Expert bookkeeping and tax services - right inside FreshBooks

This is a tricky question unless you’re an accountant or bookkeeper. These professions are very similar: Bookkeepers and accountants both work with financial data and help you manage your finances.

There’s also a blurring of roles, with some accountants providing bookkeeping services and some bookkeepers giving strategic business advice. Plus, today, most accounting software can create financial statements and financial reports—a task usually reserved for accountants.

Still, basic accounting functions and basic bookkeeping services are distinct, and there are many differences between accountants and bookkeepers and what they offer small business owners. Even the best online bookkeeping services for small businesses won’t do everything a dedicated accountant will or can.

Bookkeepers: Take care of the day-to-day financials. Bookkeepers post debits and credits, review the general ledger for accuracy, categorize expenses, and generate account statements.

Accountants: Take care of big-picture financial planning. Accountants use the updated information a bookkeeper provides to create financial models, analyze trends, prepare income taxes, and provide advice for growth.

Read this article for a quick summary of notable differences (and a few similarities) between bookkeeping services and accounting services.

Accurate, up-to-date bookkeeping gives you a clear monthly snapshot of your business’s financial health. Whether you’re investing in new equipment, hiring contractors, or applying for a loan, having reliable financials ensures you can make smart, confident decisions and meet the requirements of banks and lenders with ease.

With Integra, your bookkeeping is completed monthly, so you’re not stuck playing catch-up when deadlines roll around. Avoid the stress (and extra costs) of rush work, as CPAs often charge a premium for historical clean-up, which can add up quickly on top of what you already owe.

Integra is an official FreshBooks bookkeeping partner, carefully selected to meet the needs of small business owners. Their team works entirely within your FreshBooks account, using the tools and financial data already available. Because your data stays within the FreshBooks ecosystem, you benefit from a secure, streamlined experience with no extra platforms, no third-party syncing, and no additional software to learn. Just professional bookkeeping, right where you already do your business.

By outsourcing your bookkeeping, you free up valuable hours each month to focus on what truly matters: serving your customers, growing your business, and doing the work you love.
And as a bonus, bookkeeping is a tax-deductible expense, making it a smart financial decision, too.