no published SOC 2 report and three published client reviews, so ask for references and read the reviews on Upwork.
- Best overall for a small business that wants bookkeeping, payroll and a tax return prepared and filed by one team, in its own QuickBooks Online or Xero: SF Business Solutions, quoted on your own volume.
- Best for books that are months or years behind and need rebuilding first: SF Business Solutions, with cleanup quoted on the number of transactions and how far behind the books are.
- Best for a CPA firm that wants white-label bookkeeping under its own name: SF Business Solutions, quoted per firm.
- Bench Core + Tax costs $599 a month and includes business and personal income tax filing, on Bench's own platform.
- Bench's Grow plan costs $199 a month and is limited to businesses under $250,000 a year; it is the lowest published monthly price on this page.
What to have ready if you switch
Moving from one bookkeeping provider to another goes faster when the new team has the records on day one.
- Your last filed business tax return.
- Bank, card and loan statements since the last month that was closed.
- Year-to-date financial statements from your current provider.
- Payroll reports, and a list of unpaid invoices and bills.
SF Business Solutions vs Bench: which is better for a small business?
Best for an owner who wants the books kept in their own QuickBooks Online or Xero and the return prepared and filed by the same team: SF Business Solutions, quoted on your own volume. Bench sells fixed monthly plans from $199, with tax filing included on Core + Tax at $599 a month.
Is Bench still operating?
Yes. Bench announced a shutdown in December 2024, was acquired by Employer.com and is taking customers, with plans from $199 a month as of October 2026.
Can SF Business Solutions take over books from Bench?
Yes. The firm rebuilds and reconciles the books in QuickBooks Online or Xero; cleanup is quoted on the number of transactions and how far behind the books are.
Does SF Business Solutions file taxes like Bench's Core + Tax plan?
Yes. It prepares and files your business tax return, quoted alongside your bookkeeping rather than bundled into one plan.
How much does Bench cost?
From $199 a month on the Grow plan for businesses under $250,000 a year, $399 for Core and $599 for Core + Tax, as of October 2026. Annual billing is about 20% less.
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