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Looking for a Bench Alternative?

Here is a team that won't disappear.

When Bench shut down in December 2024, thousands of US small businesses were left mid-cycle: closed books stuck in a proprietary ledger, no CPA relationship in place, and no clean way to keep going. Acgile is a dedicated-accountant bookkeeping service built for US e-commerce and SaaS brands, with QuickBooks and NetSuite depth, data portability by default, and a real migration path off Bench's system.

Talk to us about migrating off Bench

The context

What happened to Bench

On December 27, 2024, Bench Accounting notified customers it was shutting down operations. The company was subsequently acquired by Employer.com and reactivated, but the disruption left thousands of small businesses mid-close: books trapped in a proprietary ledger, delivery timelines unclear, and no easy exit to QuickBooks or another system. For many customers, the practical answer was “migrate anyway.” This page is for you if that is where you are.

What you need now

Three things stranded customers need

  • Historical data migration

    Get your Bench ledger out and into a system you own (QuickBooks Online or NetSuite). No more proprietary lock-in.

  • Catch-up bookkeeping

    Any months that fell through the cracks during the shutdown reconstructed and reconciled to source.

  • Continuity

    A dedicated team that handles ongoing monthly close, AR/AP, and reporting on a predictable cycle.

Acgile vs Bench

How the two models compare

DimensionBenchAcgile
Accountant modelPooled support — you talked to whoever answeredNamed lead accountant + backup, same team every month
SoftwareProprietary ledger; data locked inside BenchQuickBooks Online or NetSuite — you own your data
Data portabilityExports were limited; shutdown left customers scramblingYour ERP, your data, always exportable
E-commerce depthBasic bookkeeping — marketplace reconciliation was an add-onMarketplace payouts, SKU-level COGS, inventory reserves standard
Month-end closeStatements delivered monthly on Bench's cadence3-5 business day close cycle, review-ready by day 5
AR / APBasic — collections and bill-pay not typically coveredFull AR (invoicing, aging, collections) and AP (bill-pay, 1099)
Tax filingBenchTax as an upsell for personal + business returnsBooks ready for your CPA; coordinated tax partner referrals
Pricing modelTiered by transaction count, opaque upgradesFixed monthly retainer scoped upfront, no billable-hour surprises
Continuity riskShut down in 2024 — thousands of customers left mid-cycle9 years operating, 100+ team, Clutch 5.0, Upwork Top Rated Plus

The migration

A four-step exit from Bench

This is what the actual migration looks like end-to-end. Included in your first month.

01

Extract your Bench data

We work with whatever exports and reports you still have from Bench (ledger, statements, reconciliation snapshots) plus your bank and card feeds to reconstruct the full ledger.

02

Rebuild in QuickBooks Online

Fresh chart of accounts designed for your business type. Historical transactions posted, reconciled, and matched against source data — not just imported blindly.

03

Validate and reconcile

Every month reconciled to bank and card statements. Any gaps or discrepancies from the Bench period get documented and resolved so you close the migration with a clean audit trail.

04

Start live monthly close

Your dedicated Acgile team takes over the ongoing close on a 3-5 business day cycle. Slack access, monthly review calls, and quarterly business reviews baked in.

Why Acgile won't disappear

Nine years, 100+ team, independent proof

  • Clutch 5.0

    Independent verified-review rating from client interviews.

  • Upwork Top Rated Plus

    6,904+ verified hours delivered on Upwork's platform.

  • Founded 2017

    Nine years operating without an acquisition-or-shutdown event.

  • 100+ team

    Full-time accountants, ERP specialists, and finance ops — not a freelancer pool.

Clutch5.0 6 verified reviewsTop Rated Plus100% 6,904 hours

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can you import my Bench data?+
Yes. We extract your historical Bench ledger — transactions, categorizations, reconciliations, and reports — and rebuild it inside QuickBooks Online with a clean chart of accounts. Your data becomes portable, and you keep it forever. This migration is included in the first month's engagement fee.
How long does catch-up bookkeeping take?+
For most stranded Bench customers, catch-up bookkeeping runs 2-4 weeks depending on months of backlog and transaction volume. If you were current with Bench when they shut down, we can start on your live monthly close inside week one. If you have months of gaps, we run a parallel catch-up track while starting the current-month close.
What does it cost compared to Bench?+
Acgile is priced as a fixed-fee monthly retainer scoped to your transaction volume, complexity, and reporting needs — comparable to Bench's mid-tier for basic brands, with significant savings once you factor in the dedicated-accountant model versus Bench's pooled support. Detailed quote after a 20-minute discovery call.
Do you file US taxes?+
We do not directly file US federal or state tax returns — that stays with a licensed US CPA. What we handle: clean books ready for tax filing, 1099 preparation, sales tax accrual tracking across states, and coordination with your CPA of choice. If you need a CPA, we can recommend partners.
Will my data stay portable after this migration?+
Yes. All work happens inside your QuickBooks Online (or NetSuite) instance, which you own. No proprietary ledger, no lock-in. If you ever change providers, your books come with you — the exact opposite of what happened when Bench shut down.
Do you work with e-commerce brands specifically?+
Yes. Multi-channel e-commerce (Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, WooCommerce) is one of our core focuses. Marketplace settlement reconciliation, SKU-level COGS, and inventory accounting are standard scope, not add-ons. See our e-commerce accounting services for the full detail.

A bookkeeping partner that won't disappear

Migration off Bench, dedicated accountant, clean books inside a system you own. Talk to us in 20 minutes.

Book a 20-minute discovery call