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What is Collective?
Founded in 2020, Collective is a US online back-office platform for businesses-of-one. It combines entity formation, bookkeeping, payroll, invoicing, and tax support in a subscription built around LLC and S Corp owners.
Collective combines software, bookkeeping, tax professionals, and member support in one online back office for self-employed owners. Members connect business accounts, import and categorize transactions, reconcile monthly, create branded invoices, monitor financial reports, and receive quarterly estimated-tax calculations. The LLC tier supports single-member LLC administration and Schedule C reporting, while the S Corp tier adds the election, payroll, and Form 1120-S preparation. Collective says it is available in all 50 states, although state-specific requirements and fees still apply.
The product’s breadth is its main differentiator: formation and EIN help, registered-agent coverage, cash-basis bookkeeping, invoicing with Stripe payments, payroll through Gusto for S Corp members, tax-deadline reminders, an AI support assistant, and human-reviewed books. The limits matter for buyers with complex operations. Collective does not cover audit defense, international taxes, sales-tax filing, accrual or Profit First accounting, inventory, bill payment, multiple W-2 employees, or many specialized returns. Its S Corp offering is designed for 100-percent owner solopreneurs.
Collective sells two publicly priced memberships. The LLC tier is $199 per month, or 15% less with annual billing; the S Corp tier is $349 per month, also discounted 15% annually. A one-time $199 onboarding fee is listed in Collective’s current contact FAQ, while state formation charges and certain add-ons are extra. LLC includes a Schedule C individual return; S Corp includes the business return, with individual filing available as an annual add-on. There is no free plan or trial stated on the current pricing page.
Key features
Automated bookkeeping
Imports, categorizes, and reconciles business transactions monthly and provides cash-basis financial reports.
Entity formation
Helps eligible new businesses form a single-member LLC, apply for an EIN, and obtain an operating-agreement template.
S Corp support
Files Form 2553, supports reasonable salary administration, and prepares the annual Form 1120-S return.
Payroll administration
Provides payroll for S Corp members through an embedded Gusto integration, with payroll tax support.
Tax estimates
Calculates and reminds members about federal and state quarterly estimated-tax payments.
Invoicing and payments
Offers branded invoicing integrated with bookkeeping and supports Stripe payment connections.
Financial support
Provides dashboard messaging, human-reviewed books, an AI assistant, and plan-dependent advisor access.
Collective pricing
The LLC plan costs $199/month and S Corp costs $349/month; annual billing is advertised at 15% off. The contact FAQ lists a $199 onboarding fee. Government filing fees and optional services cost extra, and individual tax returns are an add-on for S Corp members.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| LLC | $199/monthOne-time $199 onboarding fee listed in the contact FAQ; state formation fees pass through at cost. | LLC formation or existing-entity review, EIN help, automated monthly bookkeeping, invoicing, financial reports, quarterly federal and state tax estimates, AI assistant, basic individual tax return, and one state filing. |
| S Corp | $349/monthOne-time $199 onboarding fee listed in the contact FAQ; add-ons and government fees may be extra. | Everything in LLC, S Corp election filing, annual Form 1120-S return, employer registration, reasonable-salary support, employee and contractor payroll, dedicated account manager, and bookkeeping. |
| Add-ons | Custom or annual one-time feePricing varies by service. | Bookkeeping catch-up, late-election relief, additional state or individual tax returns, foreign registration, and other optional services. |
Free trial: No free trial or free plan is stated on the current pricing page.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Bundles entity support, bookkeeping, payroll, and business tax work in one recurring subscription.
- Publishes clear LLC and S Corp prices with a 15% annual-billing discount.
- Includes quarterly tax estimates, invoicing, and financial reports.
- Supports nationwide US operations and connects S Corp payroll through Gusto.
Cons
- Excludes sales-tax filing, audit defense, international tax work, accrual accounting, and inventory.
- The LLC tier does not include payroll or support for additional W-2 employees.
- A one-time onboarding fee and government or state charges can increase first-year cost.
- S Corp individual tax filing, additional states, and several compliance services are add-ons.
Who is Collective best for?
- Full-time US solopreneurs who want bookkeeping, payroll, and tax filing in one subscription.
- Single-member LLC owners who need formation, Schedule C support, and quarterly estimated-tax guidance.
- S Corp owners who want payroll and Form 1120-S preparation bundled with bookkeeping.
- Independent professionals who prefer a managed online back office over separate vendors.
Coverage
Integrations
Notable customers
Frequently asked questions
How much does Collective cost, including annual billing and setup?
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The LLC tier costs $199 per month and S Corp costs $349 per month, with 15% savings advertised for annual billing. The contact FAQ lists a one-time $199 onboarding fee; government fees and optional services are separate.
How does Collective work?
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Members provide business and bank information, then Collective imports, categorizes, and reconciles transactions and produces reports. Formation, tax estimates, payroll, and tax filing follow the selected LLC or S Corp workflow.
How does Collective compare with Pilot?
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Collective is designed around one-person businesses and bundles formation, bookkeeping, payroll, and business tax filing. Pilot serves a broader startup and small-business market with separate bookkeeping, tax, and CFO offerings.
What integrations does Collective support?
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Collective documents Gusto for S Corp payroll and Stripe for invoicing and payments. Its help center also documents Xero workflows and bank and credit-card connections.
Who is Collective for?
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It is built for US businesses-of-one, especially single-member LLCs, PLLCs, and eligible S Corp owners. The S Corp tier requires the member to remain the 100% owner and is not intended for businesses with multiple W-2 employees.
Is Collective secure and accurate enough for tax work?
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Collective describes reconciled monthly books, human book review, and a second review stage for business tax returns. Payroll uses Gusto’s embedded platform; members remain responsible for supplying complete information and reviewing drafts.
Sources
Facts and pricing verified on October 19, 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm with Collective before buying. How we research
