Discover how Instant Books compares to traditional bookkeeping methods and manual processes. Make an informed decision for your small business.
| Feature | Traditional Bookkeeping | Instant Books (AI Bookkeeping) |
|---|---|---|
| Time & Efficiency | ||
| Receipt Data Entry | Manual typing, a few minutes per receipt | Automatic extraction in seconds |
| Transaction Categorization | Manual review of each transaction | AI categorizes 100% automatically and you still stay in control |
| Transaction Match | Hours of manual matching | 80% transactions automatically matched to bills |
| Monthly Bookkeeping Time | 15-25 hours per month | 3-5 hours per month |
| Cost | ||
| Full Bookkeeping Cost | $500+ per month in Cost of Labor | $30-80 per month |
| Setup Cost | $0-500 (initial consultation) | $0 (self-setup in 10 minutes) |
| Accuracy & Control | ||
| Human Error Risk | High (typos, missed transactions) | Low (consistent AI processing) |
| Real-time Updates | Weekly or monthly updates | Daily automated updates |
| Control Over Categories | Full control (if you do it yourself) | Full control with default or customized categorization rules |
| Audit Trail | Depends on bookkeeper quality | Complete digital audit trail |
| Scalability | ||
| Growing Transaction Volume | Proportionally more time/cost | Handles growth automatically with fixed monthly cost |
| Multiple Business Locations | Requires more bookkeepers | Single system handles all locations |
| Staff Turnover Impact | High (lose knowledge & consistency) | No impact (AI never leaves) |