Shay CPA vs Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services: Services, Pricing and Credentials Compared (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Shay CPA: Evidence Score 70 at 75% coverage. Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services: 69 at 86% coverage.
- On price, Shay CPA publishes a starting price and Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services shows pricing we have not verified yet.
- By their own account, Shay CPA serves technology, startups and tech companies businesses, while Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services names medical, healthcare and restaurants.
Sources cited in this article: Firm's own website, IRS preparer records, DNS check, State business registry, and our published methodology.
How this list is built: Methodology · Disclosures · About · Report a correction
At a glance
| Shay CPA | Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank on the New York area list | 1 of 37 | 2 of 37 |
| Evidence Score (out of 100) | 70 | 69 |
| Evidence coverage (%) | 75 | 86 |
| Documented services + buyer fit | 35 of 40 pts | 40 of 40 pts |
| Independently verifiable qualifications | 6 of 20 pts | 0 of 20 pts |
| Operational + pricing transparency | 25 of 25 pts | 25 of 25 pts |
| Verified identity + continuity | 4 of 15 pts | 4 of 15 pts |
| Office locality | New York, NY Self-reported | Brooklyn, NY Self-reported |
| Software supported | Xero, QuickBooks Online, Gusto, Bill.com, Ramp (5 pts) Self-reported | QuickBooks Online, Xero, Zoho Books (5 pts) Self-reported |
| Pricing approach published | Publishes a starting price: "Starting at $ 600 /month" (6 pts) Self-reported | Publishes a starting price: "From $250/Month" (6 pts) Self-reported |
| Active CPA firm or individual license (state board) | Not verified | Not verified |
| Current QuickBooks ProAdvisor or Xero advisor listing | Not verified | Not verified |
| Entity found in the state business registry | Not verified | Not verified (searched: State business registry) |
| Operating 1+ year (registry formation date) | Not verified | Not verified (searched: State business registry) |
Shay CPA publishes from $600 a month (up to $20K monthly expenses and 5 hours a month) for bookkeeping on its own site, captured September 26, 2026 (source). We have no verified monthly bookkeeping price for Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services, so ask for a quote.
A search that found nothing reads "Not verified": it is not a mark against a firm (how we search).
Full evidence profile: Shay CPA · Full evidence profile: Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services
Where they differ
| Scored item | Shay CPA | Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services |
|---|---|---|
| Catch-up / cleanup (5 pts) | Not documented | Documented (5 pts) |
| Bookkeeping designation (AIPB/NACPB) or IRS preparer record (6 pts) | IRS preparer record for Akshay Shrimanker · CPA (self-reported to the IRS, not a state license) · business name on the record: SHAY CPA PC (6 pts) | Not verified (searched: IRS preparer records) |
What both document
Monthly bookkeeping; AP / AR; Payroll coordination; Month-end close + reporting; Industries served (documented); Local / remote model stated; What is included / excluded; Onboarding described; Reporting cadence stated; Named contact / team; Communication channel / process; Working contact route verified; Privacy / data-handling page
Our read
On the New York list, Shay CPA leads Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services by 1 point, 70 to 69. Most of the difference sits in third-party qualifications, where Shay CPA has 6 of 20 points to 0.
Shay CPA works from New York, says it serves clients across the US, lists "Starting at $ 600 /month" on its pricing and names technology, startups and tech companies among the industries it serves.
Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services works from Brooklyn, says it serves clients across the US, lists "From $250/Month" on its pricing and names medical, healthcare and restaurants among the industries it serves.
Shay CPA is the one of the two whose site documents a fit for a buyer who wants a figure before the first call.
Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services is the one of the two whose site documents a fit for an owner who is behind on the books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for catch-up work, Shay CPA or Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services?
Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services says it does catch-up or cleanup work; we hold no such evidence for Shay CPA.
Do Shay CPA or Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services publish prices?
Shay CPA publishes a starting price, and Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services shows pricing we have not verified yet. Each profile quotes the page the wording came from.
Where are Shay CPA and Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services based?
Both appear on the New York list: Shay CPA lists an office in New York, and Black Ink Tax & Accounting Services lists one in Brooklyn.
Sources and further reading
Dates are when we checked. Report an error.
- Firm's own websiteChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026
- IRS preparer recordsChecked Sep 27, 2026
- DNS checkChecked Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026
- State business registryChecked Sep 26, 2026
- How the Evidence Score worksBookkeeping Index methodology
- Commercial disclosuresBookkeeping Index