Blog » Where Do Small Businesses Actually Find Good Outsourced Accounting Services?

Where Do Small Businesses Actually Find Good Outsourced Accounting Services

Where Do Small Businesses Actually Find Good Outsourced Accounting Services?

Finding good accountants is easy when you are willing to pay them a good salary, variable pay, comprehensive benefits, equity, recognition, and career development opportunities. When you are a small business, the hunt for good accounting services can be hard.

However, SMBs can always find experienced outsourced accountants at half the cost. The fact that more and more small businesses are hiring accountants from outsourcing services shows that the service of online book-keeping is as good as the cost-efficiency. 

According to a recent Clutch survey, nearly one-quarter (22%) of small businesses that have an accountant employ a full- or part-time outsourced accountant. This highlights that a significant portion of small enterprises relies on external accounting providers, reflecting growing adoption of outsourced bookkeeping and financial management.

But What exactly is “Outsourced Accounting”?

Outsourced accounting refers to the practice of hiring an external firm or remote accounting professionals to manage financial processes like bookkeeping, payroll, tax filing, and reporting, allowing businesses to access expert support without the overhead of a full-time, in-house team.

Benefits of “Outsourced Accounting”

To understand why more small businesses are making this switch, Here’s a quick breakdown of the key benefits that make outsourced accounting a smart move for small businesses :

Top 5 outsourcing accountants (1)

Outsourced vs. In-House Accounting: Which Is Right for Your Business?

When deciding how to manage your company’s finances, most small businesses face a choice: build an in-house accounting team or outsource to external experts. Both models have their merits but they offer very different trade-offs in cost, scalability, and control.

FactorOutsourced AccountingIn-House Accountant
Cost EfficiencyPay only for what you need—no salaries, benefits, or overheadFixed costs including salary, benefits, and infrastructure
Talent AccessTap into a global pool of specialists across accounting domainsLimited to local talent or full-time hires
ScalabilityEasily Scale up support or down based on your business needsScaling requires new hires and lengthy onboarding
Turnaround Time24/7 availability (with time zone coverage) for faster deliveryLimited to office hours and individual bandwidth
Control & SupervisionManaged services reduce your involvement but still customizableFull control over day-to-day tasks and oversight
Tool IntegrationOutsourced teams often come trained on tools like QuickBooks, Xero, ZohoMay require in-house training and license management
ContinuityTeam-based models prevent disruption from turnover or leaveRisk of knowledge loss if a key staff member exits
Compliance & AccuracyRigorously vetted accountants with multi-industry experienceRelies heavily on internal review and oversight

Thus, Outsourced accounting offers cost-effective flexibility and expertise, while in-house teams provide direct control but at a higher cost. For most small businesses, a hybrid approach- Outsourcing routine tasks while keeping strategic oversight strikes the ideal balance.

Top 5 Platforms to Find Good Outsourced Accountants for Small Businesses

While there are many places where you can find good outsourced accountants, we have mentioned the top ones. These 5 platforms are best for exploring outsourced accounting services that bring in results. After researching the internet, this is the list of affordable accounting outsourcing services for SMBs.

Top 5 Platforms to Find Good Outsourced Accountants for Small Businesses

Invedus Outsourcing

Invedus Outsourcing is one of the best platforms to find a good outsourced accountant. They are an agency that helps businesses of all sizes, especially small to medium-sized businesses, find experienced accountants at maximum cost-efficiency.

They act as a custom directory that finds your perfect accountant according to your needs and budget. You can finalize an accountant in as few as 7 days and start collaborating the next day. The budget for hiring starts from $7.99 per hour for part-time and $999 per month for a full-time accountant.

There are other benefits you get with Invedus when you hire an accountant. Here is what you can expect:

  • Access to Highly Experienced & Specialized Talent

Instead of relying on generalists, you get access to accountants experienced in tax prep, bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll, financial reporting, and industry-specific compliance. Invedus screens candidates rigorously, ensuring you get someone who understands your niche and workflows, thus providing a range of services like robust tax outsourcing, bookkeeping outsourcing,payroll outsourcing, small business bookkeeping etc.

