Quick Comparison
| Firm | Credentials | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| <a href="https://www.manhattan-bookkeepers.com/">Manhattan Bookkeepers, Inc.</a> | QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certified, fractional CFO advisory, payroll processing, six-year Expertise.com top NYC selection, 2024 Inc. Power Partner Award. | Founder-led full-charge bookkeeping and fractional CFO support for small businesses, CEOs, professional services, and creative studios across the five boroughs. |
| <a href="https://mbsata.com/">MBS Accounting Technology & Advisory</a> | QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certified, accounting technology integration, NACPB-aligned bookkeeping, twenty-five-plus years operating, dba Mark's Bookkeeping Services LLC. | Bookkeeping plus C-level financial management and software stack design for small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, and high-net-worth individuals. |
| <a href="https://www.profitasllc.com/">Profitas LLC</a> | QuickBooks Online specialists, Gusto payroll partner, Expertise.com NYC bookkeeping selection, founder-owned independent firm since 2008. | Outsourced bookkeeping for legal, real estate, design, creative, and nonprofit clients with full-cycle AP, AR, payroll, and month-end close. |
1. Manhattan Bookkeepers, Inc.
- Address: 14 Wall Street, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10005
- Phone: (212) 390-1320
- Founder / Owner: Michael Hoover, President
- Operating Since: 2014 (12 years)
- Credentials: QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certified, 2024 Inc. Power Partner Award in Finance, six consecutive years on Expertise.com top NYC bookkeepers list.
- Service area: All five New York City boroughs with remote engagements across the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state region.
- Industries served: Professional services, creative studios, retail, hospitality, nonprofits, and owner-operated small businesses.
- Website: manhattan-bookkeepers.com
Founder-Led Service Model
Michael Hoover positions Manhattan Bookkeepers as a hands-on partner rather than a transactional vendor, and the firm’s Wall Street office grounds a team that works closely with founders, CEOs, and finance leads. The practice pairs full-charge bookkeeping with fractional CFO guidance, so client relationships extend beyond data entry into cash-flow planning, board reporting, and strategic budgeting.
Technology Stack and Cloud Workflow
The team operates primarily in QuickBooks Online and integrates with Bill.com, Gusto, Expensify, and Ramp depending on client volume. Document collection runs through encrypted client portals, monthly close packages include reconciled balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and management commentary. Payroll, sales tax, and 1099 filings are coordinated under a single point of contact.
Recognition and Tenure
Selection by Expertise.com for six consecutive years and the 2024 Inc. Power Partner Award reflect sustained client retention rather than one-off marketing. The firm’s twelve-year tenure under the same ownership establishes continuity that matters when small businesses need a bookkeeper who knows the prior-year file, the chart of accounts, and the founder’s reporting preferences.
2. MBS Accounting Technology & Advisory
- Address: 19 West 21st Street, Room 705, New York, NY 10010
- Phone: (212) 243-5757
- Founder / Owner: Mark A. Gilbert, Founder and CEO
- Operating Since: 2000 (26 years)
- Credentials: QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certified, accounting technology integration specialist, dba registration as Mark’s Bookkeeping Services LLC, member of nglccNY (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce New York).
- Service area: New York City headquartered with a secondary office in Portland, Oregon and remote engagements across the United States and select international clients.
- Industries served: Small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, creative agencies, professional services, and high-net-worth individuals.
- Website: mbsata.com
Two-Decade Independent Practice
Mark Gilbert founded the company on October 10, 2000 as Mark’s Bookkeeping Services and rebranded operations as MBS Accounting Technology & Advisory while keeping the legal entity intact. Twenty-six years of continuous operation under one founder is a meaningful signal in a niche where staff turnover and roll-up acquisitions disrupt continuity. The Flatiron office at 19 West 21st Street keeps the shop close to its long-standing nonprofit and small-business client base.
