How Wishup Bookkeeper and 1-800Accountant Compare

I often hear from busy founders and small-business owners that they need help with everyday tasks or their finances.

In this article, I compare Wishup (my company’s virtual assistant and bookkeeping service) with 1-800Accountant, a popular online accounting firm. We’ll look at how each platform handles things like administrative support, bookkeeping, tax services, onboarding, and pricing.

I’ll be as fair and transparent as possible, giving you the facts so you can decide which service is a better fit for your needs.

Key Takeaways

Wishup: A virtual assistant (VA) and bookkeeping platform. We handle 1000+ specialized tasks, including email, scheduling, research, social media, and bookkeeping. Onboarding is fast (you can get a virtual bookkeeper set up in about 60 minutes). Pricing starts around $9.99/hour (roughly $999/month for a part-time assistant).

Our service includes a free virtual assistant management app, and we train our bookkeepers on 120+ tools. Around 900+ small businesses currently use Wishup. We are affordable and easy to use, designed for startups and small businesses (and multiple industries including real estate, CPAs, marketing agencies, healthcare, CPA firms, consultancy, etc).

1-800Accountant: A full-service accounting firm delivered online. It provides dedicated CPAs and accountants for bookkeeping, payroll, tax advice, and LLC formation. Pricing is flat-rate from $139 to $399 per month (billed annually).
Plans include year-round tax guidance, and the top plan even adds bookkeeping and priority support. 1-800Accountant focuses on financial operations, not on general admin. Over 100,000 businesses trust 1-800Accountant for their accounting and taxes. It’s more expensive and heavyweight, but it covers everything finance-related.

Who should use which: If you need everyday admin and bookkeeping help (email, calendar, social media, or finance tasks), Wishup’s flexible and affordable model will probably win. If your primary concern is comprehensive accounting and tax compliance, 1-800Accountant’s all-in-one service might be worth the cost. Ultimately, pick the service you’ll actually use daily and that provides the assistance you need quickly.

Wishup vs. 1800 Accountant at a Glance

Let me start by introducing the two accounting and bookkeeping services. 

First up, we have Wishup.

We provide a monthly accounting and bookkeeping service that helps businesses of all sizes, from small to growing, and industries, including e-commerce and startups, better manage their bookkeeping and finances.

At Wishup, we have the best accounting and bookkeeping talent who drive actionable financial insights and continue to stay up to date with bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and more trends in the industry.

We meet to understand your business, take bookkeeping off your plate, and provide helpful monthly analysis so you can better understand your numbers and make smarter decisions.

We aim to help thousands of small, medium, and growing businesses save time, get cleaner books, and grow without worrying about their bookkeeping and accounting. Our bookkeeping service pairs small businesses with highly experienced virtual bookkeepers to handle everything from transaction recording and expense management to invoicing and financial reporting. 

Our team delivers 100% accurate, triple-checked financial statements, GAAP‑compliant books, federal and state income tax filings, including 1040, 1065, 1120, 1120s, 1099s, W2, W9, and franchise tax filing, and real-time insights so you can focus on growing your business.

Best of all, Wishup is fast and flexible: you can hire a bookkeeper in 60 minutes, pay a monthly subscription starting at $9.99/hour (no matter your location), and cancel anytime, with no annual contracts or hidden fees.

New clients even get $100 off their first hire and a 7-day money-back guarantee trial of the service.

In short, Wishup offers a better bookkeeping solution for small businesses that is both affordable and high-quality.

Now for 1800 Accountant.

1-800Accountant is an online accounting firm in the USA. It’s not a VA platform. Instead, it offers professional accountants and CPAs for your bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and entity formation needs. Their homepage touts “flat-rate pricing” with no hourly fees, and they serve small businesses across the country.

For essential accounting support, plans start at $139/month (paid annually). The lowest plan gives you access to their online portal, a dedicated accountant, and year-round tax advice. Higher plans (up to $399/month) add things like personal and business tax preparation, and even managed bookkeeping.

Unlike Wishup, 1-800Accountant doesn’t have VAs to book travel or manage your inbox. It’s squarely focused on financial tasks. The company boasts that 100,000+ businesses trust them with bookkeeping, payroll, and taxes.

In a nutshell, Wishup is all about on-demand admin and bookkeeping virtual help; 1-800Accountant is all about comprehensive accounting services.

Wishup vs 1-800Accountant: Which Is Better for Bookkeeping & Financial Tasks?

Both services touch bookkeeping, but in different ways.

Wishup offers dedicated bookkeeping assistants who can :

• AP and AR
• Connect Bank Accounts
• Reconcile Accounts
• Categorize Transactions
• Catch-up Bookkeeping
• Provide Monthly Financial Statements
• Cash and Accrual Basis Accounting
• Payroll Integration
• Enhanced Communication
• 100% Accurate Books Guarantee

Additionally you get

• Email Support
• Community Support
• One-way Video Chat
• Live Chat Support
• Phone Support
• Free Software Training
• Dedicated bookkeeper and accounts manager

Our bookkeeping assistants are fluent in 15+ accounting tools, including QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho, and other accounting software you use. We are flexible with the software your business uses.

This makes Wishup a great, affordable option if you need monthly outsourced bookkeeping solutions, along with a bookkeeper administrative assistant. We’ll take the busywork off your plate.

By contrast, 1-800Accountant is a strong choice if your priority is tax strategy, IRS compliance, or long-term entity structuring. With over 100,000 clients and a team of licensed CPAs, it’s a solid option for businesses needing deep financial guidance.