  • Scalable Support That Grows With Your Business

Outsourced accounting gives you flexibility, scale up during busy seasons, and scale down when needed. With no long-term hiring commitments, you only pay for the hours or staffing level you actually require.

  • Zero Administrative Burden

Invedus handles the backend, HR, onboarding, attendance tracking, contracts, and compliance, so you can focus entirely on your business while your accountant handles the books.Thus helping you seamlessly hire accountant online.

  • Increased Accuracy and Reduced Errors

Because Invedus hires trained, experienced professionals, businesses benefit from improved accuracy in reporting, cleaner books, and fewer compliance mistakes, reducing the risk of penalties or cash flow gaps.

  • 24/7 Availability and Global Support

Depending on your needs, you can hire accountants who match your time zone or provide extended coverage. This supports faster turnarounds, more responsive financial management, and seamless global operations.

  • More Time for Core Business Growth

By delegating bookkeeping, payroll, reconciliation, and reporting, business owners regain time to focus on sales, operations, client management, and growth strategy, rather than drowning in financial administration.

However, Invedus also has some other advantages that most platforms cannot offer :-

  • They work on a need basis; random browsing is not required with them.
  • You can choose among the options and choose the accountant that suits you.
  • Invedus manages and oversees the accountant to secure work accountability.
  • You can change your accountant if necessary without any additional costs.

Invedus promises to help you close your need for a good accountant, without you worrying about the process. So, if you are a small or medium-sized  business, they are a great choice for you.

Upwork

Upwork is one of the most well-known platforms for hiring freelance accountants at very affordable prices. The range is very reasonable for small businesses, starting from $12 to $32 per hour. It is easy for small businesses to shell out for hiring an accountant for a decent amount of time.

You can find millions of accountants, and finalizing someone can take time because of the same reasons. There is also no guarantee of you getting the work done on time or with the expected quality due to the accountant being autonomous in their work.

Such factors may create conflict in hiring. However, Upwork is good for your business if you want to hire just 1 accountant with specific or generalized skills at lower costs. Also, keep in mind that you have to agree to the risk of losing your accountant for any reason.

Toptal

Toptal is considered the best platform for hiring freelance outsourced accountants in the industry. The reason is their top 3% talent acceptance rate, which ensures you only get recommended the best people for the job.

However, due to this ask, the rates on the platform can be a little high compared to other freelance outsourcing accountant sites. Prices start at $100 to $200 per hour, which is about 5 to 6 times higher than the options mentioned in this blog piece.

Although you are paying for the specialty. Most accountants you will find on Toptal have years of experience and have worked with top companies in the world. This knowledge and skill are what keep the cost high, but the quality of the work delivered is even higher. You can expect clean, accurate books, timely financial reports, tax-ready statements, smooth cash-flow tracking, error-free reconciliations, and more.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is considered a sort of public directory for both accountants and accounting agencies. It is a professional networking platform; hence, you can find good, affordable accountants if you need to. However, the entire process is dependent upon you and your skill in finding the right fit.

As LinkedIn is just a platform that connects you to the accountant of your choice, you will still have to verify their experience, details, expectations, and work capacity. Also, their availability will depend on their working status, which can be fully employed.

However, LinkedIn is also a great place to vet your potential accountant before you provide them with any form of employment. If needed, you can always make sure that your accountant has the ability to integrate into your existing workflow.

Fiverr

Fiverr is the most affordable platform for hiring a good accountant. Most accounting services start from $5 and can go up to $25 per hour. The biggest advantage is their quick delivery options (24 to 72 hours).

It is also possible for you, as a small business, to start with single tasks like hiring for bank reconciliations and then start outsourcing complete accounting services.

To safeguard your payments, they hold everything in escrow until the work is delivered and you approve it. But this can be one of the reasons why you may also not find talent easily, as these rules can sometimes be unfair for the accountant.

So, Which One Is the Best Option for Your Small Business?

