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1-800Accountant Reviews: Expectations vs Reality

By Joe

1800accountant reviews

1-800Accountant is one of several online accounting platforms designed to make life easier for small business owners. But, their reviews are so mixed. Here, we’ll delve into what you can expect versus the reality of their services. 

Explore everything from their offerings to customer feedback, helping you make an informed decision about whether 1-800Accountant is the right fit for your business needs.

Here’s what’s in store

  • What is 1-800Accountant?
    • How Much Does 1-800Accountant Cost?
    • Company Overview
  • What Does 1-800Accountant Do?
    • 1. Start Your Business
    • 2. File Your EIN
    • 3. Year-Round Tax Advisory
    • 4. Tax Audit Defense
    • 5. Quarterly Small Business Taxes
    • 6. Personal Income Tax Preparation
    • 7. Payroll & Bookkeeping
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Conclusion: Is 1800Accountant Legit?

Now, let’s dive in! 

What is 1-800Accountant? 

1800 accountant

1-800Accountant is an online accounting service powered by real Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) – They offer a range of services aimed at helping small businesses with various accounting needs. 

Their services include assistance with: 

  • Starting a business
  • Selecting the right entity for tax savings
  • Handling business taxes to maximize refunds
  • Simplifying payroll processes
  • Managing day-to-day bookkeeping tasks

Their team of CPAs is knowledgeable about different industries and state regulations, so they provide tailored advice and solutions for businesses. 

And, they offer a satisfaction guarantee. They allow you to request a refund within the first 30 days if they are not satisfied with the service provided.

You might also like: Sole Proprietorship VS LLC: How to Choose Your Entity Wisely 

How Much Does 1-800Accountant Cost? 

1800accountant pricing

1-800Accountant operates on a flat-rate pricing model, which ensures transparent and predictable costs without hourly fees. 

Prices range from $179-399 per month and up. Costs are billed annually, so you can expect to pay between $2,148 and $4,788 to sign up. 

Here’s a breakdown of what you get for each price point:

  1. Business plan ($179/mo):
    • Access to the online portal
    • Dedicated accountant
    • Year-round tax advice
    • Proactive tax planning
    • Quarterly reviews
    • Financial planning
  2. Corporation plan ($239/mo):
    • Everything in the Business plan, plus:
    • Bookkeeping software
    • Business tax preparation
    • Personal tax preparation
  3. Enterprise plan ($399/mo):
    • Everything in the Corporation plan, plus:
    • Dedicated bookkeeper
    • Priority support
    • Financial reports

There’s also a Custom Package option available if you don’t find exactly what you need in the standard plans. And, prices can fluctuate based on your state.

While there is’t a free trial, you have 30 days to request a refund. 

Comparatively, according to SmartAsset, you can expect to pay a CPA between $1K and $1.5K just to do your business and personal taxes in the U.S.. And, Forbes Advisor says you can expect to pay between $150 and $250 per hour to hire a CPA, depending on your location. Personally, I’ve seen rates as low as $37 and as high as $500 per hour being charged. 

Hiring a CPA is one of those gray areas in business where you can’t really predict expected costs until you get into it (which makes the flat-rate pricing model pretty appealing). 

You might also like: Is it Illegal to Use a Business Credit Card for Personal Use? +More Answers 

Company Overview

1-800 accountant reviews

It’s particularly important to know about the company behind the brands you work with when your business finances are at play. 

1-800Accountant, aka 1-800-Accountant.com Corp, is a New York-based business that was founded in 1999 by Mike Savage. Savage is currently the Chairman of the Executive Board. The same year 1-800Accountant was launched, Savage became a CPA. And, he apparently graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.  

1800accountant customer service

Currently, the Key Principal of the company is Michael Rosedale. Like Savage, Rosedale is also listed as the Chairman on the company’s Dun & Bradstreet profile. But, Rosedale doesn’t list his affiliation with the company on LinkedIn. 

