Top 6 Bookkeepers in the Portland-South Portland Area, ME (2026)
Key Takeaways
- First on the list: My Remote Quality Bookkeeping, scoring 58 with 75% of the evidence checked.
- We reviewed 49 firms here; 8 of the 15 that met the listing bar reached 70% evidence coverage, and the 6 with at least 6 documented items are numbered.
- Pricing is hidden across the board: no firm here publishes a monthly price, and 13 of 15 don't mention fees at all.
- Compared with every firm we list, this group stands out on reporting: 1 of 15 states how often reports arrive (7% against 24%).
Sources cited in this article: DNS check, Firm's own website, IRS preparer records, and our published methodology.
49 profiles reviewed, 15 met the listing bar, 8 scored (evidence coverage of 70% or more). 6 document at least 6 of the items we score and are ranked by Evidence Score; the other 2 are under the list as Also scored.
Firms on this page have offices in Portland (5), Brunswick (3), Biddeford (2), Arundel (1), Bowdoin (1), Kennebunk (1) and 2 other places. The page covers 85 towns and cities in the metro area, and a firm elsewhere in Maine appears on the state page.
How this list is built: Methodology · Disclosures · About · Report a correction
This list numbers the 6 Portland-South Portland bookkeeping firms with enough documented evidence to rank, out of 15 that met our listing bar, and scores 2 more below it without a number. Start from what you need and use the filters: catch-up work (1 firm) and remote service (3).
Top 6 Bookkeepers in the Portland-South Portland Area, ME, Ranked by Evidence Score
- My Remote Quality Bookkeeping (Wells, ME). Evidence Score 58/100 at 75% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 4 of 5 core services; publishes a starting price. Documented fit: restaurants, retail.Who they say they serve (self-reported): restaurants, retail, franchises.
- BalancedReturns (Portland, ME). Evidence Score 44/100 at 75% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 5 of 5 core services. Documented fit: catch-up and cleanup work; QuickBooks Online users.
- Maine Beancounters (Brunswick, ME). Evidence Score 39/100 at 75% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 4 of 5 core services; publishes prices.
- Reeder CPA Group (Portland, ME). Evidence Score 30/100 at 72% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 3 of 5 core services.
- Mitchell Black CPA (Brunswick, ME). Evidence Score 25/100 at 75% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services.
- Dufour Accountants, an Archer Lewis firm (Portland, ME). Evidence Score 25/100 at 72% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services. Documented fit: startups.Who they say they serve (self-reported): startups.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavallee & Associates LLC | Bowdoin, ME Local | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 75 | 16 |
| Janson Bookkeeping | Biddeford, ME | monthly bookkeeping | QuickBooks Online | Not verified | Not verified | 72 | 15 |
Top firms in Portland
BalancedReturns leads Portland with an Evidence Score of 44/100 at 75% coverage. Also ranked in Portland: Reeder CPA Group (30/100, 72% coverage), Dufour Accountants, an Archer Lewis firm (25/100, 72% coverage).
Top firms in Brunswick
Maine Beancounters leads Brunswick with an Evidence Score of 39/100 at 75% coverage. Also ranked in Brunswick: Mitchell Black CPA (25/100, 75% coverage).
Comparison table
| Firm | Where | Services documented | Software | Pricing | Credentials verified | Coverage (%) | Evidence Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Remote Quality Bookkeeping Says it serves: restaurants, retail, franchises | Wells, ME Local + remote | monthly bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 75 | 58 |
| BalancedReturns | Portland, ME Local + remote | monthly bookkeeping, catch-up/cleanup, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks Online | Not verified | Not verified | 75 | 44 |
| Maine Beancounters | Brunswick, ME Local | monthly bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 75 | 39 |
| Reeder CPA Group | Portland, ME | monthly bookkeeping, payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 72 | 30 |
| Mitchell Black CPA | Brunswick, ME | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 75 | 25 |
| Dufour Accountants, an Archer Lewis firm Says it serves: startups | Portland, ME | AP/AR, payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 72 | 25 |
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 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assurance Accounting & Tax Services Says it serves: technology, construction, real estate, healthcare, law firms | Kennebunk, ME Local + remote | AP/AR, payroll coordination | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 69 |
| Brainstorm Business Services LLC Says it serves: law firms, restaurants, construction, e-commerce, retail | Biddeford, ME | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 13 |
| Danis & Danis Ltd | Arundel, ME Local | payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 66 |
| Eshelman Accounting Services, P.A. Says it serves: real estate, property management, professional services, law firms, technology | Portland, ME | AP/AR, payroll coordination | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 69 |
| RG Tax Accounting & Resolution LLC Says it serves: technology | Brunswick, ME | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks Online | Not verified | Not verified | 69 |
| Scott Associates CPAs | Portland, ME Local | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 69 |
| YRL Group | Springvale, ME | payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 66 |
What the evidence shows
Pricing
None of these 15 websites shows a monthly fee. None of the 15 say they work by quote, and 13 of 15 don't mention pricing. Ask for the fee and what it covers in writing before the first month starts.
