Online accountant or local accountant in Quebec: Which should you choose in 2026?

At a Glance. Online accountant or local accountant? In Quebec, the real difference isn’t the quality of service, it’s the size of the pool of options. Montreal has 863 accounting firms with employees; Gaspé has 7, La Malbaie has 2, and Lac-Mégantic has just one (Statistics Canada, 2025). In major urban centres, both models are equally viable. Outside major urban centres, an online accountant expands your options without changing the rules of the game: same tax returns (T1 and TP1, T2 and CO-17), same taxes (GST 5%, QST 9.975%), and fees that depend mainly on the scope of work, with a median of about $3,000 per year.

Searching for “an accountant near me” remains the go-to reflex for Quebec entrepreneurs. However, since secure portals, video conferencing, and cloud-based accounting software have become the norm, the distance between you and your accountant has become less and less of a factor in the quality of service. This guide compares the two models for 2026, backed by Statistics Canada data, and shows why the actual choices available in your region often matter more than the online vs. local debate. It complements our list of Questions to Ask an Accountant Before Hiring Them.

Online accountant, local accountant: what are we talking about?

The local accountant, it’s the accounting firm in your neighbourhood or town: you drop off your documents at the office, meet with your accountant in person, and sometimes run into them at the chamber of commerce. The online accountantAn online accountant is a professional, often a firm based in Quebec, who serves clients remotely: documents are sent via a secure portal, meetings are held via videoconference, and bookkeeping is done using shared cloud-based software.

Two points need to be clarified right from the start:

• “Online” doesn’t mean “overseas.” The vast majority of online accountants serving Quebec SMEs practice in Quebec and are well-versed in both federal and provincial tax systems. Many are CPA’s registered with the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec.
• The line between the two is becoming increasingly blurred. Many local accounting firms also offer remote services, and an online accountant can easily meet with you in person once a year at the end of the fiscal year. The real choice comes down to how you’ll work together on a day-to-day basis.

How many accounting firms are there in your area? Statistics canada’s figures

This is the blind spot in the debate: the choices you actually have in your local area. To assess this, we cross-referenced Statistics Canada’s Business Register (accounting firms, NAICS code 5412, with employees) with the 2021 Census population data, city by city. The picture speaks for itself.

Source: Statistics Canada, Business Register (Table 33-10-1097, NAICS 5412, businesses with employees, 2025 data) and the 2021 Census; Bankeo calculations. Self-employed individuals without employees are not included, so the actual pool is slightly larger everywhere.

Two key findings stand out. First, the density is surprisingly stable: almost everywhere in Quebec, there are between 3 and 6 accounting firms per 10,000 residents. Relative to its population, Sept-Îles (6.1) is even better served than Montreal (4.9). Second, and this is the key point, the absolute number of firms plummets as soon as you leave the major urban centres: 863 firms in Montreal, 52 in Trois-Rivières, 15 in Sept-Îles, 7 in Gaspé, and just one in Lac-Mégantic.

However, choosing an accountant isn’t just about picking “one accounting firm among many.” It’s about finding someone who knows your industry, works with your software, has room for a new client, and fits within your budget. With 863 options, even after applying these four filters, you’re still left with dozens of candidates. With just seven filters, there are often none left. That’s exactly where the remote model changes the game.

The strengths (and limitations) of a local accountant

Local accounting firms still have some real advantages:

• The in-person relationship. For many business owners, entrusting their finances involves a handshake, an office they can visit, and a familiar face. That kind of trust isn’t perfectly replicated on a screen.
• Local expertise. An accountant in your area understands the local economic landscape, the realities of your market, and often works with the same bankers, notaries, and insurers as you do.
• Simplicity for paperwork. If your accounting still relies on paper invoices and receipts stored in a box, dropping everything off at the office remains the simplest solution.

These limitations stem directly from the figures in the table: outside major urban centres, the pool of available accountants is small, sector-specific expertise is rare, and capacity fills up quickly, especially from February through April, when tax season fills up their schedules. A common outcome in rural areas: the nearest firm is no longer accepting new clients, and the next one doesn’t have experience in your industry.

The strengths (and limitations) of online accountants

The remote model turns the logic of the postal code on its head:

• A wide range of provincial options. Whether you run an e-commerce business, a construction company, an NPO, or an IT services firm, you can be served by the accountant who best understands your specific needs, whether they’re based in Montreal, Quebec City, or Rimouski.
• Streamlined processes. Secure document portal, receipt scanning, ongoing bookkeeping in cloud-based software, and due date reminders: this approach often provides more consistent monitoring than the traditional annual meeting.
• Flexibility. Video conference meetings with no travel required, more flexible scheduling, and email responses between meetings.

