Editor's Rating | |
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Overall | |
Features | |
Price | |
Customer Service | |
Mobile |
Positives
- Dedicated team of specialists
- Maximum tax efficiency
- Business tax returns
- Mileage tracker
- Hybrid software
Negatives
- Lack of tutorials
- Base service is limited
- No discounts for upfront payments
Online accounting isn’t easy, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. With so many menus full of complicated features, it can be challenging for beginners. That’s something that 1-800Accountant avoids by offering a simple yet functional tool that helps small businesses tackle online accounting head-on. Based in New York and established in 1999, 1-800Accountant offers a user-friendly dashboard that is stripped down to the basics, making accounting painless. You can also use the software to do your personal taxes, and the company even guarantees that you’ll get every dollar you’re entitled to. If that wasn’t enough, 1-800Accountant also offers a human touch by providing you with dedicated experts that not only help you along the way but who actually feel like they’re part of your team. With prices starting at $125 a month, this online accounting firm has many features for accounting and business registration services. To top it all off, you can also get up to a 90% refund of the service within 30 days of signing up if you decide that it isn’t for you.
Accounting Features
The first thing you’ll notice about 1-800Accountant is its simplistic dashboard. But that’s not a bad thing – you want your accounting software to be utilitarian rather than full of unnecessary bells and whistles. Everything you need is just a few clicks away and easy to access from the main menu. From the dashboard, you can find your financial team. Depending on the subscription, you’ll be able to send an instant message or schedule an appointment with your dedicated tax advisor, tax accountant, tax analyst, bookkeeping specialist, payroll specialist, or retirement specialist. This is ideal for small businesses because it saves on the costs of hiring specialists yourself.
The menu has everything you need within easy reach, including transactions, banking, invoices, and reports. Like most features of 1-800Accountant, everything is straightforward and designed for maximum efficiency. However, sometimes this can be detrimental. For example, it’s not possible to set up a recurring invoice as everything has to be done individually.
Surprisingly, one thing that 1-800Accountant really delves deep into is travel expenses. Through the Mileage Tracker menu, you can add trips that employees have taken. This includes setting up the company cars used, locations visited, and reasons for traveling, such as commuting, conferences, or site visits.
Invoicing
The invoicing section has all the essential features you need, with the exception of recurring invoices. The first thing you need to do is fill out the Products/Services category with the relevant information. This doesn’t work like an inventory page, which means it’s not possible to limit products according to stock level.
The Invoices List section shows you all of your previous invoices, which you can send by email or download as a PDF file. The list can be filtered by paid, unpaid, and overdue invoices, making it easier to find a specific file, but a search bar would be a big help in the future. Finally, there’s a helpful overview of your invoices with a cash flow chart for extra visualization in the Invoice Dashboard.
Taxes
Perhaps the most established feature of 1-800Accountant is how it deals with taxes – both business taxes and tax advisory services. All you need to do is input your tax information, and your dedicated tax accountant will get to work on preparing your tax return. From the tax portal, it’s possible to apply for personal and business tax extensions, which will also be filed on your behalf. The Tax Projections section provides a helpful breakdown of all taxable income and potential credits, so you know exactly what to expect. Finally, there’s the handy Tax Suggestions area where you’ll find all the suggestions of your personal tax advisor.
Mobile
1-800Accountant allows you to do your accounting on the go with its Android and iOS apps. The good news is that the apps are essentially just mobile-friendly versions of the dashboard. You can do everything you would normally do without being tied to your desk. Although the app doesn’t let you use your phone’s camera to scan receipts, you can easily use an external printer to scan a document, save the file on your phone, and upload it to the app. You can also opt not to download the mobile app since 1-800Accountant’s website is optimized for mobile browsers, meaning you’ll have no problem navigating the menus on any of your devices.
Integrations and Extra Services
Although 1-800Accountant doesn’t offer much in the way of software integrations, there are some noteworthy extra services it provides. If you’re just getting started, the company will provide you with a certified public accountant, at a cost, to help you set up your business and have it optimized to avoid fines and penalties, as well as ensure it is totally IRS-compliant. You can also get help from 1-800Accountant’s dedicated bookkeepers to take care of all your business records and keep your financial affairs in order.
Moreover, the company provides payroll processing tailored to your needs after a consultation with a payroll specialist. This ensures you get exactly what you need for your business and avoid delayed payments.
