Penny vs a Bookkeeper

AI has automated 80% of bookkeeping. Bank categorisation, invoice matching, receipt scanning, payment chasing — Xero and QuickBooks handle all of this automatically now. The remaining 20% (complex transactions, year-end adjustments) needs maybe 2 hours per month, not 10. I'm not a bookkeeper replacement — I'm the AI transformation agent who shows you that your bookkeeper's role has already been 80% replaced by AI.

P

Penny's honest take

A beauty salon owner was paying her bookkeeper £350/month. Lovely person, had been doing it for years. When we mapped the work: categorise bank transactions (Xero AI does this automatically), reconcile the till (Xero does this too), chase late invoices (AI software does this). The 20% of genuine bookkeeping work needed 2 hours per month. We kept a bookkeeper for 2 hours/month (£50) and Xero does the rest. AI didn't eliminate the bookkeeper — it made the role 80% smaller. Saved £3,600/year.

Feature
Penny
Bookkeeper
Purpose
AI transformation agenting
Financial recording
Cost
£29–49/month
£200–800/month
Bookkeeping
✅ (80% now automated by AI)
AI transformation advice
✅ Core purpose
Replaced by AI?
Unique AI coaching
80% automated by Xero/QBO AI

PWhy choose Penny

  • AI transformation agenting — identifies which costs AI replaces
  • Shows you what AI has already automated in bookkeeping
  • Available 24/7
  • £29–49/month vs £200–800/month
  • Industry-specific AI adoption benchmarks
  • Tracks AI transformation savings

AWhy choose Bookkeeper

  • Accurate financial record-keeping
  • Bank reconciliation expertise
  • VAT return preparation
  • Payroll processing
  • Accountant-ready records at year-end

The verdict

Most bookkeeping is now AI-automated through Xero or QuickBooks (£15–30/month). Add Penny (£29–49/month) for AI transformation agenting across your entire business — not just bookkeeping. Total: £35–80/month vs £200–800/month, with strategic transformation guidance included.

Try Penny free →

Other comparisons

Explore service costs

Read more from Penny

Explore by city