Looking for a Bench alternative? What to check before you switch
Bench, the online bookkeeping service, shut its platform down without warning on December 27, 2024, in the middle of year-end. Employer.com bought it days later and service came back, but thousands of owners had already learned how much they depended on books they couldn't reach.
If you're still with Bench and uneasy, or you left and are still patching things together, the right replacement isn't just a cheaper monthly fee. It's a setup where you own your books, can see them any time, and can hand them to your CPA without a scramble.
What to check in any replacement
- You can export everything, any time: the general ledger, the financial statements and the transaction history, in files your CPA or another provider can use.
- Your bank and card accounts connect read-only, so the provider can see transactions but can't move money.
- Books are kept by company. If you own more than one business, each one has its own books, not one blended set.
- Month-end is real: each account is reconciled to its statement, not just categorized.
- Your CPA can get in directly, see what you share, and download what they need at tax time.
- You know who files your tax return. A bookkeeping service usually doesn't, so your CPA relationship still matters.
Your options
| Option | Who does the work | Fits best when |
|---|---|---|
| Software you run yourself (QuickBooks Online, Xero) | You, or someone on your team | You like doing books and have the time |
| A local bookkeeper | A person, usually monthly | You want one human to call and your books are simple |
| An online bookkeeping service | A remote team, monthly | You want it off your plate and are fine with monthly reports |
| Cratchit | Software that keeps the books every day and asks you only what it can't work out | You own one to a few businesses and want the books, tax planning and a CFO view in one place |
Where Cratchit fits
Cratchit keeps full double-entry books for each company. Bank and card transactions come in on their own, read-only. It sorts repeat payees, matches transfers between your own accounts, and asks a few questions a week for the rest. Answer once and it remembers.
Each month it reconciles every account against its statement, closes the month, and produces a profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow. On top of the books, it keeps a running tax projection, puts safe quarterly estimates on your calendar, and shows what each company can safely pay you. Your CPA signs in free and downloads a trial balance matched to the lines on your return.
It doesn't prepare or file tax returns. Your CPA still does that, with cleaner books than before.
Moving over without losing a year
- Download everything you can from your current provider: year-end financial statements, the general ledger, and any receipts or statements you uploaded.
- Pick a clean start date, usually the first day of the current year or the day after your last closed month.
- Enter opening balances from your last year-end balance sheet, or bring the books over once from QuickBooks or Xero if that's where they live.
- Connect your banks and cards. Transactions from your start date come in on their own.
- Give your CPA access so they see the same numbers you do.
Common questions
Is Bench still in business?
Yes. After shutting down on December 27, 2024, Bench was bought by Employer.com and brought service back in early 2025. Whether to stay is your call; the checklist above is a fair test for any provider.
Can I move to a new bookkeeper in the middle of the year?
Yes. Start the new books on a clean date with opening balances, and keep the old provider's statements for the earlier months. Your CPA can work from both.
Will my CPA still be involved?
They should be. Bookkeeping services and software keep the books; your CPA prepares and files the return and advises on your situation.
How much does Cratchit cost?
$149 a month, with one business, your family's personal finances and up to 20 connected accounts included. Each additional business is $49 a month. The first 10 days are free.
Related
Books for every company, a tax picture all year, and what's safe to take out. $149 a month after the trial, $49 for each additional business. Rather look around first? Take the guided tour with a sample family, or book a 15-minute call.
Start your free trialEducation, not advice. Confirm the details for your business with your CPA.