Accounting Technology Integration
MBSATA differentiates by treating bookkeeping as the front end of a configured software stack rather than a standalone service. Implementations cover QuickBooks Online, bill payment platforms, expense tools, and reporting dashboards, with attention to chart-of-accounts design, class and location tracking, and audit trail integrity. Clients receive workflow documentation alongside reconciled books.
Advisory and C-Level Support
Beyond compliance bookkeeping, the practice provides fractional controller and CFO services, including budget preparation, variance analysis, and board-level financial packages. The advisory line supports nonprofits navigating Form 990 preparation by their CPA, and high-net-worth individuals needing investment, partnership, and trust bookkeeping. This positions the firm as a partner during fundraising, audit, and growth events rather than only at month-end.
3. Profitas LLC
- Address: 251 West 30th Street, Floor 10, New York, NY 10001
- Phone: (917) 407-3719
- Founder / Owner: Jon Blumberg, Owner and President (co-founder)
- Operating Since: 2008 (18 years)
- Credentials: QuickBooks Online specialists, Gusto payroll partner, Expertise.com top NYC bookkeeping selection, founder-owned independent practice.
- Service area: Brooklyn-rooted with a Manhattan office serving New York City; remote bookkeeping for clients across the United States.
- Industries served: Legal practices, real estate firms, design studios, creative agencies, and nonprofits.
- Website: profitasllc.com
Brooklyn Roots, Citywide Reach
Jon Blumberg co-founded Profitas in 2008 with a focus on quality outsourced bookkeeping for small and mid-sized businesses. The firm built its early book of business in Brooklyn’s small-business community and has retained that founder-owned independent character through eighteen years of operation. The current Manhattan office at 251 West 30th Street supports staff and client meetings while remote workflows handle day-to-day transaction processing.
Industry Specialization
The Profitas team recruits bookkeepers with documented experience in legal trust accounting, real estate property management, design studio job costing, and nonprofit fund accounting. That specialization matters because each industry imposes its own chart-of-accounts conventions, attorney trust ledgers under New York’s IOLA program, real estate broker escrow rules, and FASB nonprofit reporting all carry distinct requirements that a generalist may handle clumsily.
Process and Technology
Profitas standardizes on QuickBooks Online and partners with Gusto for payroll, with secure document portals and recurring close calendars. Engagements typically include monthly reconciliation, AP and AR cycles, sales tax filings where applicable, and customized reporting packages. The firm’s longevity, founder ownership, and Expertise.com recognition together support its position as an independent alternative to venture-funded bookkeeping platforms.
Reference Notes
New York City’s bookkeeping market is exceptionally dense and intensely competitive. Manhattan alone hosts thousands of small and mid-sized businesses subject to New York State sales tax, New York City Unincorporated Business Tax, Commercial Rent Tax in certain Manhattan zones, and a tangle of payroll obligations covering New York State withholding, MCTMT (Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax), New York City local taxes, and Paid Family Leave. Bookkeepers operating here cannot rely on national templates, they must understand the city’s specific filing cadences and account structures.
Regulatory framework for bookkeeping in New York is layered. Bookkeeping itself is not a state-licensed profession, however bookkeepers handling payroll must register clients with New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the New York State Department of Labor, and those preparing sales tax returns work within the ST-100 and ST-810 schedules. Voluntary credentials matter to sophisticated clients: QuickBooks ProAdvisor (Intuit), AIPB Certified Bookkeeper, NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper, and Xero Advisor. Firms serving attorneys must respect Rule 1.15 trust accounting standards under New York’s Rules of Professional Conduct, and those serving nonprofits must align with FASB ASC 958 and New York Charities Bureau registration.
The three firms profiled above illustrate distinct positioning within that market. Manhattan Bookkeepers, Inc. emphasizes founder-CEO partnership and fractional CFO services from a Wall Street base. MBS Accounting Technology & Advisory grounds its practice in twenty-six years of accounting technology integration from a Flatiron office, with a secondary Portland presence. Profitas LLC builds on industry-specialized teams serving legal, real estate, design, and nonprofit clients with deep QuickBooks Online and Gusto expertise. None operate as pure CPA tax-only firms, all maintain founder or owner-led leadership, and each has documented tenure well beyond the five-year minimum applied in this directory. National rollups excluded from consideration in this profile include Bench Accounting, Pilot, QuickBooks Live, BELAY, Bookkeeper360, Bookminders, Supporting Strategies, Bookkeeper.com, and 1-800Accountant, along with Big Four and large regional CPA platforms such as BDO, Aprio, Marcum, RSM, and Grant Thornton.
