Key Takeaways
- Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services is the best for monthly bookkeeping from a CPA, with published monthly packages from $250 and over 23 years of business tax and accounting experience.
- B&C Accounting and Tax is suited for tax preparation and payroll under one roof, as a family-owned Springfield firm since 1989 with CPAs and Enrolled Agents on staff.
- Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax is suited for self-employed owners and single-member LLCs that want bookkeeping and tax filing together, with virtual service.
- Bookkeeping clerks in the Springfield, MO metro earned a mean of $22.56 an hour in May 2025 federal wage data, so a very low quote usually means less time on your books.
- Ask every firm who actually does your books, how pricing is set, and whether a CPA reviews the work before you sign.
Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services is the strongest choice of these three for Springfield-area small business owners who want monthly bookkeeping handled by a CPA. B&C Accounting and Tax suits businesses and families that want tax preparation and payroll in one office, and Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax suits self-employed owners and single-member LLCs that want bookkeeping and tax filing handled virtually.
Melton leads on transparency. Paula Melton, CPA, publishes her monthly packages and starting prices online, works on the books herself, and is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor.
Most Springfield bookkeeping firms look alike on a website: QuickBooks, monthly reports and tax-ready books. The differences show up in who does the work, how the price is set, and what happens when your books are already behind.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Service | Best For | Credentials | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services | Best for Monthly Bookkeeping From a CPA | CPA, QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, 23+ years of experience | Published monthly packages from $250; $175 QuickBooks Diagnostic Review |
| B&C Accounting and Tax | Best for Tax Preparation and Payroll Under One Roof | CPAs and Enrolled Agents; family-owned since 1989 | Quoted per client; no prices published |
| Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax | Best for Self-Employed Owners and Single-Member LLCs | Founder with over a decade in accounting | Quoted per client; no prices published |
Credentials are as each firm states them on its own website as of November 2026.
What Separates a Real Bookkeeper From a Data-Entry Service
A good bookkeeper protects the business as much as they record it. For owners who rely on their numbers for taxes, loans and pricing, the questions that matter most are about people, review and accountability.
Records have to hold up for years, not just at tax time. The IRS says businesses should generally keep records for 3 years, employment tax records for at least 4 years, and records for 7 years when claiming a bad debt deduction or a loss from worthless securities.
Five questions separate a strong bookkeeping service from a basic one:
- Who does the work: A firm where the CPA works on your books catches tax problems early, while a rotating team may only enter transactions.
- Reconciliation, not just bank feeds: Every bank and credit card account should be reconciled to the statement each month, not simply accepted from the bank feed.
- Tax awareness: A bookkeeper who understands entity rules, such as S corporation owner payroll, prevents expensive surprises at filing time.
- Pricing clarity: Look for published starting prices or a written quote before any work begins.
- A plan for messy books: Ask how the firm handles books that are months behind, and whether cleanup is priced separately.
The Three Services, Compared in Depth
1. Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services – Best for monthly bookkeeping from a CPA
Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services provides monthly bookkeeping, QuickBooks cleanup, catch-up bookkeeping, construction bookkeeping and business tax preparation for small businesses in Springfield, Marshfield, Nixa, Bolivar and across Southwest Missouri. Owner Paula Melton is a CPA with over 23 years of business tax and accounting experience, and she also works with clients remotely.
Melton builds its service around the CPA doing the work. According to the firm, Paula handles client books herself rather than passing them to a rotating team, so the person reconciling your accounts also understands what each entry does to your tax return.
Melton’s credentials and services include:
- Certified Public Accountant with over 23 years of business tax and accounting experience
- QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, according to the firm
- Business tax returns for S corporations (Form 1120-S), C corporations (Form 1120), partnerships (Form 1065) and single-member LLCs (Schedule C)
- Construction bookkeeping with job costing and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting, including financials prepared for bonding companies and lenders
- QuickBooks cleanup and catch-up bookkeeping for files that are months or years behind
Melton publishes its pricing instead of hiding it. Monthly packages start at $250 for Foundation reconciliation, $550 for Growth, $1,250 for Elite and $2,000 for Construction / Advanced. New clients with messy books can start with a $175 QuickBooks Diagnostic Review, which ends in a written proposal before any cleanup begins.
Strengths:
- A CPA works on your books directly, not an account manager
- Published monthly packages and a fixed-price diagnostic review
- Construction-specific bookkeeping, including WIP schedules
- Tax preparation and bookkeeping in one relationship
Limitations:
- The office is in Marshfield rather than Springfield, so Springfield clients work with Paula in person by appointment or remotely
- Starting prices fit smaller files; the final monthly price depends on transaction volume, accounts and payroll
Recommended For: Springfield-area business owners, including contractors, who want a CPA keeping their books monthly and their tax return in view.
