Bench Accounting

bench.co
Accounting Software
Few Days

Bookkeeping and accounting for small businesses

How to Replace Bench Accounting

Overview

Bench is a cloud-based accounting platform that combines software with human bookkeepers to manage finances for small businesses. It automates bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial reporting.

Features

43 features across 21 categories

Accessibility(1)

Mobile App

Manage finances on-the-go with iOS and Android apps.

Also in: Justinmind, Justworks, Notion

Accounting(3)

Expense Categorization AIAI

Machine learning automatically categorizes expenses accurately.

Multi-Currency SupportPremium

Handle transactions and reporting in multiple currencies.

Vendor Management

Track and manage vendor information and payment history.

Also in: Jobber, Melio, Lemonway

Analytics(2)

Financial Health ScoreAI

AI-generated score assessing overall financial health of the business.

KPI DashboardPremium

Track key performance indicators relevant to business profitability.

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Smartsheet

CRM(1)

Customer Management

Maintain customer contact information and transaction history.

Also in: monday.com, Setmore, HubSpot

Collaboration(1)

Accountant PortalPremium

Dedicated portal for accountants to review and manage client finances.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Obsidian

Compliance(1)

Audit TrailPremium

Track all changes made to financial records for compliance.

Also in: Insider CDP, Airtable, 1Password

Core Accounting(4)

Automated BookkeepingAI

Automatically categorizes transactions and reconciles bank accounts.

Bank ReconciliationAI

Matches and reconciles all bank and credit card transactions automatically.

Expense TrackingAI

Tracks and categorizes business expenses across all accounts.

Receipt ScanningAI

Scan and upload receipts automatically for expense tracking.

Data Management(1)

CSV Import/Export

Import transactions and export reports in CSV format.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Document Management(1)

Document Storage

Securely store receipts, invoices, and financial documents.

Integration(1)

API AccessPremium

RESTful API for custom integrations and data access.

Integrations(1)

Bank Feed Integration

Real-time connection to bank accounts for automatic transaction feeds.

Invoicing(1)

Invoice Management

Create, send, and track invoices with automated reminders.

Payments(1)

Bill PayPremium

Pay bills directly from the platform and track payment history.

Payroll(1)

Payroll ManagementPremium

Manage employee payroll, taxes, and direct deposits.

Planning(2)

Budget PlanningPremium

Create and track budgets against actual spending.

Cash Flow ForecastingAIPremium

AI-powered predictions of future cash position based on historical data.

Reporting(6)

Balance Sheet Reports

Comprehensive balance sheet showing assets, liabilities, and equity.

Custom ReportsPremium

Create custom financial reports tailored to specific business needs.

Dashboard Analytics

Visual dashboard showing business financial health and trends.

Financial Statements

Generates profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports.

Profit & Loss Analysis

Detailed analysis of revenue and expenses by category.

Quarterly Reports

Automated generation of quarterly financial reports.

Security(3)

Data Encryption

Bank-level encryption for all stored financial data.

Role-Based Access Control

Assign different permission levels to team members and accountants.

Two-Factor Authentication

Enhanced security with two-factor authentication for account access.

Services(3)

Bookkeeper Cleanup ServicePremium

Professional bookkeepers review and clean up financial records monthly.

Fractional CFO ServicesPremium

Access to CFO-level financial guidance and business advice.

Tax Planning ConsultationPremium

Personalized tax planning sessions with accounting professionals.

Support(1)

Human Bookkeeper SupportPremium

Access to professional bookkeepers for reconciliation and cleanup.

Tax(7)

Deduction TrackingAIPremium

Automatically tracks potential tax deductions throughout the year.

Mileage TrackingPremium

Track business mileage for tax deduction purposes.

Quarterly Tax EstimatesAIPremium

Calculates estimated quarterly tax payments with AI accuracy.

Tax Category RecommendationsAI

AI suggests appropriate tax categories for transactions.

Tax Estimated PaymentsPremium

Calculates and tracks estimated tax payment requirements.

Tax PreparationPremium

Prepares financial statements and documentation needed for tax filing.

Year-End Tax SummaryPremium

Prepares comprehensive tax summary for year-end filing.

Workflow(1)

Expense Approval WorkflowPremium

Set up approval processes for business expenses.

Pricing

Starter

$120/mo
  • Automated bookkeeping with human support

Core

Popular
$240/mo
  • Full bookkeeping with monthly cleanup

Premium

$480/mo
  • Advanced reporting and tax preparation

Elite

$960/mo
  • CFO services and financial consulting

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Bench Accounting

Monthly$120/mo
Yearly$1.4k/yr
5-Year Total$7.2k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~5 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyEasy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $1.2k
SaaS
$1.4k
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $3.6k
SaaS
$4.3k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $6k
SaaS
$7.2k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 43 features at easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Bench Accounting alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 43 features.

Buy Bench Accounting

Better Value
Monthly cost$1,200/mo
3-year total$43,200
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$36,000
Maintenance$540/mo
3-year total$55,440
Dev time~3 months

Buying Bench Accounting saves ~$12,240 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 43 features and a BuildScore of 4/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

25 known integrations

ADPAmazon Seller CentralDropboxGmailGoogle DriveGuidepointGustoHubSpotMicrosoft TeamsOneDriveOutlookPayPalPlaidQuickBooks OnlineSalesforceShopifySlackSquareStripeUberWaveWooCommerceXeroZapierZipRecruiter