However, it doesn’t offer:

• Day-to-day admin help
• Flexible task support
• Part-time options or hourly billing
• Rapid onboarding (setup usually requires sales consultation)

Also, bookkeeping is only included in the top-tier $399/month Enterprise plan, and that fee is billed annually upfront, a steep entry point for smaller businesses.

Wishup vs 1-800Accountant: Which Is Better for Pricing & Value?

Wishup is the more budget-friendly option for most basic support. We charge by the hour or in fixed packages.

Our dedicated bookkeeping plans start at about $9.99/hour, roughly $999/month for a 4-hour/day assistant.

If you don't want to hire a part-time or full-time bookkeeping service, then you can opt for our managed bookkeeping service starting from $300 only.

We also offer a 7-day money-back guarantee trial for new users to test the service. Because we operate lean (our bookkeepers are global contractors), we can keep costs low. This means a small business can get a part-time assistant or bookkeeper without paying thousands.

When comparing 1-800Accountant’s pricing plans (Tax Advisory, Core Accounting, and Enterprise Business) to Wishup’s pricing structure, several disadvantages become evident.

First and foremost is the significantly higher cost. They require an annual commitment up front before you try the service (no monthly cancellation). There are no free trials. You sign up via a sales call. And the prices are subject to change based on the US state.

1800Accountant plans start at $209 per month for tax advisory, and if you need core accounting, $249/month is the cost, and for enterprise business, they charge $419 per month, all billed annually.

In contrast, Wishup offers more cost-effective solutions, with flexible pricing starting from $300 for managed bookkeeping services and $150 for filing your taxes—a simple calculation.

Another major drawback is the rigid billing structure.

All three plans are billed annually, forcing clients into long-term commitments without the flexibility to scale up or down easily.

Wishup, on the other hand, allows monthly or hourly billing, providing businesses with the freedom to adjust services based on changing needs. Additionally, the plans come with fixed sets of features, which means customers may end up paying for services they do not require.

Furthermore, priority support is only available in the highest-tier plan, the $419 one, whereas Wishup generally includes dedicated client support across all plans.

Lastly, access to essential tools like bookkeeping software is restricted to higher-tier plans. In contrast, our top-tier 0.1% virtual bookkeepers can work with your preferred tools, adding flexibility and convenience.,

So, in terms of pure cost, Wishup typically wins. You’re paying by the hour for only the work you need. However, remember that Wishup doesn’t do taxes, so you might eventually pay an accountant on top of your VA. 1-800Accountant’s higher fees include a real CPA team and all those financial services in one package.

Wishup vs 1-800Accountant: Which Is Better for Tax Preparation & Advisory?

This is where the services really diverge. 1-800Accountant is built for taxes. All of their plans include some level of tax support: even the basic plan includes year-round tax advice and quarterly tax planning. The mid and high plans add personal and business tax filing as features.

In short, if you have tax filing needs or want guidance on tax strategy, 1-800Accountant covers it. They specifically advertise unlimited tax advice as a pro in their reviews. Customers get an assigned CPA who handles your quarterly filings and annual returns.

Wishup, on the other hand, does not handle tax planning. Our virtual bookkeepers can file taxes and may help you organize tax documents, upload receipts, or remind you of deadlines, but we don’t give tax advice. If your main need is preparing and filing taxes, we can do that directly.

So in the tax category, 1-800Accountant wins hands-down. They were created for end-to-end tax compliance. Wishup simply isn’t a tax service – we excel at day-to-day work, but your CPA chores should go to 1-800Accountant or another tax professional.

Wishup Is the Smarter Choice for Most SMBs

If you’re a small business looking for reliable, versatile support across admin and finance, Wishup is the better all-around choice. You get a trained expert for bookkeeping, operational support, and even light marketing help, all without breaking the bank.

Choose Wishup if:

• You need help managing both your books and your operations
• You want flexible, cancel-anytime plans
• You prefer modern, tool-savvy assistants over a traditional firm structure

Choose 1-800Accountant if:

• You need a CPA-led tax strategy and filing
• You’re okay with higher upfront costs and a long-term financial services commitment

Regardless of your choice, the important thing is action: getting help, applying the insights, and focusing on what you do best.

Good luck building your business!

Wishup vs 1-800Accountant: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wishup better than 1-800Accountant?

Wishup and 1-800Accountant serve different needs. Wishup is easier to use and affordable, covering virtually any administrative or operational task your business needs, along with bookkeeping and taxes. 1-800Accountant is more comprehensive and pricey, offering in-depth accounting and tax services.

Neither is strictly “better”; it depends on whether you need VA and bookkeeping help (Wishup wins) or all-in-one accounting (1-800Accountant wins).

Is Wishup good for small businesses?

Yes. Wishup is specifically built for small businesses, startups, and busy founders. Our clients often say that even lean startups use Wishup bookkeepers to handle tasks so the founders can focus on growth.

We can step in quickly without a big learning curve since we train our bookkeepers in 120+ tools and processes. For a small business that doesn’t have the budget for full-time staff, our flexible plans (starting around $999/month) can deliver a lot of value.

Why is 1-800Accountant so expensive?

1-800Accountant includes the cost of professional accountants, year-round support, and a full tech platform. It’s not just a DIY software – you get a real CPA handling your filings and advice. Flat pricing and the involvement of CPAs add up. For example, even the lowest plan is $209/month, and you must pay annually.

In contrast, Wishup’s costs cover remote assistants (not CPAs), so we can charge much less (around $9.99/hr). Essentially, you’re paying 1-800Accountant for a whole accounting department on call, whereas Wishup is paying virtual assistants.