However, Rosedale does show-off some pretty impressive accounting credentials. He’s the current Chairman & Co-Founder of NARSSA, President & Founder of CPAdirectory, and previous President of the National Directory of Registered Tax Return Preparers and Professionals. 

Who owns 1-800Accountant?

1-800Accountant’s address is listed as a Regus office in Manhattan at 260 Madison Avenue, Suite 1001. Regus is a coworking space, which tells me the team is either particularly small or primarily remote – 404 Glassdoor votes signal that it’s the latter.

In fact, 75% of employees would recommend a job with the company to a friend, and it has an overall 4-star internal rating. 

1800accountant employee reviews

Despite their 3.75-star rating and 130 complaints closed in the last year, they maintain an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). 

1800accountant reviews bbb

Of course, when it comes to finances, people are more likely to speak out about a poor experience than they are a positive one. 

Overall, Trustpilot reviewers are nicer, giving the platform an overall rating of 4.6 stars. But, not all of the feedback is great. Some customers claim rights violations, and others say they were stood up for meetings. 

1800accountant reviews complaints

Normally, with this much info, I would try to wrap up the company section, but there’s more to say. Redditors have shared their complaints from mishandled taxes to poor quality advice and more – customer service tends to be a common topic of grievance. 

1800accountant reviews reddit

However, keep in mind, they’ve had positive feedback as well (head over to Trustpilot to see the full array). I don’t know if there was a period where positive reviews were incentivised, or if it presents a better unbiased sample of experiences.  

What I do know is that in 2013 – which was over a decade ago – the FTC filed a complaint for permanent injunction in Florida and New York. This complaint alleged that 1-800Accountant and other remote tax services were in violation of several federal regulations. 

1800accountant lawsuit

Ideally, the wrongs would have been remedied by now, which I assume is the case since several of the companies are still in business. 

So, on the bright side, the company is still in business, registered, and active in the state of New York. There are no open legal grievances currently. And, the original founder is still with the company. 

On the other hand, I came across a lot of complaints. 

But, let’s find out what exactly 1-800Accountant offers so that you know for sure whether you want to give them a shot!

What Does 1-800Accountant Do? 

Now, let’s explore the full offer from 1-800 Accountant so you can see if you can make it worth your while to sign up. If you don’t need all of the services, it’s feasible that you could save money by going a different route. But, if you’re likely to utilize all or most of the services, the platform could provide major cost and time savings.

1. Start Your Business 

1800accountant google reviews

1-800Accountant assists in setting up your business as either an LLC or Corporation – They offer a straightforward and efficient process for entity formation, to guide you through the necessary steps with expertise. 

They say that this can potentially result in significant cost savings over time. The reason this is true is because if you file appropriately, you can maximize your tax savings at the end of the year. 

They often have special offers available for starting at a low cost or $0 plus state fees. Additionally, they handle the filing of your business license directly with the Secretary of State, ensuring compliance with state regulations. 

Overall, 1-800Accountant simplifies the process of filing your business and offers assistance to navigate the complexities of entity formation.

Recommended: Low-Risk NAICS Codes +Best SIC Codes for Business Credit 

2. File Your EIN

1800accountant reviews yelp

For $99, 1-800Accountant will file for your employer identification number (EIN) through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You need this to get a business bank account, file business taxes, and get business financing. 

Many companies charge a hefty fee for this service, but it’s super easy to do yourself. Instead of paying a fee, you can just visit the IRS website and apply with your business info. An EIN is free. 

→ Here’s where to apply. 

If you need them, you can find EIN filing instructions here. 

The only common hurdle that I know of is that you need to file during weekday business hours. So, just check in on Monday through Friday between 9:00 to 5:00, and you should be able to get this situated quickly. Otherwise, the application may be offline. 

If you want the EIN filing service and you’re willing to pay almost $100 (which actually seems to be the going rate), then cool. But, I don’t see why you would need to. 

