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Finbryn vs Bench
Bench shut down on December 27, 2024, and was acquired by Employer.com within days. It has operated again under the Bench brand since January 2025, after a Canadian bankruptcy filing that disclosed debts of more than US$65 million. During the shutdown, its books lived inside proprietary software, not QuickBooks or Xero. We keep your books on QuickBooks or Xero from day one, so you always own the file, and a named reviewer signs off on it each month.
| Dimension | Bench | Finbryn |
|---|---|---|
| Business continuity | Bench shut down on December 27, 2024, giving roughly 12,000 customers weeks to find a new bookkeeper. It was acquired by Employer.com within days and has operated again under the Bench brand since January 2025.[1] | A named pod and a recorded handover memo if staffing ever changes. |
| File ownership | Books live inside Bench's own proprietary software, not QuickBooks or Xero, so leaving means exporting data rather than simply handing over a standard file.[2] | Client owns the QuickBooks Online or Xero file from day one. |
| Contract terms | Historically marketed as an ongoing subscription with no fixed-term commitment, on top of a proprietary, closed-book platform.[3] | Terms are set out in your engagement letter. |
| Ownership since the shutdown | Acquired by Employer.com following the December 2024 shutdown; Bench has continued operating under its own brand and platform since January 2025.[4] | Founder-led, under review by a senior reviewer. |
Business continuity
Bench
Bench shut down on December 27, 2024, giving roughly 12,000 customers weeks to find a new bookkeeper. It was acquired by Employer.com within days and has operated again under the Bench brand since January 2025. [1]
Finbryn
A named pod and a recorded handover memo if staffing ever changes.
File ownership
Bench
Books live inside Bench's own proprietary software, not QuickBooks or Xero, so leaving means exporting data rather than simply handing over a standard file. [2]
Finbryn
Client owns the QuickBooks Online or Xero file from day one.
Contract terms
Bench
Historically marketed as an ongoing subscription with no fixed-term commitment, on top of a proprietary, closed-book platform. [3]
Finbryn
Terms are set out in your engagement letter.
Ownership since the shutdown
Bench
Acquired by Employer.com following the December 2024 shutdown; Bench has continued operating under its own brand and platform since January 2025. [4]
Finbryn
Founder-led, under review by a senior reviewer.
Sources
- [1]bench.coChecked 2026-09-29
- [2]en.wikipedia.orgChecked 2026-09-28
- [3]acuity.coChecked 2026-09-28
- [4]bankingdive.comChecked 2026-09-29
Competitor details come from their public pages on the date shown. Plans and prices change, so check the source before you decide.
Switch guideSwitching from BenchQuestions
Frequently asked questions
Is Bench still operating in 2026?
Yes. Bench shut down on December 27, 2024, and was acquired by Employer.com; it has operated again under the Bench brand since January 2025. Sources: bench.co/transition-faqs and Banking Dive, January 15, 2025.
If I switch from Bench, do I keep my books?
That depends on Bench's export process, since its platform is proprietary rather than QuickBooks or Xero. With us, your books already live in QuickBooks Online or Xero, so there is nothing to migrate out of a closed system.
What happens to my books if Finbryn ever stopped operating?
You would keep your QuickBooks or Xero file exactly as it is, because you own it, not us. We also give every client a monthly exit-ready handover pack for this reason.
Where to go next
- Books, reconciled every weekBookkeepingMonthly bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online, Xero or the platform you already run: every transaction sorted into categories, every bank and card account reconciled, and a clean set of reports each month.
- BookkeepingCatch-up and cleanup bookkeepingMonths or years of books brought up to date and reconciled, with a written record of every adjustment, so monthly bookkeeping can start from a clean base.
- PricingPublished monthly bookkeeping plans for US businesses, from solo LLCs to multi-entity operators and accounting firms buying extra capacity.
- Special situationsSwitching from BenchSupport moving your books and history out of Bench and into a QuickBooks Online or Xero file you control, for businesses affected by Bench's December 2024 shutdown and its January 2025 reopening under new ownership.
Next step
Talk to the team that would run your books
A short call covers your setup, your software and what a first month would look like. You get a written scope and price after it.