Why Small Accounting Firms Choose Zera Books Over Dext
Dext's per-client pricing and 10-client minimum don't fit small firms. Zera Books offers unlimited bank statement processing for $79/month—no minimums, no per-client fees, no cost anxiety as you grow.
67% Lower Cost
$79/month vs Dext's $235+ minimum for small firms
No Client Minimums
Perfect for firms with 5-8 clients (Dext requires 10 minimum)
AI Categorization Included
Auto-categorize for QuickBooks/Xero (Dext doesn't offer this)
Dext Wasn't Built for Small Firms
Dext's pricing model creates structural problems for 2-10 person accounting firms
10-Client Minimum Requirement
Dext's accounting firm plans start at $235/month but require a 10-client minimum. If your firm has 5-8 clients, you're paying for capacity you don't use.
Reality for small firms:
$23.50/client × 10 = $235/month
Even if you only have 6 clients
Per-Client Cost Anxiety
As you add clients, your Dext bill increases. From $235/month (10 clients) to $470/month (20 clients) to $850/month (36+ clients). Growth becomes expensive.
Cost scaling:
15 clients: $352/month
20 clients: $470/month
30 clients: $705/month
No AI Categorization
Dext extracts data from documents but doesn't categorize transactions for QuickBooks or Xero. You still spend 20-30 minutes per client manually categorizing.
Feature Bloat
Dext bundles receipt scanning, expense management, and invoice processing. Small firms often just need bank statement conversion—but you pay for everything.
Real Cost Comparison: Small Firm Scenarios
See how Zera Books saves small firms thousands annually
5-Client Firm
Typical solo practitioner or 2-person team
10-client minimum ($23.50/client) even though you only have 5 clients
Unlimited clients, unlimited conversions
Annual Savings: $1,872
67% cost reduction
15-Client Firm
Growing 5-8 person team
$23.50/client × 15 clients
Same flat rate regardless of client count
Annual Savings: $3,276
78% cost reduction
The Math Gets Better as You Grow
With Dext, adding clients increases your monthly bill. With Zera Books, your cost stays flat at $79/month whether you have 5 clients or 50 clients.
See detailed pricing comparisonWhat Small Accounting Firms Actually Need
Small firms don't need enterprise features. They need focused tools that handle bank statements efficiently and cost-effectively.
Bank Statement Processing
Convert PDFs to Excel/QBO format. Extract transactions accurately. Handle any bank format.
Learn more →AI Categorization
Auto-categorize transactions for QuickBooks/Xero. Save 20-30 minutes per client per month-end.
Learn more →Simple Client Management
Organize conversions by client. Track history. Access past statements. No clutter.
Learn more →What Small Firms Don't Need (But Pay For With Dext)
Receipt scanning for expense reports
Employee expense management workflows
Complex approval hierarchies
Mobile app for on-the-go scanning
How Zera Books Fits Small Firms
Purpose-built for firms that need bank statement automation without enterprise complexity
Flat $79/Month
No per-client fees. No minimums. Same price whether you have 1 client or 100 clients.
Unlimited Processing
Convert unlimited bank statements. No page limits. No per-document fees. No usage tracking.
AI Built-In
Auto-categorize transactions for QuickBooks/Xero. Multi-account detection. Duplicate prevention.
Instant Setup
No implementation timeline. No training required. Start processing statements in 2 minutes.
Real Workflow: Small Firm Using Zera Books
Client Sends Bank Statement
Your client emails a PDF from their bank. Any bank, any format, digital or scanned.
Upload to Zera Books
Drag and drop the PDF. Zera AI processes it in 30-60 seconds with 99.6% accuracy.
Auto-Categorization
Zera AI categorizes transactions for QuickBooks/Xero. Review and adjust if needed (5 minutes vs 30 minutes manual).
Export to Accounting Software
Download QBO/Excel/CSV. Import directly into QuickBooks or Xero. Done.
Total time per client: 10-15 minutes (vs 45-60 minutes with Dext)
"My clients send me all kinds of messy PDFs from different banks. This tool handles them all and saves me probably 10 hours a week."
Ashish Josan
Manager, CPA at Manning Elliott
Feature Comparison: Small Firm Essentials
Side-by-side comparison of features that matter for 2-10 person firms
| Feature | Dext | Zera Books |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost (5 clients) | $235 | $79 |
| Client Minimum | 10 minimum | None |
| Per-Client Cost Increase | Yes (+$23.50/client) | Flat rate |
| AI Transaction Categorization | No | Yes |
| Bank Statement Processing | Yes | Yes (99.6% accurate) |
| Multi-Account Auto-Detection | Manual | Automatic |
| Client Management Dashboard | Yes (cluttered UI) | Clean & Simple |
| Receipt Scanning | Yes | Focused on bank statements |
| Setup Time | 1-2 days | 2 minutes |
When Dext Actually Makes Sense
We're honest: Dext works for specific firm profiles
Dext Is Better For:
- Large firms with 50+ clients where per-client pricing becomes competitive at scale
- Firms that need receipt scanning for employee expense reimbursement workflows
- Teams with existing Dext training and established workflows that rely on Dext-specific features
Zera Books Is Better For:
- Small firms with 2-20 clients who need cost-effective bank statement processing
- Solo practitioners or boutique firms who want predictable flat-rate pricing
- Teams focused on bank reconciliation who need AI categorization to save time
- Growing firms who don't want their software cost to increase as they add clients
Start with Zera Books—Built for Small Firms
Join small accounting firms saving $1,800+ annually with unlimited bank statement processing for $79/month. No per-client fees. No minimums. No cost anxiety as you grow.