Contact: Address: 976 Cedarbrook, Marshfield, MO 65706 Phone: 417-630-0057
2. B&C Accounting and Tax – Best for tax preparation and payroll under one roof
B&C Accounting and Tax provides tax preparation, payroll, accounting, QuickBooks assistance, business consulting and incorporation services from its office on North Glenstone Avenue. The firm describes itself as family-owned since 1989, with a team of CPAs and Enrolled Agents.
B&C covers a wider tax menu than most bookkeeping firms. According to its website, it handles IRS representation, estate and trust planning, reviews and compilations, and notary services, and it has been BBB accredited since 2020.
B&C has served Springfield clients for more than three decades. Its team describes over 63 years of combined experience, and it works with individuals, corporations, LLCs, partnerships, non-profits, trusts and estates.
Strengths:
- Tax preparation, payroll and IRS representation in one office
- CPAs and Enrolled Agents on staff, according to the firm
- Family-owned and serving Springfield since 1989
Limitations:
- No prices published on its website
- Monthly bookkeeping is not listed as a standalone service on its homepage
Recommended For: Businesses and families who want tax preparation, payroll and IRS help from one long-established local office.
Contact: Address: 3550 N Glenstone Ave Suite A, Springfield, MO 65803 Phone: 417-833-8811
3. Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax – Best for self-employed owners and single-member LLCs
Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax provides virtual bookkeeping, business tax filing, individual tax preparation and IRS notice and tax resolution from its office on East Sunshine Street. Founder Rachael Day has over a decade of experience in the accounting industry, according to the firm.
Day’s built its practice around self-employed individuals, single-member LLCs and small businesses. The firm says it has grown from a small local office into a virtual provider, so clients can work with it from anywhere in the U.S.
Strengths:
- Bookkeeping and tax filing from the same small team
- Help with IRS notices and tax resolution
- Virtual service for owners who prefer not to visit an office
Limitations:
- No prices published on its website
- No professional credentials, such as CPA or Enrolled Agent, listed on its website
Recommended For: Self-employed owners and single-member LLCs who want their books and tax returns handled by one small, personal firm.
Contact: Address: 3534 E Sunshine St Suite F, Springfield, MO 65809 Phone: 417-818-6276
What Bookkeeping Costs in Springfield in 2026
Bookkeeping in Springfield costs less than the national average because labor does. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the mean wage for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks in the Springfield, MO metro at $22.56 an hour in its May 2025 data, against $25.75 nationally. Accountants and auditors in the metro averaged $38.01 an hour.
Pricing models differ more than headline rates do. Here is how these three firms set a price:
| Company | How Price Is Set | Published Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services | Monthly package by transaction volume, accounts, payroll and support level | From $250 a month; $175 diagnostic review |
| B&C Accounting and Tax | Quoted per client | No prices published |
| Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax | Quoted per client | No prices published |
The pricing model decides how predictable your bill is. A flat monthly package is fixed before the work starts, while an open quote can change with every extra account or cleanup hour, so ask which one you are getting.
Choosing the Right Provider
Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services is the best fit of the three for small business owners who want monthly bookkeeping from a CPA, published pricing and a tax-aware eye on every entry. B&C Accounting and Tax earns its place for tax preparation and payroll in one office, and Day’s Bookkeeping & Tax is a personal, virtual option for self-employed owners and single-member LLCs.
Who does the work and how the price is set should decide the choice. Owners whose books are behind, or who want a CPA they can call directly, can start with Melton’s $175 QuickBooks Diagnostic Review and get a written proposal before any work begins.
Questions Before Hiring a Bookkeeper
How much does a bookkeeper cost in Springfield, MO?
Springfield bookkeeping prices vary by transaction volume, number of accounts, payroll and the support you need. Melton Bookkeeping, for example, publishes monthly packages starting at $250, while other firms quote each client individually, so ask for a written price before you sign.
Do I need a CPA, or is a bookkeeper enough?
A bookkeeper is enough if you only need transactions recorded. A CPA doing your bookkeeping can also spot tax problems while the books are being kept, such as missing S corporation owner payroll, which saves money at filing time.
My books are months behind. Can a firm still help?
Yes, books that are months or even years behind can be caught up. Most firms start with a paid review of your file; Melton’s QuickBooks Diagnostic Review costs $175 and ends with a written proposal before any catch-up work begins.
How long should my business keep its financial records?
The IRS says most businesses should keep records for at least 3 years. Employment tax records should be kept for at least 4 years, and records supporting a bad debt deduction or a loss from worthless securities for 7 years.
Does Melton Bookkeeping work with businesses outside Springfield?
Melton Bookkeeping is based in Marshfield and serves Springfield, Nixa, Bolivar and Southwest Missouri, and it also works with clients remotely. Owners outside the area can call 417-630-0057 to confirm fit before booking a diagnostic review.
Author: Kossi Adzo
Kossi Adzo is the editor and author of Startup.info. He is software engineer. Innovation, Businesses and companies are his passion. He filled several patents in IT & Communication technologies. He manages the technical operations at Startup.info.