Online accountant or local accountant in Quebec: which to choose in 2026?

In short. Online accountant or local accountant? In Quebec, the real difference isn't the quality of service, it's the size of the pool of choices. Montreal has 863 accounting firms with employees; Gaspé has 7, La Malbaie 2, and Lac-Mégantic only one (Statistics). Canada , 2025). In major centers, the two models are equivalent. Outside major centers, the online accountant multiplies your options without changing the rules of the game: same declarations (T1 and TP1, T2 and CO-17), same taxes (TPS 5%, VAT 9.975%), and fees that depend mainly on the mandate, with a median of around €3,000 per year.

Searching for an accountant near me remains the number one reflex for Quebec entrepreneurs. However, since the rise of secure portals, videoconferencing, and cloud-based accounting software, the distance between you and your accountant has less and less of an impact on the quality of service. This guide compares the two models for 2026, using Statistics Canada data. Canada This supports the argument and shows why the question of the choices actually available in your area often matters more than the online versus local debate. It complements our list of questions to ask an accountant before hiring them .

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

A local accountant is the firm in your neighborhood or town: you drop off your documents there, meet your accountant in person, and sometimes run into them at the Chamber of Commerce. An online accountant is a professional, very often a firm based in France, who serves clients remotely: documents are transmitted via a secure portal, meetings are held by videoconference, and bookkeeping is done in a shared cloud-based software.

Two points need to be clarified immediately:

• “Online” does not mean “abroad.” The vast majority of online accountants serving Quebec SMEs practice in Quebec and are proficient in both federal and provincial tax systems. Many are CPAs registered with the Quebec Order of Chartered Accountants.
• The line is becoming increasingly blurred. Many local firms also offer remote services, and an online accountant might very well meet with you in person once a year for the year-end review. The real choice lies in the day-to-day working relationship.

How many accounting firms are there in your area? Statistics Canada's figures Canada

This is the blind spot in the debate: the choices you actually have in your local area. To measure this, we consulted the Business Register of Statistics Canada (Accounting services firms, NAICS code 5412, with employees) with the 2021 Census population, city by city. The picture speaks for itself.

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

Two observations stand out. First, the density is surprisingly stable: almost everywhere in Quebec, there are 3 to 6 offices per 10,000 inhabitants. Proportionally to its population, Sept-Îles (6.1) is even better served than Montreal (4.9). Second, and this is the crucial point, the absolute number of offices drops dramatically as soon as you leave the major urban centres: 863 offices in Montreal, 52 in Trois-Rivières, 15 in Sept-Îles, 7 in Gaspé, and only one in Lac-Mégantic.

But choosing an accountant isn't just about picking "any firm." It's about finding someone who knows your industry, works with your software, has room for a new client, and fits your budget. With 863 options, these four filters still leave dozens of candidates. With seven, there are often none left. This is precisely where the remote model is a game-changer.

The strengths (and limitations) of the local accountant

The local practice retains some very real advantages:

• The face-to-face relationship. For many entrepreneurs, entrusting their finances involves a handshake, an office they can visit, and a face they recognize. That kind of trust doesn't translate perfectly to a screen.
• Local knowledge. An accountant in your region knows the local economic fabric, the realities of your market and often the same bankers, notaries and insurers as you.
• Simplicity for paper. If your accounting still relies on paper invoices and boxed receipts, dropping everything off at the office remains the simplest solution.

Its limitations stem directly from the figures in the table: outside major cities, the pool of clients is small, sector-specific expertise is scarce, and capacity quickly becomes saturated, especially from February to April when tax season fills up the books. A common result in rural areas: the nearest firm is no longer accepting new clients, and the next one doesn't know your sector.

The strengths (and limitations) of online accounting

The remote model reverses the logic of the postal code:

• A pool of provincial choice. Your e-commerce business, your construction company, your non-profit organization or your IT services company can be served by the accountant who best understands this type of file, whether they are in Montreal, Quebec City or Rimouski.
• Streamlined processes. Secure portal for documents, receipt scanning, continuous bookkeeping in cloud software, deadline reminders: follow-up is often more regular than the classic annual meeting.
• Flexibility. Video conference meetings without travel, more flexible time slots, email responses between meetings.