Selection Methodology
Selection follows four criteria. First, family-owned or founder-led independent bookkeeping firm outside national rollup pattern. Second, QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification or equivalent (Xero, Sage). Third, BBB listing or equivalent third-party recognition. Fourth, minimum 5-year continuous operating history with documented New York service coverage. Firms acquired by or operating as national rollups (Bench Accounting, Pilot, QuickBooks Live, BELAY, Bookkeeper360, Bookminders, Supporting Strategies, Bookkeeper.com, 1-800Accountant) are excluded. Pure CPA tax-only firms are excluded; this directory profiles bookkeeping and managerial accounting firms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a New York bookkeeper’s credentials?
Start with Intuit’s official QuickBooks ProAdvisor directory at quickbooks.intuit.com/find-an-accountant, which confirms whether a firm or individual holds active ProAdvisor or Advanced ProAdvisor status. Cross-check the company’s Better Business Bureau profile at bbb.org for accreditation, complaint history, and years in business. Confirm the legal entity through New York Department of State business filings at dos.ny.gov to verify formation date and registered agent. For payroll providers, ask for proof of New York State Department of Taxation and Finance registration. Liability insurance certificates and references from current clients in your industry round out reasonable due diligence.
What credentials should a New York bookkeeper hold?
At minimum, look for a current QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification or Xero Advisor designation, since most New York small-business clients run on one of those two platforms. Optional but valuable credentials include AIPB Certified Bookkeeper through the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper through the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers. Professional liability insurance is standard practice. For firms serving attorneys, real estate brokers, or nonprofits, ask about specific industry experience and trust accounting protocols. CPA licensure is not required for bookkeeping, however a firm that integrates with a CPA for tax filing is often preferable to a fully siloed arrangement.
How can I tell if a New York bookkeeper is independent versus a national rollup?
Check the “About” page on the shop’s website for a named founder, ownership team, and local office address rather than a generic corporate parent. Search the practice name plus “acquired” or “acquisition” in news databases to surface any rollup transactions; many private-equity-backed bookkeeping platforms have absorbed local firms while keeping the original brand. Review LinkedIn for the firm’s leadership: independent founder-led firms typically show the same owner across many years, while rollups show frequent C-suite changes and shared leadership across multiple brands. Pricing structure is another signal: rollups tend to publish flat-fee tiered packages, while independent firms commonly quote based on transaction volume and engagement scope. National rollups to be aware of include Bench Accounting, Pilot, QuickBooks Live, BELAY, Bookkeeper360, Bookminders, Supporting Strategies, Bookkeeper.com, and 1-800Accountant.
When should a New York business hire a bookkeeper versus a CPA?
A bookkeeper handles daily and weekly transaction work: recording invoices, processing accounts payable and accounts receivable, reconciling bank and credit card accounts, running payroll, filing sales tax returns, and producing monthly financial statements. A CPA focuses on annual income tax filing, tax strategy and planning, audit representation before the IRS or New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and attest services such as audits and reviews. Most New York small businesses use both: the bookkeeper keeps the books current throughout the year, and the CPA picks up clean books at year end for tax preparation and strategic planning. Hiring a CPA to do bookkeeping is usually overpriced for routine work, and asking a bookkeeper to file complex partnership or corporate income taxes exceeds typical scope. Matching the work to the credential controls cost and reduces error risk.
Editorial Note
Compiled by the editorial team. Firm details cross-verified through QuickBooks ProAdvisor directory, BBB business profiles, and firm-published websites where available. Credentials should be re-verified through Intuit’s ProAdvisor lookup before engaging. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-11.