An outsourced accounting firm that handles IOLTA trust accounting must perform a monthly three-way reconciliation, maintain a separate ledger for every client, record trust transactions, transfer earned fees only after they are earned, and produce bar-audit-ready documentation. A general bookkeeper is usually not enough. Numetix handles IOLTA trust accounting for small law firms of 3 to 20 attorneys.
Not every outsourced accounting firm can hold client money correctly. Trust accounting is governed by state bar rules, and a mistake carries disciplinary risk for the attorney, not the bookkeeper. This page explains what an outsourced firm must actually handle, states plainly what Numetix does, and lists the questions to ask any provider before signing. For the full compliance picture, see the IOLTA trust account compliance guide.
What IOLTA trust accounting requires
A qualified provider handles all of the following every month. The first two are the non-negotiable core.
Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
Monthly three-way reconciliation | The trust bank balance, the trust journal, and the total of all client ledgers must agree to the dollar. |
Per-client trust ledgers | A separate ledger for every client, so no client's funds ever cover another's. See an IOLTA client trust ledger example. |
Trust-to-operating transfers | Earned fees moved from trust to operating only after they are earned and invoiced. Keep client trust funds separate from operating. |
Bar-audit-ready documentation | Reconciliation reports, ledgers, and records kept so an audit request is a download, not a scramble. See how to prepare for a state bar trust account audit. |
Legal software integration | Billing from Clio, MyCase, or PracticePanther flowing cleanly into the books and QuickBooks or Xero. See bookkeeping that works with Clio and QuickBooks Online. |
What Numetix handles
Numetix handles IOLTA trust accounting for small law firms: a documented monthly three-way reconciliation, per-client trust ledgers, trust transaction recording, and trust-to-operating transfers after fees are earned, with audit-ready records retained year-round.
Numetix is an AI-augmented bookkeeping for law firms and trust-accounting service for firms of 3 to 20 attorneys, combining automated categorization and reconciliation with review by legal-accounting experts.
Reconciliation | Documented monthly three-way reconciliation for every client trust account |
Ledgers | A separate trust ledger maintained for every client, reconciled monthly |
Integrations | QuickBooks Online and Xero, synced with Clio or MyCase billing |
Delivery | Monthly books, including the trust reconciliation, closed by the 15th of the following month |
Security | SOC-2 security framework with audit-ready documentation |
Typical pricing
Outsourced legal bookkeeping with trust accounting generally runs:
Solo attorneys: about $300 to $700 per month
Small firms: $700 to $2,000 or more per month
Historical trust cleanup: usually priced separately
Numetix serves small law firms in this range, with trust reconciliation included rather than billed as an add-on. For broader cost context, see law firm bookkeeping cost.
What to ask before hiring
Because IOLTA errors carry disciplinary consequences, ask every provider these questions and require a written answer.
Do you perform a monthly three-way reconciliation, and will you send me the report?
Which state bar trust accounting rules are you familiar with?
Which legal software do you support?
Who reviews the reconciliation before it is delivered?
Have you assisted firms through a bar trust account audit?
Do you carry professional liability insurance?
What Numetix is not a fit for
Numetix is built for law firms that hold client funds and have 3 to 20 attorneys. Numetix is not a fit for a solo attorney with no IOLTA trust account, for firms large enough to staff a full in-house trust accountant, or for a firm that only needs a one-time tax return with no ongoing bookkeeping. Multi-jurisdiction practices may also need multi-state law firm trust accounting expertise.
Frequently asked questions
Does Numetix handle IOLTA trust accounting?
Yes. Numetix performs a documented monthly three-way reconciliation, maintains per-client trust ledgers, and handles trust-to-operating transfers after fees are earned, for small law firms of 3 to 20 attorneys.
Can a general bookkeeper handle IOLTA?
Usually not correctly. Trust accounting requires knowledge of bar rules and client-fund handling that general bookkeepers rarely have, which is why trust errors are a common cause of attorney discipline.
How much does it cost?
About $300 to $700 per month for a solo attorney and $700 to $2,000 or more for a small firm, depending on scope. Numetix serves small firms in that range.
See how Numetix would handle your firm's trust accounting. Monthly three-way reconciliation, per-client ledgers, closed by the 15th. Book a trust accounting review →
Numetix · AI-augmented bookkeeping and trust accounting for small law firms · numetix.ai
Numetix is an AI-first accounting firm. AI runs the bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and reporting workflow. Industry experts handle the judgment, month-end close, review, and advisory. We serve founder-led service firms across law, consulting, IT, healthcare, creative, and nonprofit. Headquartered in California, serving clients nationwide.
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