QuickBooks Live vs. a CPA firm:an honest comparison.
Both keep your books. They’re built for different businesses. Here’s where the two models actually differ, and who each one fits.
QuickBooks Live is Intuit’s in-house bookkeeping service. For a simple business that just needs its transactions categorized each month, it’s a reasonable, low-cost option, and we’ll say so plainly below. Where it stops short is everything around the bookkeeping: the cadence, the wider back office, the tax connection, and who is ultimately accountable for the numbers. This page lays that out fairly.
The comparison
| QuickBooks Live | A CPA firm (us) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300–$700/mo, tiered by monthly expense volume, plus a required QuickBooks Online subscription | From $550/mo, and your QuickBooks Online stays yours |
| Update cadence | Monthly | Categorized as you go, monthly close |
| Invoicing, bill pay, A/R & A/P, inventory | Not included in the full-service bookkeeping offering | Included from our Full Accounting tier up |
| Tax | Bookkeepers can’t give business-specific tax advice or file your return | We file returns and plan taxes year-round |
| Advisory / CFO | Not offered | Core service: fractional CFO when you’re ready |
| Accountability | Rotating certified bookkeepers | A named CPA is responsible for your file |
Pricing and features verified July 2026 from Intuit’s official QuickBooks Live pages. Intuit updates its plans periodically; check their site for current details.
Who QuickBooks Live is right for
If your business is genuinely simple (one bank account, little or no payroll, no invoicing or bill pay to manage, and no need for tax advice beyond handing clean books to a preparer once a year), QuickBooks Live’s flat monthly service may be all you need, and it’s a fair price for it.
The moment your books touch payroll, A/R and A/P, inventory, a lender or board, or real tax strategy, you’ve outgrown a monthly categorization service, and that’s exactly the line where a CPA-led firm earns its keep.
Weighing an AI bookkeeping app instead? See AI bookkeeping vs. a CPA firm
Already tried it and the books need help? See cleanup & catch-up
Not sure which fits your business?
Book a free consultation and we’ll give you a straight answer, even if it’s “stay where you are.”