Pocket Ledger · Bench alternative
Bench alternative · Ontario
Looking for a Bench alternative? One that keeps your books yours.
Bench was a popular done-for-you bookkeeping service. It shut down abruptly in December 2024 and relaunched under new ownership focused on US businesses.
Where Bench is strong
- 01Monthly bookkeeping done for you, on a dashboard
- 02A tax add-on for US filers
Where we’re different
- 01Ontario-based, built for Canadian small businesses (HST, CRA record-keeping)
- 02The accounting system is yours — exportable in standard formats, with an accountant login
- 03You run everyday tasks from chat; one fixed monthly price
It’s US-focused now, and its 2024 shutdown locked customers out overnight — a reminder that your books should live somewhere you can always access and export.
The lesson of Bench isn’t “avoid done-for-you” — it’s “make sure your data is yours.” That’s built into how we set things up.
Questions
01
I was a Bench customer — can you take over?
Tell us what you have on the call. We assess what to bring forward and what it costs; historical clean-up can be separate work, and we’ll be clear about it before you commit.
02
What happens to my books if I leave?
Your data exports in standard formats and your accountant keeps their login until you say otherwise. No lock-in, no lockout.