SME Accounting
Bankeo vs. Québec Comptable vs. CPA directory: An honest comparison
July 23, 2026
At a Glance. There are three main ways to find an accountant in Quebec: the CPA Directory, the official directory of the Ordre des CPA du Québec, which is ideal for verifying credentials; a private directory like Québec Comptable, which lists profiles you can contact directly; and Bankeo, a free matching service that offers guidance and free re-matching. Bankeo draws on a network of over 1,500 accountants, has received more than 15,000 requests since 2023, and has a 4.7/5 rating based on over 180 Google reviews. This comparison puts the three models side by side, backed by real data.
You’re looking for an accountant in Quebec, and three names keep popping up in your searches: Bankeo, Québec Comptable, and the Order’s CPA Directory. All three can help you find a professional, but they don’t do the same thing at all. A directory gives you a list; a matching service suggests a match. This guide compares the three options straight up: what each does well, what it doesn’t do, and which one to choose based on your situation.
Let’s get one thing straight from the start: this comparison is published by Bankeo, so we’re obviously biased. That’s exactly why we base it on verifiable figures, our Fee Barometer and our Ranking Based on Over 20 Criteria, and we clearly tell you when another tool is the better choice.
The CPA Directory, with its “Find a CPA” tool, is the public directory of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec. It lists members in good standing and allows users to search by region or by type of services offered to the public. Its main strength: it’s the official source for confirming that a person actually holds the CPA designation. Its limitation: it’s a directory, not a service. It doesn’t recommend anyone, doesn’t list prices, and doesn’t provide any follow-up. The process of shortlisting candidates, making calls, and comparing bids is entirely up to you.
Québec Comptable is one of several private directories that list profiles of accountants and accounting firms in Quebec. The general process is as follows: you browse profiles or submit a request, then contact the professionals and compare them yourself. How it works, including professional admission criteria, profile sorting, and follow-up after the initial contact, varies from one platform to another and is subject to change: be sure to check the website directly when conducting your search. When used properly, this type of tool is well-suited for entrepreneurs who have time and enjoy doing their own research.
Bankeo isn’t a directory, it’s a matching service. You describe your business and your needs, and we connect you with vetted accountants from our network of over 1,500 partners who match your profile: industry, size, software, and budget. Since 2023, we’ve received over 15,000 requests from business owners, and most receive their first proposals within 48 hours. Most importantly, we’re here to support you even after the matching process is complete: if the relationship no longer works out, even months later, we’ll match you with someone else at no cost.
Here are the three options side by side, criterion by criterion. We’ve intentionally marked information as “to be verified” when it depends on the platform and may change over time: an honest comparison doesn’t make assumptions on behalf of others.
| Criteria | CPA Directory (Ordre des CPA) | Québec Comptable (private directory) | Bankeo (matching) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Service | Official Directory of CPA Members | Private Directory of Profiles | Personalized Human Matching |
| Cost for Entrepreneurs | Free | Generally free (check first) | Free, with no obligation |
| Who Handles the Shortlisting? | You | You, depending on the platform | Bankeo, Based on Your Business Profile |
| Professional Verification | CPA Designation Verified by the Order | Varies; check for details | Vetted accountants upon joining the network; based on more than 20 criteria |
| Support After Matching | None (that’s not its purpose) | Fixed or Variable | We’re here for you, always |
| Re-matching if it no longer suits you | Not applicable | To be verified | Yes, free of charge, even months later |
| Published pricing data | None | None known | Public Barometer: Median ~$3,000 per year (1,248 clients) |
| Typical turnaround time | Depending on your needs | Depending on your needs | Initial proposals within 48 hours for most requests |
In Quebec, the “CPA” designation is reserved for members of the Ordre des CPA du Québec, and certain tasks, such as financial statement attestation engagements, are restricted to them. A bookkeeper or an accountant without the accountant designation, however, can certainly handle your bookkeeping and prepare your routine tax returns (T2 and CO-17 for a corporation, T1 and TP1 for a self-employed individual). The best practice: verify the designation in the Order’s directory when the engagement requires it. Our guide to Check if an accountant is reliable in Quebec provides a step-by-step guide.
Let’s be clear: when it comes to verifying a professional designation, nothing beats the Order des CPA. The accountant Directory is the right place to start in three specific situations.
Its limitations are the flip side of its mission: no pricing, no personalized recommendations, and only CPAs, not all bookkeeping professionals. Once you’ve compiled your list, the real work of narrowing it down begins: calls, availability, quotes, and compatibility with your software. Our list of Questions to Ask an Accountant Before Hiring Them can save you several hours at this stage.
If you have some time on your hands and enjoy doing your own research, a private directory can be a great option: you get a list of profiles, often organized by region or specialty, and you can proceed at your own pace. Before relying on a private directory, however, there are four questions that deserve clear answers:
These are exactly the questions that led us to publish our own data rather than simply asking you to take our word for it.
