Top 8 Bookkeepers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines Area, IA (2026)
Key Takeaways
- First on the list: Minden Financial Solutions, scoring 52 with 84% of the evidence checked.
- We reviewed 43 firms here; 9 of the 13 that met the listing bar reached 70% evidence coverage, and the 8 with at least 6 documented items are numbered.
- Only 2 of 13 publish a monthly price or a starting price, while 11 say nothing about fees.
- Compared with every firm we list, this group stands out on catch-up work: none of the 13 say they take on catch-up or cleanup work (0% against 12%).
Sources cited in this article: DNS check, Firm's own website, IRS preparer records, State business registry, and our published methodology.
43 profiles reviewed, 13 met the listing bar, 9 scored (evidence coverage of 70% or more). 8 document at least 6 of the items we score and are ranked by Evidence Score; the other 1 is under the list as Also scored.
Firms on this page have offices in Des Moines (7), West Des Moines (3), Urbandale (2) and Ankeny (1). The page covers 77 towns and cities in the metro area, and a firm elsewhere in Iowa appears on the state page.
How this list is built: Methodology · Disclosures · About · Report a correction
This list numbers the 8 Des Moines-West Des Moines bookkeeping firms with enough documented evidence to rank, out of 13 that met our listing bar, and scores 1 more below it without a number. Start from what you need and use the filters: a published price (2) and remote service (4).
What firms here charge
We verified a monthly bookkeeping price for 2 of the 13 firms on this list, each from the firm's own site and captured on September 26, 2026. The lowest listed is Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC: from $75 a month (up to 75 transactions a month). The highest listed is Magic Books: from $150 a month. For the other firms we have no verified monthly bookkeeping price; some may publish other pricing, so ask them for a quote.
| Firm | Price type | Monthly price ($) | Conditions | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC | Starting price | 75 | Listed below | |
| Magic Books | Starting price | 150 | None stated |
Conditions each firm states with its price:
- Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC ($75): up to 75 transactions a month.
Top 8 Bookkeepers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines Area, IA, Ranked by Evidence Score
- Minden Financial Solutions (Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 52/100 at 84% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services; IRS preparer record found for a named person; registered entity verified. Documented fit: churches; QuickBooks Online users.Who they say they serve (self-reported): churches.
- Performance Financial (Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 48/100 at 75% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 4 of 5 core services; registered entity verified. Documented fit: construction, contractors.Who they say they serve (self-reported): construction, contractors.
- Magic Books (West Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 47/100 at 86% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 4 of 5 core services; publishes prices. Documented fit: manufacturing.Who they say they serve (self-reported): manufacturing.
- Tarbell & Co, P.L.C. (West Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 39/100 at 80% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services; registered entity verified.
- Community CPA (Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 39/100 at 75% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 4 of 5 core services.
- Ann M Hartz CPA & Associates (Urbandale, IA). Evidence Score 35/100 at 83% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 3 of 5 core services; IRS preparer record found for a named person. Documented fit: hospitality, medical.Who they say they serve (self-reported): hospitality, medical.
- Denman & Company (West Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 35/100 at 80% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 3 of 5 core services. Documented fit: construction, real estate.Who they say they serve (self-reported): construction, real estate, transportation.
- Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC (Des Moines, IA). Evidence Score 32/100 at 84% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services; publishes prices; registered entity verified.
Also scored
These firms reached 70% evidence coverage, but fewer than 6 of the items we score are documented for them, so they carry a score and no number.
| Firm | Where | Services documented | Software | Pricing | Credentials verified | Coverage (%) | Evidence Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triforce Accounting | Urbandale, IA | payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 86 | 19 |
Top firms in Des Moines
Minden Financial Solutions leads Des Moines with an Evidence Score of 52/100 at 84% coverage. Also ranked in Des Moines: Performance Financial (48/100, 75% coverage), Community CPA (39/100, 75% coverage), Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC (32/100, 84% coverage).
Top firms in West Des Moines
Magic Books leads West Des Moines with an Evidence Score of 47/100 at 86% coverage. Also ranked in West Des Moines: Tarbell & Co, P.L.C. (39/100, 80% coverage), Denman & Company (35/100, 80% coverage).
Comparison table
| Firm | Where | Services documented | Software | Pricing | Credentials verified | Coverage (%) | Evidence Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minden Financial Solutions Says it serves: churches | Des Moines, IA Local | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks Online | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 84 | 52 |
| Performance Financial Says it serves: construction, contractors | Des Moines, IA Local + remote | monthly bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 75 | 48 |
| Magic Books Says it serves: manufacturing | West Des Moines, IA Local + remote | monthly bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Publishes prices | Not verified | 86 | 47 |
| Tarbell & Co, P.L.C. | West Des Moines, IA Local | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 80 | 39 |
| Community CPA | Des Moines, IA | monthly bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 75 | 39 |
| Ann M Hartz CPA & Associates Says it serves: hospitality, medical | Urbandale, IA Local | AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 83 | 35 |
| Denman & Company Says it serves: construction, real estate, transportation | West Des Moines, IA Local + remote | AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 80 | 35 |
| Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC | Des Moines, IA | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Publishes prices | Not verified | 84 | 32 |
Also listed (not scored yet)
These firms met the listing bar but have under 70% evidence coverage, so they are not ranked.
