Overview
Inkle is a US startup that combines its own accounting software, Inkle Books, with bookkeeping, tax and corporate compliance services aimed at Delaware C-corporations, including companies with foreign founders[11]. It is unusual in this list for publishing a free software tier: Inkle Books Basic connects up to two bank accounts and produces cash-basis financials, reconciliation and invoicing at no charge, while the Standard tier adds accrual financials, AI categorisation, multi-currency and Stripe revenue ingestion for US$30 a month[11].
The bookkeeping service costs US$99 a month for up to 30 transactions a month, billed monthly without a long-term commitment, and delivers cash-basis, tax-ready books with standard monthly financials[11]. Above 30 transactions the full-service tier adds a dedicated bookkeeper, monthly review calls, accrual accounting, payroll entries, revenue recognition and state compliance warnings, but its price is not published[11].
Inkle’s compliance catalogue covers federal business returns from US$850 a year, foreign-owner forms such as 5472 and 5471, FBAR filings, registered agent service from US$60 a year in Delaware, assisted incorporation through Stripe Atlas or Clerky, and dissolution for US$350[11]. It also sells to accounting firms through Inkle Practice. The limitations are the low transaction cap on the published plan and the absence of a dedicated bookkeeper at that level.
Inkle features
- Free accounting software tier
- Monthly bookkeeping with no long-term commitment
- Foreign-owner filings (5472, 5471, FBAR)
- Registered agent and mailroom service
- Assisted incorporation and dissolution
- R&D tax credit service
Inkle pricing
- Inkle Books: Basic free; Standard US$30/month or US$300/year.
- Monthly bookkeeping: US$99/month, up to 30 transactions, cash basis.
- Full-service bookkeeping: above 30 transactions, price not published.
- Tax: Business from US$850/year; Business + Personal from US$1,350/year; state return US$100.
- Registered agent US$60/year (Delaware), US$120 elsewhere; dissolution US$350; R&D credit 15% of credit.
Inkle strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Lowest published bookkeeping price for very small volumes
- Free software tier
- Strong coverage of foreign-owner compliance
- Month-to-month billing
Limitations
- 30-transaction cap on the published plan
- No dedicated bookkeeper at entry level
- Full-service price not published
- Cash basis only on the entry service
Appears in
Inkle alternatives and competitors
Alternatives to Inkle: companies ranked in the same lists.
Pilot
Bench
Bookkeeper360
Xendoo
Fondo
Kruze Consulting
Zeni
Merritt Bookkeeping- Fincent
QuickBooks Live
Ignite Spot
Paro
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