The questions Irish business owners ask before choosing a bookkeeping service. For a full index of Irish tax and compliance terms, see the Irish Business Glossary and FAQ hub.
How much does bookkeeping cost in Ireland?
For limited companies, Forti's LTD Starter package starts at €195 + VAT per month and includes monthly bookkeeping, VAT return preparation, annual financial statements, CT1 and the CRO Annual Return (B1). The LTD Growth package starts at €295 + VAT per month and adds monthly management accounts, a dedicated accountant and higher transaction volume support.
Sole trader packages start from €165 + VAT/month →What is included in the monthly bookkeeping service?
Bank and card reconciliation, sales and purchase invoice posting, VAT records, VAT3 return preparation and filing, director's loan account maintenance, and a year-end-ready file from which annual accounts and CT1 are prepared. Management accounts are included in the Growth package.
Does Forti only work with Xero?
No. Forti supports Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage, as well as other platforms on request. Xero is the most common platform among Forti's client base, but if you are already set up in QuickBooks or Sage, Forti works within your existing account. Initial set-up and configuration of any platform is quoted separately — it is not included in the monthly plan price.
What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
Bookkeeping is the ongoing process of recording and reconciling transactions — invoices, payments, bank feeds and receipts — every month. Accounting uses those records to produce financial statements, tax returns and management reports. Forti handles both, from the same monthly data.
How long must I keep business records in Ireland?
Revenue requires Irish businesses to retain books and records for six years from the end of the accounting period to which they relate. Electronic records are generally acceptable where they remain accurate, accessible and reproducible. Note that VAT guidance indicates paper-issued invoices should ordinarily be retained in paper form. Forti maintains your cloud records but responsibility for original paper documents remains with the client.
Can Forti take over from my current bookkeeper or accountant?
Yes. Forti handles transitions mid-year. The process involves reviewing the current records, establishing the opening position and agreeing any historical clean-up work before monthly services begin. Your previous accountant's cooperation is requested but Forti can work from the records available.
Does bookkeeping include VAT returns?
Yes — VAT return preparation and filing is included in every Forti bookkeeping package where the business is VAT-registered and a return is due. The VAT3 return is prepared from the reconciled books and filed with Revenue bi-monthly. Pre-revenue and non-VAT-registered businesses will not have a VAT return obligation.
What is a director's loan account and why does it matter?
A director's loan account records money a shareholder/director puts into or takes out of the company outside of salary, expenses or properly declared dividends. For many owner-managed companies, Section 438 TCA 1997 can require the company to account for Income Tax on loans or advances to participators — the rules are complex and both tax and company-law consequences can apply. Forti maintains and reconciles the account monthly so the position is always visible and any issues can be identified early.
What does bookkeeping cost if I have e-commerce sales?
E-commerce bookkeeping requires additional reconciliation work — platform settlements, marketplace fees, refunds and cross-border VAT are more involved than a standard service-business book. Forti's E-Commerce Starter package starts at €195 + VAT per month and is purpose-built for Shopify, Amazon and multi-channel sellers.
Do I need a bookkeeper if my business is pre-revenue?
Yes. The period before trading starts still generates transactions — setup costs, director loans, share capital and VAT on qualifying purchases (where recoverable). Recording these correctly from the first transaction is far simpler than reconstructing them later. Revenue also allows qualifying pre-trading company expenses incurred in the three years before commencement to be deducted for Corporation Tax purposes, subject to normal conditions — another reason clean early-stage records matter.
How does payroll fit with bookkeeping?
Payroll is available as an add-on at €30 + VAT per employee per month. When Forti runs both bookkeeping and payroll, the payroll journals post directly into the books — no duplication, no manual entry, and the employer PAYE control account reconciles automatically each month.
Can Forti prepare management accounts from my bookkeeping?
Yes — management accounts are included in the LTD Growth package. They are produced monthly from the same reconciled records as the VAT return and annual accounts. The package includes profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow summary each month.