There are also limitations: you need a basic level of digital literacy, some files are better reviewed in person, and verifying the professional’s work requires more attention to detail when everything is done on screen. Before signing, take the time to Checking Whether an Accountant Is Reliable in Quebec : Registration with the Order if they claim to be a CPA, references, written engagement letter.

Online or local: A quick comparison

When it comes to billing, location matters little: it’s the scope of the services (bookkeeping, year-end closing, taxes, payroll) that determines the price. The median fee is around $3,000 per year, and most businesses pay between $500 and $6,000. Based on actual fees from 1,248 engagements secured through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. The Bankeo Fee Barometer provides a breakdown of price ranges by service, and our Analysis of 2026 Accounting Fees in Quebec He comments on each item one by one.

Remote matching: The entire network, not just your postal code

This is where the debate gets real. If you’re in Rimouski, Val-d’Or, or Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, your local pool of options can be counted on one or two hands. Matching accountants remotely eliminates this limitation: instead of choosing from firms on your street, you can choose from a network that covers the entire province.

At Bankeo, we start by assessing your specific needs: industry, software, transaction volume, budget, and whether you prefer in-person or remote services. We then search our network of over 1,500 registered accounting firms to find the professional who’s the best fit for your situation, and we introduce them to you. If it’s not a good fit, we’ll introduce you to someone else, as many times as it takes. The service is completely free for you, with no obligation, and we’ll support you for as long as you need: if the relationship no longer works out after six months, we’ll find you someone else. Since 2023, we’ve received over 15,000 requests from business owners, with a rating of 4.7/5 based on more than 180 Google reviews, and the first matching processes are often completed within 48 hours.

And if you prefer a handshake, the matching service doesn’t rule out local options: just specify that you want to meet your accountant in person, and we’ll start by looking near you. You can also explore the Vetted accountants in the Bankeo network to give you an initial idea.

Frequently asked questions

Can an online accountant file my Quebec tax returns (TP1, CO-17, QST)?

Yes, provided they practice in Quebec. Tax returns are filed electronically with both tax authorities, and your accountant can act on your behalf with the CRA and Revenu Québec with the appropriate authorizations (CRA representative authorization, MR-69 power of attorney with Revenu Québec). Distance does not affect your filing obligations: T1 and TP1 for self-employed individuals, T2 and CO-17 for incorporated corporations, GST/QST returns, and source deductions (DAS).

Is an online accountant less expensive than a local accountant?

Not necessarily. Fees depend mainly on the scope of the engagement and the complexity of the case, not on the delivery channel. The median fee is around $3,000 per year, and most businesses pay between $500 and $6,000, based on actual fees from 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. The Bankeo Fee Barometer provides a breakdown of price ranges by service.

Are there enough accountants in my area?

It all depends on the city. According to Statistics Canada (2025), Montreal has 863 accounting firms with employees, Sherbrooke has 76, Rimouski has 27, Sept-Îles has 15, Gaspé has 7, and Lac-Mégantic has just one. The density per capita remains comparable from one region to another, at around 3 to 6 firms per 10,000 residents, but the number of options drops rapidly outside major urban centres, especially if you’re looking for a specific specialty. Matching allows you to expand your search to the entire province.

How can you verify the reliability of an accountant you found online?

Just as you would with a local accountant: verify their registration with the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec if they identify as a CPA, ask for client references from your industry, insist on a written engagement letter detailing the services and fees, and be wary of promises of guaranteed refunds. Bankeo vetting the accountants in its network before introducing them to you, which eliminates a significant portion of the risk.

What’s it like to work remotely on a day-to-day basis?

You submit your documents via a secure portal or a scanning app, bookkeeping is done in shared cloud-based software, and meetings are held via videoconference or over the phone. Your accountant tracks your deadlines (tax instalments, GST/QST, annual tax return, year-end) and has you sign the returns electronically. Many business owners find this provides more consistent monitoring than the traditional annual meeting.

How does Bankeo choose which accountant to match me with?

We start with your request: industry, business size, software, services needed, budget, and whether you prefer in-person or remote services. We then search our network of over 1,500 registered accounting firms to find the one that truly matches your situation, wherever it is in Quebec, and we’ll introduce you to them at no cost. If it’s not a good fit, we’ll introduce you to another firm, and we’ll continue to support you every step of the way.

Official sources

1. Statistics Canada, Number of Canadian Businesses with Employees (Table 33-10-1097)
2. Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, population figures (Table 98-10-0002)
3. Revenu Québec, GST/HST, and QST
4. Canada Revenue Agency
5. Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec