--- description: Review of Bench Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs on Software Advice New Zealand. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/software_advice/og_logo-55146305bbe7b450bea05c18e9be9c9a.png title: Bench | Reviews, Pricing & Demos - SoftwareAdvice NZ --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Architecture Accounting Software](/directory/328/architecture-software/software) > [Bench](/software/40575/benchbookkeeping) # Bench Canonical: https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/40575/benchbookkeeping Page: 1 / 14\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/40575/benchbookkeeping?page=2) > Bench is a web-based solution designed to help small businesses streamline bookkeeping processes via a unified portal. By integrating seamlessly with small business accounts, the software ensures that books are accurate, organized, and ready for tax preparation. The software allows users to access visual reports showcasing revenue, expenses, and profits over time. This feature provides a clear snapshot of a business's financial health and helps maintain control over cash flow. By offering real-time data visualization, Bench ensures that users are up-to-date with financial performance and well-equipped to make informed business decisions. Users can access the Bench platform via iPhone or desktop application. The application allows users to monitor cash-flow and financial health by generating intuitive expense reports, income statements, financial analysis, and more. It comes with a built-in message feed, which lets users connect and discuss financial queries with a team of financial advisors via text messages. With Bench taking care of the bookkeeping tasks, users can focus on growing business. By automating essential accounting processes, it eliminates the need for manual data entry and calculation. The platform provides all the necessary documentation for filing taxes on time. Bench stands out as a comprehensive and user-centric solution for small businesses seeking to optimize their financial management processes. With its interface, support, and features, the platform empowers users to take control of their finances, make informed decisions, and unlock growth opportunities for their businesses. The pricing includes monthly and annual subscription plans and support is provided via chat, email, FAQs and other online measures. > > Verdict: Rated **4.5/5** by 312 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.5/5** | 312 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.6/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.5/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.4/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 80% | (8/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: Bench Accounting - **Location**: Vancouver, Canada - **Founded**: 2012 ## Commercial Context - **Starting Price**: US$349.00 - **Pricing model**: Flat Rate (Free Trial) - **Target Audience**: Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200 - **Deployment & Platforms**: Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile) - **Supported Languages**: English - **Available Countries**: Canada, United States ## Features - Access Controls/Permissions - Accounting - Accounting Integration - Accounts Payable - Accounts Receivable - Activity Dashboard - Bank Reconciliation - Bookkeeping Services Integration - CPA Firms - Cash Management - Dashboard - Data Import/Export - Data Visualisation - Expense Tracking - Financial Management - Financial Reporting - For Legal Professionals - For Small Businesses - General Ledger - Income & Balance Sheet ## Integrations (4 total) - Shoeboxed - Shopify - Square Point of Sale - Stripe ## Support Options - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Phone Support - Chat ## Category - [Architecture Accounting Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/328/architecture-software/software) ## Related Categories - [Architecture Accounting Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/328/architecture-software/software) - [Online Accounting Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/348/online-accounting-software/software) - [CPA Accounting Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/287/cpa-software/software) - [Accounting Software for Consultants](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/3705/consultant/software) - [Hotel & Hospitality Accounting Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/300/hospitality-travel-software/software) ## Alternatives 1. [QuickBooks Online](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/393202/quickbooks-online) — 4.3/5 (8395 reviews) 2. [QuickBooks Enterprise](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/49801/qb-enterprise) — 4.5/5 (20614 reviews) 3. [Xero](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/2976/xero) — 4.4/5 (3273 reviews) 4. [QuickBooks Desktop](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/17316/quickbooks-pro) — 4.4/5 (2552 reviews) 5. [TaxDome](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/335839/taxdome) — 4.7/5 (3587 reviews) ## Reviews ### "Basic & Straightforward Accounting Software" — 5.0/5 > **Vincent** | *2 February 2026* | Printing | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: Hands-off bookkeeping with real pros doing your books, easy-to-read financials, saves hours each month. > > **Cons**: Can be pricey for what you get, limited to just bookkeeping (no invoicing/payroll), and harder to switch or customize later. ----- ### "Life and Business Changing" — 