Services and process
If you're behind, start with the 1 firm that says it does catch-up or cleanup work. On this page that's BalancedReturns. 1 of 15 states how often reports arrive, and 1 describe how onboarding works. Nationally 24% of listed firms name a reporting schedule, so this group is below the norm.
Software and remote work
QuickBooks is the software named most, by 5 of 15 firms, ahead of QuickBooks Online 20%. Remote work is stated by 3 of 15; the filter above the list narrows to them.
Licenses and public records
Without Maine records we can match, the evidence here is what firms publish about themselves, and that alone stops short of the 70% coverage a ranking needs. Median evidence coverage here is 72%. Any firm that says it's a CPA practice can be checked on the Maine Board of Accountancy lookup.
The ranking
The numbered firms score between 25 and 58; the median across every scored firm is 27.5. 2 more firms reached 70% coverage with fewer than 6 documented items, so they sit under the list as Also scored, without a number. The top of the list: My Remote Quality Bookkeeping (58 at 75% coverage), BalancedReturns (44 at 75% coverage) and Maine Beancounters (39 at 75% coverage). Portland has the most numbered firms (3), 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.
Portland-South Portland area in figures
Shares of the 15 firms listed, from accepted evidence only. A firm with no evidence for an item counts as not stating it. Credentials: the Maine CPA register isn't searched automatically, so licenses read Not verified. Median evidence coverage: 72%; median Evidence Score of the scored firms: 27.5.
| What the firms state | Share (%) | Firms (of 15) |
|---|---|---|
| Publish a price or starting price | 0 | 0 |
| State they price by quote | 0 | 0 |
| Say nothing about pricing | 87 | 13 |
| Hold a third-party-verified credential | 0 | 0 |
| State a reporting cadence | 7 | 1 |
| Describe onboarding | 7 | 1 |
| Offer catch-up or cleanup work | 7 | 1 |
| Work remotely (stated) | 20 | 3 |
| Mention QuickBooks | 33 | 5 |
| Mention QuickBooks Online | 20 | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any Portland-South Portland bookkeepers publish their prices?
Not on their websites. None of the 15 say they quote each client, and the rest don't mention fees. Ask for the monthly fee and what it covers in writing.
Which firms in Portland-South Portland take on catch-up bookkeeping?
BalancedReturns says it does catch-up or cleanup work.
Which Portland-South Portland bookkeepers say which industries they serve?
6 of 15 name them on their own sites, among them My Remote Quality Bookkeeping (restaurants and retail), Dufour Accountants, an Archer Lewis firm (startups), Assurance Accounting & Tax Services (technology and construction), Brainstorm Business Services LLC (law firms and restaurants) and Eshelman Accounting Services, P.A. (real estate and property management). It's self-reported, so ask for a client reference in your trade.
Every place this page covers (85)
Acton, Alfred, Arrowsic, Arundel, Baldwin, Bath, Berwick, Biddeford, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Bridgton, Brunswick, Buxton, Cape Elizabeth, Cape Neddick, Casco, Chebeague Island, Cornish, Cousins Island, Cumberland, Cumberland Center, Dayton, Dunstan, Eliot, Falmouth, Falmouth Foreside, Freeport, Frye Island, Georgetown, Gorham, Gray, Harpswell, Harrison, Hollis, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Kezar Falls, Kittery, Kittery Point, Lake Arrowhead, Lebanon, Limerick, Limington, Little Falls, Littlejohn Island, Long Island, Lyman, Naples, New Gloucester, Newfield, North Berwick, North Windham, North Yarmouth, Oak Hill, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach, Parsonsfield, Phippsburg, Portland, Pownal, Raymond, Richmond, Saco, Sanford, Scarborough, Sebago, Shapleigh, South Berwick, South Eliot, South Portland, South Windham, Springvale, Standish, Steep Falls, Topsham, Waterboro, Wells, West Bath, West Kennebunk, Westbrook, Windham, Woolwich, Yarmouth, York, York Harbor.
Sources and further reading
Dates are when we checked. Report an error.
- DNS checkChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026
- Firm's own websiteChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026
- IRS preparer recordsChecked Sep 27, 2026
- Maine Board of Accountancy: license lookupMaine Board of Accountancy
- Maine business entity searchState of Maine
- How the Evidence Score worksBookkeeping Index methodology
- Commercial disclosuresBookkeeping Index