Mercury Books works whether you handle your books yourself, work with a bookkeeper you already have, or want to be introduced to one. This article explains each path, how a bookkeeper gets access to your books, and how to change your mind later.
The three paths
After signing up for Books, you will be presented with one of three ways to use the product, and none of them is permanent:
- Get matched with a bookkeeper. Mercury introduces you to a partner bookkeeping firm suited to your business.
- Bring your own bookkeeper. You invite the bookkeeper or accountant you already work with into your Mercury account, and they work in your books alongside you.
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Do it yourself. You categorize transactions, create journal entries, reconcile your accounts, and pull your own reports. Plenty of founders run Books this way.
Getting matched with a bookkeeper
If you’d like to work with an accountant or bookkeeper, but don’t have one, Mercury can match you with a partner bookkeeping firm, based on the needs of your business.
When the match is made, we email you an introduction to the firm, copying them and your Mercury partner manager so you have a point of contact on our side. This process typically takes 1 - 2 business days.
Note: This matching service is an introduction only; partner firms set their own pricing, and you pay the firm directly. Bookkeeping services aren't included with Mercury Books — what's included is the software. Ask about pricing and scope when the firm reaches out.
Bringing your own bookkeeper
During setup you either select someone already on your Mercury team or invite someone new.
To select an existing team member:
- Choose them from the list of team members
- If their role doesn't include the permissions Books needs, you'll be prompted to either move them to an eligible role or add Books permissions to the role they're on
To invite someone new:
- Enter their email address and choose a role for them
- If the role you picked doesn't include the permissions Books needs, you'll be prompted to update it
- Send the invite
Once they accept, they can open Books from your Mercury dashboard. If an invite doesn't go through or lapses, you can reassign the bookkeeper from your setup screen.
Note: A bookkeeper needs the all accounts, accounting, invoice creation, and recipient management permissions. The Mercury Books toggle on a role selects all four at once. See our Sharing access to your books article.
What your bookkeeper sees
A bookkeeping firm opens your books through their Advisor Portal by clicking Open Books in the Open next to your name in their client list, which brings them into your account.
Changing your mind
The path you choose at setup isn't locked in.
- Starting on your own, adding a bookkeeper later. Invite them to your Mercury team with the permissions Books needs. See our Sharing access to your books article
- Taking more on yourself. Nothing needs to change in Books — you already have access to everything
- Asking for a match after setup. Contact support and we'll get the process started
FAQs
Do I need a bookkeeper to use Books?
No. Books is built to work whether you want to manage your books yourself or hire a professional.
How much does a matched bookkeeper cost?
That's set by the firm, not by Mercury, and it varies with the size and complexity of your business. The firm will quote you when they reach out and you pay them directly. Bookkeeping fees are not included in the price of your Mercury Books subscription.
Can I work with more than one bookkeeper?
Yes. Anyone on your Mercury team with the right permissions can work in your books.
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