Botkeeper
Bookkeeping has gone from a tedious administrative task to a core driver of client service, firm efficiency, and scalable advisory. And if you’re a CPA—or running a firm full of them—treating bookkeeping as an afterthought is a fast track to sloppy books, stressed staff, and stalled growth.
This guide breaks down the top questions CPA firms ask about bookkeeping today, whether you’re considering offering it, outsourcing it, or leveling up your current workflow.
1. What is a CPA in bookkeeping?
isn’t to sit in the weeds categorizing transactions. Your real value lies in interpreting financials, shaping business decisions, and keeping clients compliant.
But none of that is possible without clean, accurate, timely bookkeeping. Modern firms treat bookkeeping as the foundation—not a low-priority admin task to push down the to-do list.
2. Why are more CPA firms integrating bookkeeping services?
Because the old-school method—letting clients or junior staff “handle it”—is costing firms money, efficiency, and client trust.
Top CPA firms now embed bookkeeping into their core offerings because:
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Clients want a single, integrated solution.
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Clean books fuel accurate tax prep and stronger advisory.
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Bookkeeping delivers predictable recurring revenue.
Bookkeeping isn’t busywork. It’s the launchpad for advisory, and firms that offer both grow faster and retain clients longer.
3. How should CPA firms offer bookkeeping services?
Bookkeeping should be structured intentionally—not tacked on.
How to design it smartly:
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Standalone vs. bundled: Sell it as a subscription or package it with tax, CAS, or advisory to increase stickiness.
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In-house, outsourced, or hybrid: Run it internally, outsource to a partner like Botkeeper, or blend based on client complexity.
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Leverage automation: Reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and free up CPAs to do actual CPA-level work.
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Set expectations upfront: Scope, turnaround, SLAs, and communication.
Done right, bookkeeping becomes a profit center, not a burden.
4. Do CPA firms outsource bookkeeping?
Absolutely—and the fastest-growing firms outsource strategically.
Because juggling 15 inboxes and three disconnected platforms isn’t a business model. It’s chaos.
Outsourcing gives you:
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Lower overhead
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Better accuracy
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Faster scaling
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Built-in technology and support
Especially with Botkeeper, the only automated bookkeeping platform purpose-built for accounting firms.
5. How can CPAs streamline bookkeeping for clients?
The formula is simple: Standardize. Automate. Delegate.
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Standardize your processes
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Automate inputs (bank feeds, OCR, categorization)
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Delegate production work to Botkeeper
Don’t waste a CPA’s billable brainpower on data entry. It’s like putting a Ferrari in a carpool lane.
6. How do I start a bookkeeping business as a CPA?
You’ve already got the credentials—now build a business model that scales.
Focus on:
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A niche: Specializing accelerates efficiency, messaging, and referrals.
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A pricing strategy:
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Hourly = easy, but caps your earning potential.
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Fixed fee = predictable and scalable.
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Value-based = best for advisory-heavy offerings.
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A modern tech stack:
Cloud-based, integrated, automation-first—like Botkeeper.
Treat it like a startup: automate everything you can and build for scale.
7. What automated bookkeeping software is best for CPA firms?
If you want automation built for CPA firms—not for small businesses or DIY users—Botkeeper is the answer.
You get:
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Automated categorization
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Machine learning that gets smarter every month
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Exception handling
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Close tracking
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Real-time dashboards
And it all plugs directly into QuickBooks and Xero.
8. What are the pros and cons of hiring in-house bookkeepers or outsourcing?
In-house
Pros: Full control, tailored processes, team alignment
Cons: High payroll, difficult to scale, turnover risk, heavy management
Outsourced
Pros: Lower cost, flexible capacity, consistent quality, specialized tech
Cons: Requires good SOPs and communication
Most growing CPA firms choose outsourced or hybrid models because they’re faster, cheaper, and more scalable.
9. How much should CPA firms charge for bookkeeping?
It depends on your services, client size, and value delivered. But one thing’s clear: undercharging is a growth killer.
You’re not just pushing buttons. You’re creating clarity, confidence, and a launchpad for advisory services. Price like it. And don’t forget to bake in the efficiency gains you get from automation.
10. How does Botkeeper help CPAs with bookkeeping?
Short answer? We take the grunt work off your plate. Long answer?
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We ingest and categorize transactions automatically
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We reconcile accounts with superhuman speed
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We give you real-time dashboards
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We scale with you—whether you’ve got 10 clients or 1,000
Botkeeper was built for accounting firms. We don’t compete with CPAs or bookkeepers—we make them unstoppable.
Ready to Take Bookkeeping Off Your Plate?
If you’re still managing client books manually, it’s time for a better way. Botkeeper gives you the tools, automation, and human support to own bookkeeping without doing the dirty work.
Stop sacrificing your team’s time on tasks a machine can handle. Start scaling your firm like it’s 2025. Let’s do this. Botkeeper is just $69 per client, per month. We know flexibility is key, so choose annual or month-to-month. Get started now, and see for yourself how easy it can be!
