Top 9 Bookkeepers in the Cleveland Area, OH (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Bright Bills Accounting, in Strongsville, ranks first with an Evidence Score of 55 at 83% coverage.
- We reviewed 68 firms here; 13 of the 17 that met the listing bar reached 70% evidence coverage, and the 9 with at least 6 documented items are numbered.
- Pricing is hidden across the board: no firm here publishes a monthly price, and 15 of 17 don't mention fees at all.
- Compared with every firm we list, this group stands out on verified credentials: 5 of 17 hold a credential a third party confirms (29% against 13%).
Sources cited in this article: DNS check, Firm's own website, IRS preparer records, State accountancy board, and our published methodology.
68 profiles reviewed, 17 met the listing bar, 13 scored (evidence coverage of 70% or more). 9 document at least 6 of the items we score and are ranked by Evidence Score; the other 4 are under the list as Also scored.
Firms on this page have offices in Cleveland (5), Lakewood (2), Amherst (1), Beachwood (1), Brecksville (1), Brunswick (1) and 6 other places. The page covers 171 towns and cities in the metro area, and a firm elsewhere in Ohio appears on the state page.
How this list is built: Methodology · Disclosures · About · Report a correction
This list numbers the 9 Cleveland bookkeeping firms with enough documented evidence to rank, out of 17 that met our listing bar, and scores 4 more below it without a number. Start from what you need and use the filters: catch-up work (3 firms) and remote service (2).
Top 9 Bookkeepers in the Cleveland Area, OH, Ranked by Evidence Score
- Bright Bills Accounting (Strongsville, OH). Evidence Score 55/100 at 83% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 5 of 5 core services. Documented fit: e-commerce; catch-up and cleanup work; Xero users.Who they say they serve (self-reported): e-commerce.
- Uehlinger, Tablack (Brecksville, OH). Evidence Score 38/100 at 72% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 3 of 5 core services; CPA license verified with the state board. Documented fit: real estate, healthcare.Who they say they serve (self-reported): real estate, healthcare, hospitality.
- Gall & Associates (Lakewood, OH). Evidence Score 35/100 at 77% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services; CPA license verified with the state board. Documented fit: professional services.Who they say they serve (self-reported): professional services.
- Henton & Associates (Cleveland, OH). Evidence Score 35/100 at 74% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 3 of 5 core services; CPA license verified with the state board.
- First Invest Inc (Cleveland, OH). Evidence Score 34/100 at 83% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 4 of 5 core services. Documented fit: construction, real estate.Who they say they serve (self-reported): construction, real estate, property management.
- TJP Accounting (Cleveland, OH). Evidence Score 31/100 at 80% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 3 of 5 core services; publishes a starting price. Documented fit: catch-up and cleanup work.
- Western Reserve Consulting (Lakewood, OH). Evidence Score 29/100 at 83% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services. Documented fit: retail, fitness.Who they say they serve (self-reported): retail, fitness.
- K. Pakeltis & Company (Cleveland, OH). Evidence Score 26/100 at 83% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services; IRS preparer record found for a named person.
- First Design (Brunswick, OH). Evidence Score 25/100 at 83% coverage. Read the full profileDocuments 2 of 5 core services. Documented fit: construction, retail.Who they say they serve (self-reported): construction, retail, manufacturing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alinea Says it serves: construction, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, retail | Eaton, OH | AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 78 | 25 |
| Park & Illenberger | Lorain, OH | payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Not verified | Active CPA firm or individual license | 77 | 23 |
| Peck and Gambish Certified Public Accountants, Inc. | Amherst, OH | payroll coordination | QuickBooks | Not verified | Active CPA firm or individual license | 80 | 19 |
| Naro Tax Services | Elyria, OH Local + remote | payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 80 | 9 |
Top firms in Cleveland
Henton & Associates leads Cleveland with an Evidence Score of 35/100 at 74% coverage. Also ranked in Cleveland: First Invest Inc (34/100, 83% coverage), TJP Accounting (31/100, 80% coverage), K. Pakeltis & Company (26/100, 83% coverage).
