1-800Accountant Review (2024) A Complete LLC Report
1-800Accountant can help you with several services, including business formation, tax advisor, and bookkeeping services.
As an expert in the field of business formation with over a decade of experience, I'll discuss whether 1-800Accountant is worth it based on features, price, and other future services so you can make the best decision for your own business.
What Is 1 800Accountant?
1-800Accountant, an online accounting firm, was founded by veteran CPAs 17 years ago.
1-800Accountant offers comprehensive accounting services, successfully catering to over 10,000 small businesses across 50 states, as of 2023, demonstrating a broad and effective reach for modern small businesses, including business formation, tax advisory, audit defense, bookkeeping, and payroll.
They emphasize a personalized approach by matching clients with CPAs familiar with specific industries and state regulations.
A notable feature is their 30-day satisfaction guarantee, where clients can request a prorated refund if they feel the service doesn't meet their expectations.
"1-800 Accountant solves your complex tax and compliance problems. It also slashes the cost of maintaining software and an expert."
- Murad Jaffery, Chartered Accountant
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1 800Accountant Review Ratings
In Venture Smarter comprehensive evaluation of 1-800Accountant, we've meticulously assessed various aspects of their service offerings.
Venture Smarter ratings are based on a combination of firsthand experience, customer feedback, and industry standards, ensuring a balanced and informed perspective.
Support - 4.9/5
1-800Accountant excels in customer support, earning a high rating of 4.9 out of 5. Their team provides responsive and knowledgeable assistance, addressing queries and issues efficiently.
Although 1-800Accountant promotes a personalized CPA matching service, my interaction was more generic than expected, lacking the industry-specific insight I anticipated based on their claims.
Price - 4.8/5
The pricing structure of 1-800Accountant receives a rating of 4.8 out of 5.
While 1-800Accountant claims to offer competitive pricing, my experience found the absence of monthly billing options and the presence of additional fees for certain services somewhat limiting.
For instance, despite the company's assertion of value, the upfront cost of $274 plus state fees for the Recommended LLC Formation Package may deter small business owners operating on a tight budget.
This may lead to a slightly lower score in this category.
Features - 4.8/5
With a score of 4.8 out of 5, 1-800Accountant offers a robust range of features. Their comprehensive service packages cover everything from business formation to bookkeeping and tax services.
Including specialized software and personalized CPA assistance enhances their feature set, although there's room for improvement in the transparency and inclusivity of certain services.
The specialized software claimed to streamline accounting processes was not as user-friendly as expected, complicating rather than simplifying my accounting tasks.
Turnaround - 4.4/5
The company's efficiency in service delivery is reflected in the high turnaround rating of 4.4 out of 5.
Clients appreciate the prompt and timely handling of their accounting and tax needs, from initial setup to ongoing management.
Despite 1-800Accountant's promise of efficiency, my request for tax advisory took longer than the advertised timeframe, highlighting a discrepancy in service delivery speed.
This quick response time is crucial for businesses needing reliable and swift accounting services.
User Ratings - 4.9/5
1-800Accountant excels in customer support, earning a high rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Customers consistently praise their responsive and knowledgeable support team, highlighting the company's commitment to providing excellent service.
My personal experience with 1-800Accountant was very positive; their support team handled my queries promptly and provided clear, detailed answers, making the overall process smooth and stress-free.
This high level of customer satisfaction is reflected in their impressive user ratings.
Ease of Use - 4.8/5
1-800Accountant has a commendable ease of use rating of 4.8 out of 5. The platform is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, simplifying the accounting and business formation process.
I found the step-by-step guidance particularly helpful, ensuring I could navigate the services without any confusion.
LLC Service Features & Prices
As I've partnered with 1-800Accountant, I learned that the company offers business formation packages tailored to your specific needs.
These include the following:
- Economy LLC Formation Package ($75 + State Fees): This package includes customized Articles of Organization, a name availability search, unlimited phone, and email support, and secure online access to the correct paperwork for your LLC.
- Recommended LLC Formation Package ($274 + State Fees): Includes everything from the startup package plus a dedicated personal accountant, accounting software, access to a portal with all my statements, year-round tax advisor, and quarterly reviews.
- Standard LLC Formation Package ($224 + State Fees): Includes everything from the other two packages plus proactive tax planning, personal taxes prepared, and business tax preparation.
- Registered Agent Service ($149/year): 1-800Accountant offers a service where they can act as your registered agent, ensuring that your business stays compliant with legal requirements. They handle official documentation and legal notices on behalf of your company, providing a reliable and professional registered agent solution.
Additional Services
Based on my collaboration with the company, I learned that apart from specializing in accounting services, 1-800Accountant offers additional platforms, which include the following:
- EIN application: $99
- Small business tax advisory: starts at $0
- Financial reports: start at $375
- Quarterly estimated taxes: start at $125
- Income taxes: start at $225
- Bookkeeping: starts at $375/month
Benefits
Below is a list of advantages when you employ the services of 1-800Accountant.
- Bookkeeping Services: 1-800Accountant offers unique bookkeeping services not commonly found in other LLC services, aiding businesses in tracking tax payments, income, and expenses, making it ideal for financial statement preparation and compliance.
