For many decades, accounting and bookkeeping have been operated as one of the most traditional and conservative businesses. No matter what happened, the accountant was always physically present in the back office, churning out expense receipts and income payments to accurately confirm the financial status of the company for management. However, 2020 was a ground-shaking change for the industry as a whole and for businesses locally. Forcing knowledge services to have to be handled by distance through remote quality bookkeeping and accounting, everyone in every industry then realized they had to become versed in digital services, how to use them, and how to provide them effectively. This, in turn, shook up the listing of the top bookkeeping firms on the East Coast. Here are five of them:

ATAX

Established in 1986, ATAX had been primarily a West Coast operation, but it has made an impression in three East Coast states: Florida, Virginia, and New York (primarily around New York City). The company is fairly young in terms of branching out, only establishing its east coast positions in the mid-2000s. ATAX provides full-service accounting, tax services, and bookkeeping, including remote support as well. ATAX has predominantly established itself as a go-to resource for tax-related bookkeeping and reporting, especially for small businesses.

Supporting Strategies

Supporting Strategies, another bookkeeping firm established in the mid-2000s,  also clusters its presence in New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Philadelphia, and Florida. It has a heavy support strategy in place for small business clients, and Support Strategies has fully embraced remote services as well. It’s a key player in permanent outsourced bookkeeping and accounting services for clients, preferring long-term accounts versus seasonal tax business or one-off projects.

H&R Block

Known for its annual marketing push in the income tax field, the H&R Block franchise also handles a considerable amount of bookkeeping off-season and outside the personal income tax filing crush. The company has been a household name for taxes since 1955, when it started, but today many of the franchises handle a considerable amount of bookkeeping work in payroll, general accounting, and training. The company’s franchises also provide remote services, depending on location and capacity. Many of its East Coast offices are situated in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Maryland, favoring the Northern Atlantic seaboard primarily.

Padgett Business Services

A long-standing company in the accounting & bookkeeping field, Padgett Business also embraced the digital world and remote work during the pandemic and didn’t stop afterward. The company serves customers in Massachusetts, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida primarily. It’s specifically focused on accounts and partnerships with small businesses as well as credit card payment processing, financial reporting, payroll processing, and consulting.

Liberty Tax Service

Being in the top three largest accounting franchises across the U.S., Liberty has a long-standing record of handling tax reporting. However, the company’s franchises have also adapted to remote work, taking on bookkeeping and accounting for tax needs. Probably covering the largest expanse of east coast representation, Liberty Tax Services is strongly present in 10 different east coast states on the Atlantic seaboard.

While remote bookkeeping doesn't necessarily fit every situation, it clearly provides client companies a leg up in their overhead operations with greater access to skilled services. And, sometimes, that difference can give a company a competitive edge today in tight markets.