Recommended: Here’s How to [Actually] Get Business Credit With Just an EIN +More Options 

3. Year-Round Tax Advisory 

1800 accountant refund tax advisory

1-800Accountant provides affordable and comprehensive tax advisory services for small businesses. Their expert CPAs offer year-round support to maximize tax refunds and minimize liabilities. 

The process includes year-round: 

  • Tax preparation
  • Organization
  • Submission
  • Iterative review
  • Approval
  • Secure storage of completed returns

You’ll get matched with a dedicated tax planner who will provide strategic advice tailored to your business needs. And, they’re supposed to be there for this anytime you need it. 

You might also like: Everything You Need to Know About a DUNS Number – and Why You Should Care 

4. Tax Audit Defense

Is tax accountant stressful?

On top of everything else, 1-800Accountant provides tax audit defense services for small businesses; this can ensure peace of mind and protection during IRS audits. 

If you’re an active member, their certified Enrolled Agents (EAs) and CPAs handle all aspects of the audit process, from preparation to representation. 

They can protect your rights and offer state-level expertise. With their support, you can navigate audits more confidently, knowing your interests are safeguarded and your tax matters are in capable hands (without any hourly fees).

You might also like: Corporate vs Business Credit Card: What’s the Difference? 

5. Quarterly Small Business Taxes

1-800Accountant Quarterly Taxes

1-800Accountant offers a Quarterly Estimated Tax Service to help you navigate federal estimated tax payments. They provide year-round tax advisory support, calculating IRS quarterly payments to avoid underpayment penalties and interest. 

Additionally, they try to identify opportunities for tax deductions often overlooked by “generic firms.” They offer clear payment deadlines and try to create a stress-free process. This can make quarterly taxes easier and allow you to focus on growing your business. 

Their small business experts specialize in various industries across all 50 states. If you’re unsure about quarterly tax requirements or calculations, their professionals can guide you through the process.

You might also like: ​​How to Find Aged Shelf Companies for Sale +Why Buy Them? 

6. Personal Income Tax Preparation 

1-800Accountant Personal Income Taxes

You can also leverage 1-800Accountant for personal income tax preparation. With a membership, they can ensure that you maximize your tax returns with “guaranteed accuracy.” Their expert tax accountants handle even complex situations. And, they promise to file returns promptly and transparently with no hidden charges. 

With convenient document upload via their app or portal and bank-level security, it could be a super convenient way to file. Certified income tax experts are available in every state for quick assistance, and year-round support is offered for personal or business tax needs. 

You might also like: Comprehensive ZenBusiness Review: Is it Legit for LLCs? 

7. Payroll & Bookkeeping

1800Accountant Payroll & Bookkeeping

Finally, 1-800Accountant offers comprehensive bookkeeping and payroll Services tailored to small businesses.

For bookkeeping, their certified US-based accountants handle the tedious back-office work, accurately categorizing transactions and reconciling accounts. This could give you the freedom to focus on your business while receiving accurate, detailed reports and enjoying game-changing features like automation. Transparent pricing, dedicated bookkeepers, and secure online portals ensure efficiency and peace of mind.

Their payroll services are quick, easy, and affordable, powered by experts. With just a few clicks, you can pay your employees and ensure accuracy and compliance. Automatic payroll tax filings, state ID registration, and transparent pricing further streamline the process. Experienced professionals provide support and guidance, allowing you to spend less time on payroll and more on your business.

You might also like: Gusto Review: Let’s Really Evaluate This Famed Payroll Platform  

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a refund from 1-800Accountant? 

1-800Accountant offers a satisfaction guarantee for their services. If you’re not satisfied within 30 days of using their services, you can request a refund of the remaining balance of your purchase.

How do I cancel my 1-800Accountant subscription? 

To cancel your 1-800Accountant subscription, you’ll need to reach out to their customer support team. They can assist you with the cancellation process and any related questions you may have.