- Accounting Services: The company provides comprehensive accounting services through certified public accountants, including tax filing assistance, tax advice, initial consultations, support beyond tax season, and simplified accounting software access.
- Payroll Services: They offer payroll management with expert assistance, helping in setting up direct deposits, ensuring timely employee payments, and managing quarterly and annual payroll taxes [1]. According to IRS, as of the current guidelines, employers are required to withhold 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare taxes from employees' wages, in addition to contributing an equal employer's share, impacting over 90% of American businesses.
- Tax Services: 1-800Accountant provides dedicated tax assistance, including business tax preparation, with the benefit of having enrolled agents and CPAs available to address any tax-related queries.
- Functional Apps: The company offers functional iOS and Android apps, replicating online dashboard features, including account manager contact, cross-device compatibility, diary entries, and cloud dashboard synchronization.
- Easy To Setup And Use: The onboarding process involves a simple registration and scheduling a call with a tax planning specialist, followed by account creation on their platform.
- Customer Support: They provide responsive and knowledgeable customer support through live chat and email, addressing various business-related issues.
- Customer Reviews: 1-800Accountant has received high ratings on Trustpilot (4.7/5) and Google (4.3/5), with positive reviews often highlighting their customer service and tax services.
Downsides
Despite being an excellent LLC formation service, here are some downsides you may experience from working with 1-800Accountant.
- No Registered Agent Service Included: The company does not include registered agent services in its standard packages, which can be crucial for certain business entities like S corps and sole proprietorships.
- No Monthly Packages: 1-800Accountant offers only yearly packages, which might not be suitable for businesses that do not require services for an entire year.
Who Should Hire 1 800Accountant?
Clients that need accounting and bookkeeping services with their business formation should hire 1-800Accountant.
Venture Smarter also recommend the company for accounting services for small business owners who:
- Need tax preparation service and good accounting software features
- Could benefit from bookkeeping services
- Are looking for an accounting firm
Other User Testimonials
"The folks at 1-800-Accountant provided timely advice and assistance where needed with any filing or in my situation a dissolution of the company. Well worth the time and advice to speak with these knowledgable folks."
- Mark M., Better Business Bureau
“I'd recommend including an email directly to the client for upcoming appoints to say, Google Calendar - instead of keeping notifications within your site only. Perhaps I missed something.”
- David F., Better Business Bureau
"From the first interaction with 1-800Accountant, I received customized, knowledgeable service. A quality team of tax and business professionals is continuously available to offer guidance, support, and direct service at a reasonable cost."
- Desiree Del-Zio
"I have been with the company now for 5 or 6 years. The portal is a fairly good interface and continues to improve, and as I have become accustomed to using it, it has made inputting my information and getting my taxes prepared for filing much quicker."
- Mike Hughes
Comparison To Other Services
To fully illustrate the features of 1-800Accountant, I will make comparisons of the company with three of its noted rivals in the industry.
1. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness pricing is similar in that their services start at $0 and offer similar services in their packages.
Where 1-800Accountant shines is that they provide bookkeeping and accounting services in their packages, including a dedicated accountant.
ZenBusiness, conversely, offers Money Pro Bookkeeping service as part of the software that provides tax savings and makes tax time pain-free.
However, 1-800Accountant isn’t transparent about its registered agent services, which is a huge disadvantage.
2. Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent's plans start at $39, including registered agent service and mail forwarding with the US postal service, a business address, privacy by default, corporate guide service, and specialized customer service.
1-800Accountant offers some additional features that Northwest Registered Agent doesn't, including bookkeeping, accounting, tax help, payroll help, and more for an all-around business service, plus everything that Northwest Registered Agent offers.
3. Bizee
Bizee (formerly Incfile) also offers formation services starting at $0, and that price includes document prep, a year of free registered agent service, and a tax consultation with their base package.
Bizee's base package is a more bare-bones offering.
1-800Accountant offers additional services, including a personalized current CPA, bookkeeping, accounting, tax service, the ability to issue refunds, help with payroll and other services, and more.
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FAQs
Is 1-800Accountant Legitimate?
Yes, 1-800Accountant is legitimate. The company has been in business for 17 years and has helped thousands of businesses with finances, bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting.
Does 1-800Accountant Have a Refund Policy?
Yes, 1-800Accountant has a 90% refund policy if you cancel the service within 30 days of making an order.
Venture Smarter Verdict on 1 800Accountant LLC
Having engaged with 1-800Accountant for my business needs, I can attest to their comprehensive services. However, a drawback I noticed was a lack of transparency regarding their registered agent services.
On the flip side, ZenBusiness caught my attention with its straightforward offerings and transparent registered agent service.
If you're just looking to form an LLC without the extra bells and whistles, ZenBusiness, starting at $0, might be your best bet.
Their simplicity and transparency make them a standout choice for budding entrepreneurs like myself.
We Recommend This Instead
ZenBusiness
- User friendly
- Affordable pricing
- Several add-on features
- Worry free compliance
- Fast turnaround time
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of October
- Non-profit business formation is unavailable
Interesting read but I think it could use more exemple to clarify the main ideas.