| Firm | Where | Services documented | Software | Pricing | Credentials verified | Coverage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRDS CPAs & Consultants Says it serves: consultants, real estate, healthcare, technology, professional services | Des Moines, IA Remote | AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks, Xero | Not verified | Not verified | 69 |
| Jacobsen & Company, LLP Says it serves: non-profits, construction, real estate, retail, agriculture | Des Moines, IA | AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 66 |
| MOTE CPA, P.C. | Des Moines, IA | payroll coordination | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 55 |
| RW Tax Advisors | Ankeny, IA | payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 28 |
What the evidence shows
Pricing
Pricing is where these sites say least: 11 of 13 are silent on fees, none say they quote each job, and 2 publish a monthly figure. Figures the firms publish themselves, as their sites word them: Magic Books ("$ 150.00 /month") and Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC ("$75/ month"). That's more open than Iowa as a whole, where 4% publish a monthly price. Ask for the fee and what it covers in writing before the first month starts.
Services and process
None of the 13 sites here mentions catch-up or cleanup work, so ask about past months directly if you're behind. Fewer write down the process: 3 of 13 describe onboarding and 3 name a reporting schedule.
Software and remote work
QuickBooks leads the software firms here name (31%); after it come Xero 8% and QuickBooks Online 8%. If you run Xero, DRDS CPAs & Consultants names it. Remote work is stated by 4 of 13; the filter above the list narrows to them.
Licenses and public records
Because Iowa publishes its records as open data, the checks for this group found 6 with a business registration found in the state's registry data. The Iowa CPA register isn't one we can search automatically, so a CPA license on these pages reads Not verified until someone checks the board by hand. Check any CPA claim yourself on the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board lookup.
The ranking
Numbered scores on this list run from 52 down to 32, and the median across every scored firm is 39. One more firm reached 70% coverage with fewer than 6 documented items, so it sits under the list as Also scored, without a number. The top of the list: Minden Financial Solutions (52 at 84% coverage), Performance Financial (48 at 75% coverage) and Magic Books (47 at 86% coverage). Des Moines has the most numbered firms (4), and the list spans 3 towns in all. A high-coverage firm with a modest score isn't a weak firm. Its site simply leaves more for you to ask.
Des Moines-West Des Moines area in figures
Shares of the 13 firms listed, from accepted evidence only. A firm with no evidence for an item counts as not stating it. Credentials: the Iowa CPA register isn't searched automatically, so licenses read Not verified. Median evidence coverage: 80%; median Evidence Score of the scored firms: 39.
| What the firms state | Share (%) | Firms (of 13) |
|---|---|---|
| Publish a price or starting price | 15 | 2 |
| State they price by quote | 0 | 0 |
| Say nothing about pricing | 85 | 11 |
| Hold a third-party-verified credential | 0 | 0 |
| State a reporting cadence | 23 | 3 |
| Describe onboarding | 23 | 3 |
| Offer catch-up or cleanup work | 0 | 0 |
| Work remotely (stated) | 31 | 4 |
| Mention QuickBooks | 31 | 4 |
| Mention Xero | 8 | 1 |
| Mention QuickBooks Online | 8 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Des Moines-West Des Moines bookkeepers publish their prices?
Magic Books and Fundamentax Financial Services, LLC show a price or a starting price on their own site. Open a profile to see the exact wording and the page it came from.
Which Des Moines-West Des Moines bookkeepers work in Xero?
DRDS CPAs & Consultants names Xero on its site. More firms here name QuickBooks, so ask which one a firm prefers before you switch anything.
Which Des Moines-West Des Moines bookkeepers say which industries they serve?
7 of 13 name them on their own sites, among them Minden Financial Solutions (churches), Performance Financial (construction and contractors), Magic Books (manufacturing), Ann M Hartz CPA & Associates (hospitality and medical) and Denman & Company (construction and real estate). It's self-reported, so ask for a client reference in your trade.
Every place this page covers (77)
Ackworth, Adair, Adel, Alleman, Altoona, Ankeny, Bagley, Baxter, Bayard, Bevington, Bondurant, Bouton, Carlisle, Casey, Clive, Colfax, Coon Rapids, Cumming, Dallas Center, Dawson, De Soto, Des Moines, Dexter, Diamondhead Lake, Earlham, East Peru, Elkhart, Granger, Grimes, Guthrie Center, Hartford, Indianola, Jamaica, Johnston, Kellogg, Lacona, Lake Panorama, Lambs Grove, Linden, Lynnville, Macksburg, Martensdale, Menlo, Milo, Minburn, Mingo, Mitchellville, Monroe, New Virginia, Newton, Norwalk, Oakland Acres, Panora, Patterson, Perry, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Prairie City, Reasnor, Redfield, Runnells, Sandyville, Saylorville, Spring Hill, St. Charles, St. Marys, Stuart, Sully, Truro, Urbandale, Valeria, Van Meter, Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset, Yale.
Sources and further reading
Dates are when we checked. Report an error.
- DNS checkChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026
- Firm's own websiteChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026
- IRS preparer recordsChecked Sep 27, 2026 to Nov 10, 2026
- State business registryChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 10, 2026
- Iowa Accountancy Examining Board: license lookupIowa Accountancy Examining Board
- Iowa business entity searchState of Iowa
- How the Evidence Score worksBookkeeping Index methodology
- Commercial disclosuresBookkeeping Index