Top firms in Lakewood
Gall & Associates leads Lakewood with an Evidence Score of 35/100 at 77% coverage. Also ranked in Lakewood: Western Reserve Consulting (29/100, 83% coverage).
Comparison table
| Firm | Where | Services documented | Software | Pricing | Credentials verified | Coverage (%) | Evidence Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Bills Accounting Says it serves: e-commerce | Strongsville, OH Local + remote | monthly bookkeeping, catch-up/cleanup, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Shopify, QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books | Not verified | Not verified | 83 | 55 |
| Uehlinger, Tablack Says it serves: real estate, healthcare, hospitality | Brecksville, OH | monthly bookkeeping, payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Active CPA firm or individual license | 72 | 38 |
| Gall & Associates Says it serves: professional services | Lakewood, OH | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Active CPA firm or individual license | 77 | 35 |
| Henton & Associates | Cleveland, OH | monthly bookkeeping, payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Active CPA firm or individual license | 74 | 35 |
| First Invest Inc Says it serves: construction, real estate, property management | Cleveland, OH | monthly bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll coordination, month-end close | Sage, Stripe | Not verified | Not verified | 83 | 34 |
| TJP Accounting | Cleveland, OH Local | catch-up/cleanup, payroll coordination, month-end close | Not verified | Other fees only, no monthly price | Not verified | 80 | 31 |
| Western Reserve Consulting Says it serves: retail, fitness | Lakewood, OH | AP/AR, payroll coordination | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 83 | 29 |
| K. Pakeltis & Company | Cleveland, OH Local | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 83 | 26 |
| First Design Says it serves: construction, retail, manufacturing | Brunswick, OH Local | payroll coordination, month-end close | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 83 | 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB Tax Ohio | Parma, OH | payroll coordination | QuickBooks | Not verified | Not verified | 30 |
| HKM TAX SERVICES | Cleveland, OH | payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | IRS preparer record | 23 |
| Josh Katz CPA Says it serves: healthcare, retail, professional services, startups, hospitality | Beachwood, OH | monthly bookkeeping, catch-up/cleanup | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 42 |
| Kopco & Company | Sheffield, OH | payroll coordination | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 6 |
What the evidence shows
Pricing
No firm on this page publishes a monthly price. None of the 17 say they quote each client, and 15 say nothing about fees at all. Ask for the fee and what it covers in writing before the first month starts.
Services and process
3 of 17 say they take on catch-up or cleanup work, which matters if your books are months behind. On this page that's Bright Bills Accounting, TJP Accounting and Josh Katz CPA. On process, 2 of 17 give a reporting schedule and 2 explain onboarding. 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 9 of 17 firms, ahead of Shopify 6% and Xero 6%. If you run Xero, Bright Bills Accounting names it. Remote work is stated by 2 of 17; the filter above the list narrows to them.
Licenses and public records
Ohio publishes records we can match, so we could check this group against them: 5 firms with an active CPA license or permit on Ohio's published register. The CPA records we matched belong to Uehlinger, Tablack, Gall & Associates, Henton & Associates and Park & Illenberger. Each profile shows the license or permit number and the date we checked. Check any CPA claim yourself on the Accountancy Board of Ohio lookup.
The ranking
Numbered scores on this list run from 55 down to 25, and the median across every scored firm is 29. 4 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: Bright Bills Accounting (55 at 83% coverage), Uehlinger, Tablack (38 at 72% coverage) and Gall & Associates (35 at 77% coverage). Cleveland has the most numbered firms (4), and the list spans 5 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.
Cleveland area in figures
Shares of the 17 firms listed, from accepted evidence only. A firm with no evidence for an item counts as not stating it. Median evidence coverage: 78%; median Evidence Score of the scored firms: 29.
| What the firms state | Share (%) | Firms (of 17) |
|---|---|---|
| Publish a price or starting price | 0 | 0 |
| State they price by quote | 0 | 0 |
| Say nothing about pricing | 88 | 15 |
| Hold a third-party-verified credential | 29 | 5 |
| State a reporting cadence | 12 | 2 |
| Describe onboarding | 12 | 2 |
| Offer catch-up or cleanup work | 18 | 3 |
| Work remotely (stated) | 12 | 2 |
| Mention QuickBooks | 53 | 9 |
| Mention Shopify | 6 | 1 |
| Mention Xero | 6 | 1 |
| Mention Zoho Books | 6 | 1 |
| Mention Sage | 6 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any Cleveland bookkeepers publish their prices?
