For institutions Talk to our team

Monthly retainers that pay themselves

Bookkeepers keep everyone else's books current, and their own billing often waits until the end of the month. Finli puts client retainers on autopay, bills cleanups and seasonal work as projects and settles every payment at your own bank or credit union.

Get Finli for my businessI’m a banker
Professional services dashboard with retainers and client billing
A professional services program in a sample institution’s brand. Sample data.

What gets in the way

Stop chasing monthly retainers

Autopay means a client's monthly fee arrives without an invoice reminder from the firm.

Bill project work as it is delivered

Cleanups, year-end packages and advisory work need billing tied to each milestone.

Pay contractors through busy season

Firms that add contract help at peak times need tidy payments and tax forms on file.

A week at A five-person bookkeeping and payroll firm serving local small businesses

  1. Retainers runMonthly bookkeeping retainers bill on the first and clients pay on autopay.
  2. Cleanup quotedA new client approves a quote for catch-up work online.
  3. Milestone billedThe quarter-end close package is delivered and the milestone invoice goes out.
  4. Reminder sentA client with a declined card gets an automatic reminder to update it.
  5. Contractor paidThe firm pays a contract bookkeeper with Payouts, in early access.
  6. Books reconciledPayments sync to QuickBooks and settle into the firm's account at its bank.

Built for bookkeeping firms

Recurring retainers on autopay

Bill monthly or quarterly retainers automatically by bank transfer or card.

Quotes for scoped projects

Send a quote for cleanup or advisory work; once approved it becomes an invoice.

Milestone invoices

Bill each deliverable as it is completed, from the same client record.

Client records and documents

Keep engagement letters, scope documents and payment history on each client.

QuickBooks sync

Invoices and payments sync to QuickBooks for the firm's own books.

Contractor payoutsIn pilot

Pay contract staff from business checking, with W-9 collection and 1099 tracking.

For banks and credit unions

Bookkeeping firms have steady recurring revenue and know dozens of local businesses well. When their retainers settle into accounts at your institution, you gain a solid operating relationship and a professional who already understands what your business clients need.

Where these businesses grow next

  • Business line of credit
  • Business credit card
  • Business savings or sweep account

Finli tracks 1099 amounts and collects W-9s for payees; it does not prepare tax filings.

Talk to our team

Common questions

Can clients pay retainers automatically?
Yes. Set up a recurring invoice for each client and they can enroll in autopay by bank transfer or card. ACH payments are always free.
Does Finli replace my accounting software?
No. Finli handles invoicing, payments and client records, and syncs with QuickBooks so the firm's books reflect what was billed and collected.
Can I bill a project in stages?
Yes. Send a quote for the full scope, and bill each milestone as an invoice when that part of the work is delivered.

More in professional services

AgenciesConsultantsAll industries

Finli is offered through your financial institution

Banks, credit unions and community lenders offer Finli under their own name, so your payments settle with the institution you already use. Tell us where you bank and we’ll ask them for you.

Ask my bank for FinliFree tools