Does 1-800Accountant have an app? 

Yes, 1-800Accountant offers an app for convenient access to their services. You can download the app to upload documents, monitor progress, and communicate with their team. But, the mobile app isn’t very well rated. 

What software does 1-800Accountant use? 

1-800Accountant claims to be accustomed to working with any existing bookkeeping system you may be using. They also offer their own bookkeeping software for online bookkeeping services for small businesses.

Conclusion: Is 1800Accountant Legit? 

1800Accountant is a legitimate, registered business in good standing with the state of New York. They operate across the U.S. and provide a robust offer for small businesses. While they don’t have 100% raving customer reviews, they could be a good solution. 

Look at your budget, your needs, and explore all of your options before you commit to any CPA or business financial service. Ask around to see who your colleagues use, and check out online forums to find out what offer might be best for you.

Don’t rule out local CPAs, especially if you’d prefer in-person meetings – you won’t get any in-person meetings with a remote service, and this is important for some business owners. 

Do you want to learn how to obtain up to $100K in business credit in as few as 30 days? If so, join Business Credit Workshop today!

Gusto Review: Let’s Really Evaluate This Famed Payroll Platform

By Joe

Gusto Review

Gusto is the payroll platform we use at Business Credit Workshop, and we like it. I recommend you check it out, as long as it meets your needs. I want to explain why I chose them instead of the competition and raise every objection I can think of in this comprehensive Gusto review. 

First of all, Gusto is super easy to use, and the platform calculates payroll taxes for you, making it so much simpler to pay employees and contractors. Plus, I didn’t have to talk with a sales rep to get started (don’t you just hate that?). 

Now, let’s talk about Gusto’s pricing, features, and other details. 

Here’s what we’ll cover:  

  • Briefly, What is Gusto?
    • Gusto Pricing Breakdown
    • Gusto Company Overview
  • Gusto Payroll Platform
    • Gusto Wallet
  • Gusto Benefits Summary
  • Gusto HR Features
    • Dedicated HR Support
    • Customer Service
  • Gusto Alternatives
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Final Thoughts

Now, let’s begin! 

Briefly, What is Gusto? 

Gusto login

In essence, Gusto is a payroll, benefits, and hiring platform for businesses. It enables you to pay your team quickly, easily, and automatically no matter where they are. The software is designed for all-sized teams, both in-person and remote. 

While I usually talk about features before I get into pricing, the most common question I hear is “How much does Gusto cost, so let’s address this first. 

Gusto Pricing Breakdown

Gusto has four pricing tiers, designed for affordability based on varying operational needs, and plans range from $35 to $60+ per month plus $6 to $9 per person: 

  1. Contractor-only – Payroll only for $35 plus $6 per person per month with $0 monthly for 6 months
  2. Simple – Automatic payroll features and benefits integration for $40 plus $6 per person per month
  3. Plus – Comprehensive payroll, benefits, and HR for $60 plus $9 per person per month
  4. Premium – Scalable payroll, benefits, HR, and dedicated support with pricing based on your needs

The ‘Contractor-only’ plan is built for companies that only work with contractors, and have no active W2 employees. ‘Simple’ is best for those who want to integrate payroll with a benefits plan for employees. ‘Plus’ is designed for those who are actively hiring and could benefit from the HR tools in addition to benefits and payroll. And, the ‘Premium’ tier is for those who need dedicated HR support for hiring at scale.  

Gusto Company Overview

Here’s the million-dollar question: Is Gusto a legit company, or is it just a trending brand destined to fade in relevance? I can’t say for sure, but I can tell you everything I know, and share my insights.

So, who is Gusto? 

Gusto, aka ZenPayroll Inc, is a San Fransisco-based company that was founded in 2011 by Edward Kim, Joshua Reeves, and Tomer London. The company is considered a business “unicorn” and has received $746.1 million in funding since its launch. 

