Always-on AI vs. part-time human
Hiring a bookkeeper (freelance or in-house) is the traditional approach. They know the rules, understand your business, and handle everything — but they cost $300-$2,000/month and work limited hours. LobsterBooks never sleeps, never takes vacation, and costs a fraction of the price.
| Feature | LobsterBooks | A Human Bookkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $39-$129 | $300-$2,000+ |
| Availability | 24/7 instant | 20-40 hrs/week |
| Response time | Seconds | Hours to days |
| Categorization accuracy | High (improves over time) | High (depends on person) |
| Sick days / vacation | Never | |
| Scales with business | Automatically | Need to hire more |
| Receipt processing | AI OCR, instant | Manual entry |
| Financial reports | On-demand, any time | Scheduled |
| Chat interface | Telegram/WhatsApp | Email/phone |
| Judgment & nuance | AI + your review | Full human judgment |
A great bookkeeper is worth their weight in gold — but most small businesses can't justify $300+/month. LobsterBooks handles 90% of what a bookkeeper does at 10% of the cost. You review and approve; the AI does the rest.