Not on their websites. None of the 17 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 Cleveland take on catch-up bookkeeping?
Bright Bills Accounting, TJP Accounting and Josh Katz CPA say they do catch-up or cleanup work. The catch-up filter above the list shows only those firms.
Which Cleveland bookkeepers work in Xero?
Bright Bills Accounting names Xero on its site. More firms here name QuickBooks, so ask which one a firm prefers before you switch anything.
Which Cleveland bookkeepers say which industries they serve?
8 of 17 name them on their own sites, among them Bright Bills Accounting (e-commerce), Uehlinger, Tablack (real estate and healthcare), Gall & Associates (professional services), First Invest Inc (construction and real estate) and Western Reserve Consulting (retail and fitness). It's self-reported, so ask for a client reference in your trade.
Every place this page covers (171)
Amherst, Andover, Aquilla, Ashtabula, Auburn, Austinburg, Avon, Avon Lake, Bainbridge, Bass Lake, Bay Village, Beachwood, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Bentleyville, Berea, Bratenahl, Brecksville, Brighton, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Brownhelm, Brunswick, Brunswick Hills, Burton, Camden, Chagrin Falls, Chardon, Chatham, Cherry Valley, Chester, Chesterland, Chippewa Lake, Claridon, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Colebrook, Conneaut, Creston, Cuyahoga Heights, Denmark, Dorset, East Cleveland, Eastlake, Eaton, Eaton Estates, Edgewood, Elyria, Euclid, Fairport Harbor, Fairview Park, Garfield Heights, Gates Mills, Geneva, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Glenwillow, Gloria Glens Park, Grafton, Grand River, Granger, Guilford, Hambden, Harpersfield, Harrisville, Hartsgrove, Henrietta, Highland Heights, Highland Hills, Hinckley, Homer, Hunting Valley, Huntsburg, Independence, Jefferson, Kingsville, Kipton, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, LaGrange, Lakeline, Lakewood, Lenox, Leroy, Linndale, Litchfield, Liverpool, Lodi, Lorain, Lyndhurst, Maple Heights, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, Medina, Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Middleburg Heights, Middlefield, Montville, Moreland Hills, Morgan, Munson, New Lyme, New Russia, Newburgh Heights, Newbury, North Kingsville, North Madison, North Olmsted, North Perry, North Randall, North Ridgeville, North Royalton, Oakwood, Oberlin, Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Orange, Orwell, Painesville, Parkman, Parma, Parma Heights, Penfield, Pepper Pike, Pheasant Run, Pierpont, Pittsfield, Richmond Heights, Rittman, Roaming Shores, Rochester, Rock Creek, Rocky River, Rome, Russell, Saybrook, Saybrook-on-the-Lake, Seven Hills, Seville, Shaker Heights, Sharon Center, Sheffield, Sheffield Lake, Solon, South Amherst, South Euclid, South Russell, Spencer, Strongsville, Timberlake, Trumbull, University Heights, Valley City, Valley View, Wadsworth, Waite Hill, Walton Hills, Warrensville Heights, Wellington, Westfield, Westfield Center, Westlake, Wickliffe, Williamsfield, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Willowick, Windsor, Woodmere.
Sources and further reading
Dates are when we checked. Report an error.
- DNS checkChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026
- Firm's own websiteChecked Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026
- IRS preparer recordsChecked Sep 27, 2026 to Nov 10, 2026
- State accountancy boardChecked Sep 26, 2026
- Accountancy Board of Ohio: license lookupAccountancy Board of Ohio
- Ohio business entity searchState of Ohio
- How the Evidence Score worksBookkeeping Index methodology
- Commercial disclosuresBookkeeping Index