5.0/5 > **Guy** | *6 July 2021* | Marketing & Advertising | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: - An accounting team to get me on track. - Tax resources with their Bench Tax service. - A beautiful interface that is easy to understand and use. - Superb customer service with timely replies to any questions you have. - An easy way to review anything your team needs clarification on, I rarely spend more than 5 minutes a month classifying expenses for them. - EXPERTISE, Bench isn't just software to do your books, THEY are doing your books, understand small businesses and bring accounting expertise at a very affordable price. - Completed my taxes easily and reduced my tax burden, it was the most painless tax process I've had in years. > > **Cons**: - Communication early in Bench Tax could be improved but I mostly put this on me for being behind. - Having a separate signon for Bench Tax is a bit of a pain but not a big deal. > > In the wake of COVID I left the agency I was at to do my own agency. While I had my business as a side-agency for a number of years and applications like Freshbooks and then Quickbooks Self-Employed helped me manage things I dreaded tax season and all the work I needed to do every year. During COVID I had to get my business up and going, get clients, execute projects, and get things done. I had zero time for managing my books. When the end of the year came up I dreaded the work that was ahead of me with several big projects in progress. Then, through the service I use to pay my contractors, I found out about Bench and it has changed my business AND my life. Bench took 15 months' worth of books that needed to be done and assigned them to a "catch-up" accountant. He went through everything, classified all my expenses, and had a simple way to ask me to review anything they need clarification on. They pulled difficult things to deal with like my processing fees from Stripe and instantly accounted for them. On top of that, having an honest to goodness accountant and accounting team to know how to PROPERLY set up a Chart of Accounts and classify expenses was game-changing. This service easily pays for itself in the time it saves me and the peace of mind it gives me. ----- ### "Never up to date, unreliable assistance - get ready to file extensions\!" — 2.0/5 > **Kyla** | *10 March 2025* | Marketing & Advertising | Recommendation rating: 0.0/10 > > **Pros**: Easy interface. Accountants are friendly - if you can get ahold of one. > > **Cons**: Hard to get hold of, bookkeeping is virtually NEVER up to date, and they've switched my accountant SIX times over the course of 2 years. > > This company just went silent for literally MONTHS while they underwent an acquisition (they only let customers know about this after the fact). They are unclear about what information they need from you, the customer, and ask for various things in multiple places. For instance, my "alerts" section continuously tells me I'm "all caught up\!", but then my tax person will ask for things in lengthy messages that I'm not notified of. Speaking of tax person - I've been a client for two years and have had SIX different accountants, and have to get each new person up to speed. I have to file an extension again because they didn't have my bookkeeping ready in time, despite me monitoring and updating all transactions on my end throughout the year. When I ask for a phone call, they don't call me. When I call them, no answer. At this point it feels like a borderline scam. ----- ### "Huge help for an entrepreneur" — 5.0/5 > **Samantha** | *15 December 2020* | Individual & Family Services | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: Bench was critical in helping me with catch up books for tax time. Being able to upload reports easily from my bank and various credit card processors made things so much easier, and the bookkeepers learned quickly how to categorize the transactions. I'm not sure when I would have caught up on my historical books without Bench. Going forward from there has been very easy as well. I've been able to link the reports to my card processing software and bank, and get updates as they have questions. So simple\! I find the monthly reports easy to understand and its given me a much clearer picture of my numbers. > > **Cons**: The only challenging initial integration was with Paypal- myself and the Bench team member had a hard time linking everything. We resolved it and I didn't have that issue with other accounts. I do wish that this software integrated with my invoicing system, so I could easily see where the profits were coming from. However, I use that system's reports to get a good idea of what's bringing in income. ----- ### "Its easy and worth it." — 5.0/5 > **Michael** | *5 August 2022* | Professional Training & Coaching | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **Pros**: Reconciliation and ongoing communication through the chat is priceless. The teams are fast and handling things in real time is valuable to the process. > > **Cons**: I'd hoped my monthly statements would be pulled automatically once I linked my accounts. > > The sales and onboarding team was amazing. \[SENSITIVE CONTENT\] is a champion. ----- Page: 1 / 14\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/40575/benchbookkeeping?page=2) ## Links - [View on SoftwareAdvice](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/40575/benchbookkeeping) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | en | | | en-AU | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-NZ | | | fr | | ----- ## Structured Data