Here is a table to help you better visualize the above top options for outsourced accounting:

PlatformPricing RangeBest ForProsCons
Invedus Outsourcing$7.99/hr (Part Time)$999/mo (Full Time)Small to medium businesses needing dedicated, long-term supportCustom shortlisting, experienced accountants, managed oversight, zero admin burden, fast hiring (7 days)Requires a brief requirement consultation before matching
Upwork$12–$32/hrBusinesses needing a single freelancer at a flexible budgetHuge talent pool, transparent profiles, affordableNo managerial oversight, inconsistent quality, higher risk of turnover
Toptal$100–$200/hrCompanies needing elite, top-tier accountantsOnly top 3% talent, highly experienced professionalsVery high pricing, not ideal for small budgets
LinkedInVariableBusinesses comfortable with self-hiring & screeningEasy to vet profiles, connect with agencies and individualsSlow hiring process, no guarantee of availability, full verification needed
Fiverr$5–$25/hrSingle tasks, quick fixes, small one-time jobsExtremely affordable, fast delivery, fixed-price gigsHarder to find long-term or senior-level talent

Choosing the right platform depends on whether you want long-term accounting stability or occasional task-based help. For small businesses, affordability matters. But so does accuracy, dependability, and the ability to scale your support as you grow. 

That’s where many freelance marketplaces fall short and seem like the worst option. You are managing everything alone, dealing with inconsistent quality, and often spending more time vetting talent than focusing on your business.

This is exactly why Invedus stands out as the best all-around option for small businesses. You get pre-screened, specialized accountants matched to your exact needs, predictable pricing, built-in management oversight, and zero administrative load, all at one of the most competitive price ranges in the industry. So, always look out for outsourcing accounting firms or agencies more than freelancing platforms, providing you accounting BPO services.

Also worth exploring: The Complete Guide To Outsourced Accounting: What to Expect, Where to Start, and More and

To Sum Up

Remote Accounting Support allows small businesses to focus on growth while experienced professionals manage the books investing in improving accuracy, saving time, and reducing overhead.These act as “Virtual CFOs” while offering a mix of flexibility, expertise, and cost savings. As our comparison shows, platforms vary widely in cost, reliability, and level of oversight, so the right choice depends on your business size, goals, and support needs.

While Invedus stands out for offering vetted, scalable talent with end-to-end support, it’s still essential for every business owner to stay involved in the hiring and review process. No matter which path you choose, aligning accounting support with your long-term vision is the key to financial clarity and sustainable growth. Thus, as William C. Watts, Finance Transformation Managing Partner at Crowe, puts it, “An outsourced provider can create efficiencies and perform the work more efficiently, and therefore can be more cost-effective”, it is a reminder that strategic outsourcing isn’t just about cutting costs, but unlocking smarter financial operations.

FAQs on Choosing Outsourced Accounting Services

Costs vary based on scope, but most small businesses pay between $500 and $2,500 per month, depending on volume and complexity. Some firms offer part-time support starting around $8/hour.

Yes,reputable providers use encryption, restricted access, audit trails, and secure cloud platforms to protect financial data. Always ask about GDPR, SOC 2, or other compliance practices.

Not at all. You maintain oversight while delegating execution. Most services provide dashboards, reports, and approvals to keep you informed and in control.

Common platforms include QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, NetSuite, and Dext for receipts and automation. Many outsourced teams integrate seamlessly into your existing tech stack.

Yes, most providers offer modular services. You can choose to outsource just payroll, invoicing, reconciliations, or tax prep, whatever fits your business needs and capacity.

Agencies like Invedus can onboard vetted accountants within 5–7 business days, including needs assessment, interviews, and tool setup. This is much faster than hiring in-house.

Outsourcing gives you scalability. You can easily add more hours, expand to new tasks, or even switch to a team-based model during tax season or high-growth periods.

Look for experience with SMBs, certifications like CPA or ACCA, tool proficiency (e.g. QuickBooks or Xero), and prior experience in your industry (e.g. e-commerce, SaaS, healthcare).

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Invedus Editorial Team

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