Comparison
Level vs Decimal
Decimal is modern outsourced bookkeeping with optional controller services for any small business. Level is a fractional CFO built for service businesses — especially trades, with a proprietary 2,200-contractor benchmark dataset behind every recommendation.
Decimal is modern outsourced bookkeeping with controller services. Level is a fractional CFO with proprietary contractor benchmarks.
How Level and Decimal compare
Side-by-side on the dimensions that actually matter for contractors.
| Capability | Level | Decimal |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization | Service businesses — trades, restaurants, healthcare, ecommerce, agencies, startups | All small businesses, horizontal |
| Proprietary benchmark data | ✓Yes — 2,200+ contractors, $13.25B revenue analyzed | No proprietary external benchmark dataset |
| Job costing for contractors | Job-level profitability with labor burden, retainage, AIA, WIP | General bookkeeping; contractor specifics depend on team assignment |
| FSM integrations | ✓BuildOps, ServiceTitan, Jobber, Housecall Pro, FieldEdge — productized | Generic integrations via accounting system; not contractor-specific |
| Bookkeeping tier | $99-$500/mo Bookkeeping clean-data layer | Bookkeeping plans starting ~$355/mo (varies) |
| Operating layer tier | $1,500-$5,000/mo Scale; Platform custom | Controller / advisory add-ons |
| Cash forecasting + benchmarking | Rolling forecast + peer comparison every month | Cash visibility; less industry-specific benchmarking |
| Tax-ready year-end | Included; we coordinate with your CPA when formal statements are required | Included |
Use Level if you are
- You're a service business — especially a trade — and want a team that speaks your business
- You want benchmarks against peer contractors on every monthly review
- You're running a field service platform and want it tied to your accounting cleanly
- You want a CFO, not just a bookkeeper and a controller
Use Decimal if you are
- You're a horizontal small business that doesn't need vertical depth (general retail, software-only, no operational complexity)
- You specifically want a tech-forward bookkeeping product without industry specialization
- Your problem is data entry, not strategy
Vertical depth wins on contractors.
A horizontal bookkeeping service can do contractor books — but doesn't know that 80.8% is the median collection rate, that SA pull-through under 9% is bottom-quartile, or that bottom-decile contractors run 22%+ over budget. Level does.
Pricing on-ramp.
Level's Bookkeeping tier is $99-$500/mo. Decimal's bookkeeping is typically in the same premium-accounting range. For a $1–3M contractor, the real question is whether the numbers create decisions, not just clean statements.
Both can be right at different stages.
Decimal is a fine choice for horizontal SMBs without operational complexity. Level wins when the business has jobs, technicians, properties, or service agreements — anywhere bookkeeping alone misses the picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Decimal a CFO service?
Decimal offers bookkeeping and controller-level services. CFO advisory is added through specific engagements. Level is a fractional CFO from the start — strategy, benchmarking, and forecasting are core, not add-ons.
Can I use both?
Possible but redundant — Level's tiers include bookkeeping. Most clients choose one.
Does Level have an AI-first product like Decimal?
Level is AI-leveraged, not AI-led — humans handle judgment, AI handles volume (bank rec, classification, variance flags, weekly KPIs). The CFO is a person, not a chatbot.
Other comparisons
Simple pricing
Three tiers, one ladder.
$99-$500/mo
Bookkeeping
The clean data layer: monthly books, reconciliations, and organized financials AI can work with.
$1,500-$5,000/mo
Scale
The full AI operating layer — custom agents, weekly actions, and benchmarks to grow margin per hour.
Custom
Platform / Multi-Office
Multi-branch benchmarking and scorecards for PE-backed and multi-location groups.
Ready to see what your crew has already earned?
Free profit audit — we connect your field ops to your books and show you the margin and cash gaps in 48 hours. Free audit included.
No commitment. Real numbers, not generic advice.