Prior to working on the Gusto project, Edward Kim helped launch a photo-sharing app for families called PicWing. It seems like the project may have originally been a Y Combinator startup, but it’s currently inactive. Picwing was launched after Kim left his position as a Senior Project Engineer for Volkswagen.  

Recommended: Y Combinator: Fast Track to Success or Waste of Time? 

Joshua Reeves is currently the Head of Gusto, and it appears that he started the project directly out of college. He has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. 

Gusto’s Chief Product Officer, Tomer London, was also in Stanford’s Electrical Engineering program, and was a Ph.D. candidate. London worked for Intel and Bump for a while. Then, prior to Gusto, co-founded a company called Vizmo, a software development company based in Israel. 

All of Gusto’s co-founders have strong technical backgrounds, and the company has been going strong for over a decade. My opinion is that they’re likely to be around for the long haul (yes, they’re legitimate). 

Gusto Payroll Platform

Gusto pros and cons

First of all, the Gusto Payroll platform calculates and files payroll taxes for you, streamlining the process. Unlimited checks can be distributed to team members. Other platforms charge for this service, but with Gusto taxes are inbuilt. 

They also offer time-tracking with plus plans. So, your employees can track hours from the same platform you use to pay them if you elect to use this feature. 

Gusto plays nicely with Xero, Clover, Quickbooks, TSheets, Trainual, 7Shifts, and more. So, you can integrate the other tools and apps you use to manage financial accounts; operations are much easier when you can manage multiple tasks from a unified dashboard and automate information sharing. 

In the platform, you can store 1-9s, W-2s, and 1099s, register for state taxes in all 50 states, and track time including lunches and breaks. When onboarding, Gusto ensures that The system will even auto-file your payroll taxes for you, so compliance is a breeze. 

If employees want to request time off, they can do so easily through Gusto Wallet. 

And, guess what?… 

Later, if employees leave your company, they can opt to keep their cash accounts, and have their next employer direct deposit into an FDIC-insured Gusto account like they would a regular bank account. This feature might be an enticing incentive for some. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to optimize retention, you may not want to mention it. Decide for yourself on this one. 

Gusto Wallet

gusto app

Gusto Wallet is a mobile app, available for iOS and Android, that teams can download to view and cash their paychecks, access their spending account, and manage and automate up to five savings goals. 

Savings accounts earn 1% APY with no account or overdraft fees. Staff members have the ability to alter their contribution to savings goals at any time, and can transfer to spending accounts instantly.

Wallet spending accounts come with a Visa debit card with free withdrawals at 37K ATMs across the country and direct deposit. They also enable budgeting for necessities like housing, food, and transportation. 

With the app, users can track their time, view and download paychecks and W2s, see transaction history, and split checks. Gusto Wallet is only available for first-time access if the employer uses the platform. 

Gusto Benefits Summary

How is Gusto different from ADP?

Gusto Benefits is the platform’s built-in way for you to offer affordable employee benefits. Here’s what it entails. 

  • Integrate your existing broker and eligible health plans
  • Manage employee health insurance plans
  • Access 9K+ available health insurance plans from 30+ carriers
  • Low-cost worker’s comp management, HSAs, and FSAs
  • Administer dental, vision, and commuter benefits
  • Handle renewals during open enrollment periods 

Essentially, you can sync your health benefits packages with your payroll framework using Gusto in a straightforward and easy-to-navigate dashboard. 

Plus, you can offer your staff multiple ways to save. Through their Gusto Wallet, employees can access cash accounts with all sorts of features. In addition, you can offer them the opportunity to add funds to 401(k) retirement, life & disability insurance, and 529 college savings plans. 

Gusto HR Features

All Gusto plans include access to hundreds of HR templates to help you onboard new staff. Get pre-written job descriptions & offer letters, termination requirements, labor law policies, and performance evaluations. And, you can take advantage of the Employee Handbook Builder. 