The fundamental difference between a directory and Bankeo can be summed up in two words: data and support.
The Bankeo Fee Barometer publishes the actual fees paid by entrepreneurs in our network. Based on the actual fees for 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received: the median is around $3,000 per year, and most engagements range from $500 to $6,000 depending on the industry and complexity. Neither of the other two tools publishes pricing data: with the Bottin or a directory, you discover fees on a quote-by-quote basis, with no point of comparison.
L'Bankeo Trust Index explains how we evaluate accountants before and during their time in our network: more than 20 criteria covering, among other things, experience, industry specialties, Tools they’re proficient with, actual availability, and quality of service. This is how we make the verification process transparent: when we say “vetted accountant,” you know exactly what our assessment is based on, and you can always verify a CPA designation in the Order’s directory as well.
A directory has done its job once you’ve found a name. That’s where our work begins. We introduce you to as many accountants as it takes to find the right match, not just a number, and if the relationship isn’t working out in six months or a year, we’ll find you another one, at no cost. That’s Bankeo’s core promise: your ideal accountant, made simple, and we’re always here to support you.
| Data from Bankeo | Value | Where to Check It |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual fees | About $3,000 per year | Bankeo Fee Barometer |
| Price Range for Most Engagements | $500 to $6,000 | Bankeo Fee Barometer |
| Services Analyzed | 1 248 (2024-2026) | Bankeo Fee Barometer |
| Requests Received Since 2023 | 15,000+ | Bankeo Fee Barometer and Pages |
| Accountants in the Network | 1,500+ | Network of vetted accountants |
| Google Rating | 4.7/5 based on 180+ reviews | Public Google Reviews |
| Evaluation Criteria | 20+ | Bankeo Trust Index |
What about the business model? Bankeo is free for entrepreneurs, no fine print: the accountants in the network pay a fee per file, an amount known in advance. Your fees are entirely between you and your accountant, and the Barometer exists precisely so you know what a typical price looks like even before your first meeting.
These three approaches aren’t mutually exclusive: many business owners use Bankeo for the initial screening, then verify the proposed accountant’s CPA designation in the Order’s directory. And if you’re wondering how long each step takes, we’ve broken it down in our article on How Long It Takes to Find an Accountant in Quebec.
Bankeo connects you for free with vetted accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners in Quebec, based on your industry, company size, and budget. It’s free, with no obligation, and we’re always here to help: if it’s no longer a good fit, we’ll match you with someone else at no cost. Most requests receive their first proposals within 48 hours.
Find my accountantThe CPA Directory is the official directory of the Ordre des CPA du Québec: it confirms that a professional is a member in good standing, but it does not recommend anyone and does not list prices. Bankeo is a matching service: we analyze your profile, introduce you to vetted accountants from our network of over 1,500 partners, and support you after the matching, including free re-matching. The two services complement each other: you can use the Directory to verify the CPA designation of an accountant recommended by Bankeo.
Yes. You never pay Bankeo, not for the request, not for the matching, and not for the re-matching. The service is funded by the accountants in the network, who pay a fee per file, an amount known in advance. Your accounting fees remain entirely between you and your accountant.
Based on actual fees from 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received, the median fee is around $3,000 per year, and most engagements range from $500 to $6,000 depending on the industry and complexity. A breakdown by service type is published in the Bankeo Fee Barometer, the only source with publicly available pricing among the three tools compared here.
We’ll set you up with another one, free of charge, even if the need arises months after the matching process is complete. That’s the heart of the Bankeo model: we introduce you to as many accountants as it takes to find the right match, and we’ll support you for as long as it takes. With a directory, the same situation would send you right back to square one.
The network includes over 1,500 registered accounting firms, many of which have CPAs who are members of the Ordre des CPA du Québec. Each professional is vetted upon joining the network based on the Bankeo Trust Index and its more than 20 criteria, and the matching process takes into account the type of engagement: if your needs require a CPA, for example, for an audit engagement, the pre-selection process accounts for this. You can always verify a professional’s credentials in the Order’s Directory.
No, these are directories: they display profiles, but the pre-screening, contacting professionals, and comparing quotes are still up to you. That’s the main difference from a matching service like Bankeo, where we do the pre-screening for you based on your business profile, for free and with no obligation.
General information provided for informational purposes only, based on known 2026 tax rules. It is not a substitute for the advice of a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA): always consult a professional regarding your specific situation.
The Bankeo matching service is 100% free, always. You only pay your accountant directly.
We’ll connect you with the right accountant from our network to meet your needs, we have as many profiles as you need.
We’ll support you for as long as it takes. We’re here for you every step of the way.
Your request will be processed within 2 business days.
