Bookkeeping firms, CAS-only firms, virtual accounting practices, and advisory firms without a CPA license. The same offshore production infrastructure, without the peer-review and attest-service complexity that CPA firms carry.
Who this is for
A meaningful portion of the US accounting market operates without a CPA license: bookkeeping firms, CAS-only practices, virtual bookkeepers with national client bases, bookkeeping cooperatives, and advisory-heavy firms that refer out attest work. These firms solve the same operational problems as CPA firms – production capacity, client delivery, quality control, margin pressure – with a simpler regulatory overlay.
For non-CPA accounting firms, the offshore model is usually easier to stand up: no peer review to document, no §7216 consent requirements on non-tax work, no AICPA §1.150.040 disclosure (though a version of it is still best practice), and generally more flexibility in how work is structured. Most non-CPA firms we work with have offshore production running within 3–4 weeks of signing.
20–500 client bookkeeping firms. Offshore staff handle daily transaction coding, reconciliation, and close – your US staff handle client communication, onboarding, and advisory work.
Virtual bookkeeping firms serving clients nationally. Offshore production scales without a physical office expansion. One offshore bookkeeper per 30–60 clients.
Firms that lead with fractional CFO, tax strategy, or business advisory but need clean bookkeeping to support those engagements. Offshore handles the books; you handle the advisor role.
Three operational differences matter when structuring an offshore engagement for a non-CPA accounting firm:
Non-CPA firms don't have triennial peer review. You don't need the documentation package we provide to CPA firms for audit engagements. This simplifies onboarding and reduces the paperwork layer.
If your firm does not prepare tax returns, IRS §7216 doesn't apply to your engagement. If you do prepare returns (many bookkeeping firms do simple 1040s or small 1120-S filings for their clients), the same consent requirements apply. Most non-CPA firms handle this with a single sentence in the engagement letter and a standalone consent form for any tax clients.
Some states have restrictions on who can hold out as providing "accounting services" without a CPA license. Most allow bookkeeping, payroll processing, management accounting, and advisory services for non-CPAs; they restrict attest, audit, compilation, and in some cases review engagements. Our work for non-CPA firms is always in the permitted scope. If you're unsure whether a particular state allows your specific service offering, we recommend checking with your state board of accountancy.
If you're running a bookkeeping or virtual accounting firm and want to see the services we most commonly deploy for your type of firm, see offshore bookkeeping, offshore payroll, and offshore AP. For pricing details, see our pricing page. For the broader context on offshore accounting, see our homepage.
FAQ
In most states, yes – bookkeeping, management advisory, fractional CFO services, tax strategy advisory (not preparation), and business consulting are generally not restricted to CPAs. Attest, compilation, review, and audit engagements are restricted. Check your state's specific rules.
Same pricing structure as CPA firms – hourly, monthly dedicated seat, or per-unit. The difference is that non-CPA firms have more pricing flexibility with end clients, which lets you capture more of the offshore savings as margin.
Yes. White-label is standard. Offshore bookkeepers work under your firm's email, templates, and client portals. Your clients interact with your firm, not with us.
Yes – QuickBooks ProAdvisor and Xero Partner programs are the most common setups in our book. Offshore staff can log in under your firm's ProAdvisor account or Xero Partner login. Your QBO or Xero firm-level visibility into all client files is maintained.
Payroll service bureaus don't require CPA licensure. Offshore payroll specialists fit cleanly under this model – they run payroll for your client base, you're the firm of record, and regulatory compliance (941, W-2, state filings) goes through your firm's existing payroll software.