Gusto HR tools

If you’re interested in sampling the goods, Gusto shares a free guide, How to Create an Employee Handbook, with the public. 

Dedicated HR Support

If you have a premium Gusto plan or opt for the HR add-on with a Plus plan, you can access dedicated HR experts to help with your hiring and compliance. This grants you access to unlimited advice from SHRM and HRCI-certified experts to help you avoid costly lawsuits down the road. 

Here’s why this is a value-packed offer: 

  1. The starting ACA penalty per employee is $2,750. 
  2. For your first violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, you can be fined up to $75K. 
  3. The average cost of an employee lawsuit is $160K.

Personal advice from experts mitigates your chances of running into inadvertent legal violations and protects your business. 

Customer Service

Gusto has two customer care teams, one for current users, and one dedicated to helping business owners get started (sales). You can reach out via the live chat on Gusto.com, or call 855-384-0612 during business hours (MST). 

When you first sign up, the sales team is fantastic.   

With that said, several account holders are unsatisfied with the user-facing customer service team, citing that it’s very difficult or takes a long time to get errors corrected. 

Gusto customer service

Not to downplay this concern, but the Gusto platform itself has a very user-friendly interface with a helpful set of robust features that might offset this drawback. I haven’t run into this problem myself, but I have no reason to discredit the anecdotes from other users. 

Gusto Alternatives

It wouldn’t be fair to tout on about the Gusto platform without at least letting you know that there are a ton of other options out there (you should always do your due diligence). 

So, who are Gusto’s competitors? Here are the three most popular: 

  • ADP – Pricing unknown
  • Paychex – Pricing unknown
  • Rippling – Starts at $8 per month per user
  • BambooHR – HR-only, pricing unknown

As far as I can tell, each of the above competitors requires that you work with a rep to get an account set up while Gusto enables you to sign up on your own. Rippling is the only one of the three that is upfront with their pricing. 

Definitely explore other offers (there are many) and make sure you choose a platform that meets all of your needs… before you invest your energy into onboarding everyone into a new system. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gusto report to the IRS?

Yes. Gusto doesn’t file your taxes for you, but they provide a full-service package that includes paying payroll taxes automatically. 

Does Gusto send out W-2s?

If applicable, once per season, Gusto can send out W-2s and W-2Cs to your employees for $3 per person plus mailing fees. The costs are added to your monthly invoices.   

Does Gusto pay your payroll taxes for you?

Gusto does not foot the bill for your business taxes, but, yeah, they will automatically do the math and make accurate tax payments (debited from your account) on your behalf. 

How long do Gusto payments take?

When you begin running payroll through Gusto, your employees will be put on 2-day payment terms. So, they will be able to access their funds within a couple of days of when they are disbursed. 

Final Thoughts

I use Gusto to pay my staff and like it (a lot), mostly because it’s super easy to use and they calculate the taxes for you. Here’s a summary of the offer:

  • Sign up without a phone call with a sales rep or “scheduling a demo” 
  • Get your team fully onboarded in about two weeks 
  • Save an average of 5 hours per month on payroll and HR
  • Take advantage of an extremely user-friendly platform 
  • Integrate your payroll, benefits, and HR dashboards with your financial tools. 

Last time I checked, many moons ago, ADP needed you to talk to a salesperson to get signed up. As far as I know, this is still the case (the folks at ADP aren’t even transparent about their pricing). I like to do things quietly and online with the option to chat or call in when needed. I get all of this with Gusto. 

Some business owners have been unsatisfied with the amount of time it takes the Gusto team to correct mistakes, but I haven’t encountered this issue. There is no mobile app for payroll management, only an app for employees. And, the platform may not be best-suited for businesses with overseas staff, since they don’t offer global payroll.  

If Gusto sounds like a system you’d be into, then I encourage you to check them out — Signing up might save you time and money on payroll and hiring. Are you interested in learning how to obtain up to $100K in business credit in as few as 30 days? If so, join Business Credit Workshop today.

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