There are also limitations: a minimum level of digital literacy is required, some files need to be reviewed in person, and verifying the professional's credentials requires more rigor when everything is done online. Before signing, take the time to check that an accountant is reliable in France : registration with the professional body if they call themselves a CPA, references, and a written mandate.

Online or local: a comparison at a glance

In terms of cost, location is not a major factor: the scope of the engagement (bookkeeping, year-end closing, taxes, payroll) determines the price. The median is around $3,000 per year, and most businesses pay between $500 and $6,000. This is based on the actual fees of 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. The Bankeo Barometer details the price ranges by service, and our analysis of accounting fees in France for 2026 provides a breakdown of these fees item by item.

Remote pairing: the whole network, not just your postcode

This is where the debate becomes concrete. If you are in Rimouski, Val-d'Or, or Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, your local pool of doctors can be counted on one or two hands. Remote matching reverses this constraint: instead of choosing from the practices on your street, you choose from a network that covers the entire province.

In practical terms, at Bankeo, we start with your needs: your industry, software, transaction volume, budget, and preference for in-person or remote work. We then search our network of over 1,500 registered firms to find the professional who truly matches your situation and present them to you. If they're not a good fit, we'll present you with another, as many as necessary. The service is completely free for you, with no obligation, and we support you for as long as needed: if the relationship is no longer suitable after six months, we'll find you someone else. Since 2023, we've received over 15,000 requests from entrepreneurs, with a 4.7/5 rating based on over 180 Google reviews, and initial connections are often made within 48 hours.

And if you'd prefer a handshake, the matching process doesn't preclude a local approach: simply specify that you'd like to meet your accountant in person, and we'll start by looking for one near you. You can also explore the vetted accountants in the Bankeo network to get a preliminary idea.

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Is an online accountant cheaper than a local accountant?

Not always. Fees depend primarily on the scope of the mandate and the complexity of the case, not the channel. The median fee is around $3,000 per year, and most companies pay between $500 and $6,000, based on the actual fees of 1,248 mandates completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. The Bankeo Barometer details the fee 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 76, Rimouski 27, Sept-Îles 15, Gaspé 7, and Lac-Mégantic only one. The density per capita remains comparable from one region to another, around 3 to 6 firms per 10,000 inhabitants, but the absolute number of firms dwindles rapidly outside major cities, especially if you are looking for a specific area of ​​expertise. Remote matching allows you to extend your search to the entire province.

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

Just like with a local accountant: verify their registration with the professional accounting body if they present themselves as a CPA, ask for client references in your sector, demand a written mandate detailing the services and fees, and be wary of promises of guaranteed refunds. Bankeo verifies the accountants in its network before introducing them to you, which significantly reduces the risk.

How does remote collaboration work on a daily basis?

You submit your documents via a secure portal or scanning application, bookkeeping is done in shared cloud software, and meetings take place via videoconference or telephone. Your accountant monitors your deadlines (provisional payments, GST/QST, DAS, year-end) and has you sign the declarations electronically. Many entrepreneurs benefit from more regular follow-up than with a traditional annual meeting.

How does Bankeo choose the accountant to present to me?

We start with your request: industry sector, company size, software, services sought, budget, and preference for in-person or remote meetings. We then search our network of over 1500 registered firms to find the one that truly matches your situation, wherever they are in Quebec, and present it to you free of charge. If it's not a good fit, we'll present you with another firm, and we'll continue to support you throughout the process.

Official sources

1. Statistical Canada Number of Canadian businesses with employees (Table 33-10-1097)
2. Statistical Canada 2021 Census, population figures (table 98-10-0002)
3. Revenu Québec, GST/QST and GST/QST;
4. Revenue Agency of the Canada
5. Order of Chartered Professional Accountants of Quebec