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A Bench alternative where your books stay yours
Bench, the Vancouver bookkeeping service, shut down suddenly on 27 December 2024, and was acquired by Employer.com days later. CubeBooks is a different model: software that automates the bookkeeping while you, and your own accountant, keep the books and can export them at any time.
Updated · CubeBooks team
What the Bench shutdown taught small businesses
Thousands of owners found out in one day that their books lived inside a service they could not reach. The lesson was not "avoid bookkeeping services". It was: keep your books in a place you control, with an export you can take anywhere, and an accountant who can see them.
Bench vs CubeBooks: the model
| Bookkeeping service (Bench model) | CubeBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | A remote bookkeeping team | Software drafts; you approve |
| How current the books are | Usually monthly, after the team catches up | Same day the document arrives |
| Your access | Through the service | Full access, full export, any time |
| Your accountant | Separate from the service | Free seat inside CubeBooks |
| Sales tax | Depends on the service | GST, HST, QST, US sales tax, EU VAT at your rates |
How to move your books to CubeBooks
- Export your transactions, customer and vendor lists, and last trial balance from Bench as CSV.
- Start CubeBooks free and pick your business type.
- Import the CSV files, then drop any receipts and statements you still have as photos or PDFs.
- Review one queue. Anything under 90% confidence waits for you.
- Invite your accountant. Their seat is free on every plan.
Facts about Bench on this page come from its public website and reporting, checked on 20 October 2026. Bench is a trademark of its owner. If something here is out of date, write to support@cubebooks.ai and we will fix it.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Bench accounting?
Bench shut down on 27 December 2024, was acquired by Employer.com on 30 December 2024, and resumed service in early 2025.
What is the best Bench alternative for a Canadian small business?
Look for something that handles GST, HST and QST, lets you export everything, and gives your own accountant access. CubeBooks does all three, in English and French.
Drop your documents. Close your year.
Hand your accountant finished books. 14 days free, no card, no setup call.