busyaxe.com

What It Is

BrokerBooks is a financial organization and record-keeping tool for Canadian real estate professionals, operated by BrokerBooks Pro Canada Inc. It emphasizes that it is not tax, accounting, or legal advice software; instead, it helps agents, self-employed professionals, and small business owners track income, expenses, HST, and receipts, making it easier to provide documents to a CPA during tax season.

Core Features

The product is centered on the day-to-day income and expenses of real estate agents. Users can record income such as commissions, referral fees, and leasing commissions, as well as categorize expenses including vehicle costs, professional fees, advertising and marketing, technology, and client gifts. Its receipt library supports uploads and storage for up to 8 years, exceeding the CRA’s 6-year record-retention requirement. The HST module tracks HST collected and paid, with reminders included; P&L reports can be generated monthly or annually and shared with an accountant. It also includes a tracker for stock, options, and other trades, though there is no clear indication of deep integration with tax filing workflows.

Pricing and Plans

Pricing is straightforward: Professional costs CA$24.99/month and is designed for a single agent, including unlimited income and expense tracking, 8-year receipt storage, HST tracking, annual summaries, P&L reports, and trade tracking. Family costs CA$34.99/month for up to 3 users, adding a shared receipt library, multi-business support, and a family financial summary. Both monthly and annual billing are available, with annual billing saving 33%. Subscriptions renew automatically via Stripe and can be cancelled.

Pros and Cons

Its main strength is its highly focused positioning: it fits well with Canadian real estate, HST tracking, and CRA record-retention needs. The interface and workflows appear lightweight, with a low learning curve, making it suitable for individual agents who do not want to use complex accounting software. The downsides are also clear: there is no disclosed support for bank syncing, invoicing, a full general ledger, payroll, or other accounting-system capabilities. There is also no clear information on third-party integrations, APIs, or role-based permissions. The service only states that it strives for 99% availability, with no formal SLA.

Who It’s For and Access from China

BrokerBooks is best suited to real estate agents practicing in Canada, small broker teams, or self-employed professionals who need HST record-keeping. It is not a good fit for companies that require full financial accounting, complex approvals, or multi-system integrations. The source text does not provide details on access from mainland China. Payments rely on Stripe, and users in China may find both payment and local tax-system compatibility unsuitable. For businesses operating in China, local alternatives such as Kingdee, Yonyou, and Chanjet may be more appropriate.