Pricing
1-800Accountant’s cost naturally depends on what you want to get out of the software. The company offers three paid plans where users also receive expert advice from a team of specialists. Prices start at $125 a month, which is billed annually for the Business tier. It includes year-round advice and a dedicated accountant.
You’re going to need more support as the size of your business grows. Thankfully, 1-800Accountant offers more pricing plans for your expanding company. There’s the Corporation package, which is similar to the basic Business tier but with much more in-depth tax preparation. The next plan is Enterprise, which includes bookkeeping and priority support for $375 per month. If you’re not ready to commit just yet, there’s also a free Startup option specially made for businesses looking to file an LLC.
It’s possible to pay for the service using any of the major credit cards, and you can cancel at any time by email. If you change your mind within the first 30 days of signing up, any initial costs of service are up to 90% refundable.
Customer Service
With 1-800Accountant, your financial team is your primary point of contact, and they can help you with the software as well as the nitty-gritty of accounting. But if you want to get in touch with customer support, then you can do so by phone or email. 1-800Accountant is also reachable via social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
Unfortunately, the 1-800Accountant website doesn’t have a lot of documentation to guide you through the software. There are some video tutorials throughout the dashboard, although they’re few and far between. The website hosts a long FAQ section, but it focuses more on general accounting questions. Having said that, it’s worth checking out the 1-800Accountant blog because it’s frequently updated with all the latest accounting news.
Bottom Line
1-800Accountant is the ideal solution for small businesses that not only need accounting software but also experts in the field. But while the platform is user-friendly and allows even the most novice user to navigate it seamlessly, it lacks some key features. For example, it’s not possible to set up recurring invoices. On top of that, the steep price may be an issue for some. However, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth if you consider the fact that you have access to a financial team that can help you achieve your business goals. Indeed, another way that 1-800Accountant essentially pays for itself is with its in-depth and helpful tax preparation. That means the company’s tax specialists will ensure you get the maximum return and save more money in the long run. For up-and-coming businesses, 1-800Accountant’s free plan might be the best move. But don’t be scared to take the plunge and get one of the paid subscriptions. 1-800Accountant offers a refund of up to 90% of the value of its services if you cancel within the first 30 days of signing up.
Visit 1-800AccountantFree LLC Formation ServicesBest Online Accounting Software of 2024
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Janelle says
I would NEVER!! recommend anyone use this company and I have no idea how on earth they have any positive reviews other than if they were fake because with being forced to work with them for an entire year due to a year contract I signed up for I have not had 1 good experience with them after the contract was signed.
Also know there is no way to call them or contact them other than through the portal that can take 3 days to get a response for a simple question that then leads to another so to get answers to 2 questions it takes 6 days.
I will go on to explain my nightmare with them. My LLC started mid December 2022 and I reached out for their service March 14, 2023 they informed me they would do my taxes for 2022 and business taxes for 2023. I did have a few business expenses in that time that would have to be filed with my 2022 taxes since I’m an LLC they would be filed with my personal taxes there is no other way around it.
I was just informed today that they will not do my 2023 business taxes, which is the only reason I signed up for the service in the first place unless I pay for another year of them doing them because they filed my 2022 “business taxes” when they did them last year with my personal taxes because as an LLC that is how they are filed is with personal taxes. Not only have they screwed me out of thousands of dollars for their services, they completely messed up my 2022 tax return and filed them late and required me to have to pay an additional late fee for their mistake.
I would give negative stars but it is not an option. I would NEVER!!!!! recommend anyone use this company and have to deal with their bull and lying. If they have not been such a pain I would put up a bigger fight about them doing my 2023 business taxes but with how much they screwed up my last years taxes, and that only included a couple weeks of business information on it, the rest was the easiest return possible 2 adults each with 1 full-time job, no tips, no children, just straight forward, I have a hard time trusting they would do it right even though I have already paid thousands for their service that they are now trying to claim they already provided and is complete bologna .
Daniel (Best Reviews Team) says
Hello Janelle, and thank you for your comment.
We’re surprised to hear about your experience with 1-800Accountant. During our testing, we didn’t encounter any of the issues you are describing. Still, we’re sorry that you’ve been let down by the company – this kind of situation shouldn’t happen.
Going forward, if you’re seeking another online accounting service then we recommend looking through our reviews before committing to a purchase. Hopefully, you’ll find one that meets all your requirements and takes the hassle out of the tax-filing process. Thank you for your review, and have a good day.