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Amadae vs Collective
S-corp back office for solopreneurs · Updated 2026-08-19
Collective is an all-in-one back office for solopreneurs electing S-corp status. For $299 per month (about $254 per month billed annually) it bundles formation, bookkeeping, payroll through Gusto, tax filing, and access to advisors.
Collective pioneered the S-corp-as-a-service model and executes it well, but it is a service wrapper around third-party software at a fixed $299 per month. Amadae covers the same S-corp ground, formation, payroll, quarterly estimates, and filings, on its own ledger with built-in banking, invoicing, an AI operator, and personal finance. Choose Collective for a proven, human-heavy back office. Choose Amadae for a deeper platform where the software, the money, and the tax work live in one system.
Amadae is best for
- Solopreneurs who want the S-corp stack plus banking and invoicing in one login
- People who want AI doing the operational busywork, not just humans on email
- Owners who want business and personal finances managed together
Collective is best for
- Solopreneurs who want an established, human-led S-corp service
- People already comfortable in QuickBooks or Xero plus Gusto
Pricing
Amadae
- Software modules: $10/month each (Calendar, Agreements, Beats, Touchpoints, Documents, Rehearsal), bundle discounts up to 30%
- Amadae Accounting (full-service bookkeeping, tax preparation, and quarterly strategy): quoted after a free financial review
- 14-day free trial on software modules, cancel anytime
Collective
- $299/month, or about $254/month billed annually
- Gusto payroll subscription absorbed in the plan
- Formation and S-corp election included
Collective pricing is as published as of August 2026. Both companies advertise average member tax savings around $10,000 per year, so total cost of ownership usually comes down to what else you can consolidate.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Amadae | Collective |
|---|---|---|
| Automated bookkeeping on its own ledger | Included | Bookkeeping team working in third-party accounting software |
| Business and personal tax filing | Included with Amadae Accounting | Business and personal returns included |
| Quarterly estimated taxes | Calculated and scheduled for you | Quarterly estimates included |
| S-corp formation and election | Included | Formation and S-corp election included |
| Business banking and cards | Built in | Not offered, you keep your own bank |
| Invoicing and payments | Built in | Not offered |
| AI operator (Mo) | Included in every module | Not offered |
| Personal finance and forecasting | Included | Not offered |
Pros and cons
Amadae
Pros
- Native ledger, banking, invoicing, and payments rather than a stitched-together stack
- Mo, the AI operator, is included everywhere
- Software modules from $10/month let you start small before full-service accounting
- Personal finance, forecasting, and household features included
Cons
- Full-service pricing is quoted, not a flat public rate
- Younger company than Collective
Collective
Pros
- Mature, well-reviewed S-corp back office with thousands of members
- Flat, predictable pricing with the Gusto subscription absorbed
- Unlimited access to advisors on business questions
Cons
- $299/month regardless of how little you need in a given month
- Runs on third-party software you cannot extend
- No banking, invoicing, personal finance, or meaningful AI tooling
What Collective does well
Collective made S-corp-as-a-service a category. It forms the entity, files the election, absorbs the Gusto payroll fee, keeps the books, files business and personal returns, and gives members unlimited advisor access. For a solopreneur clearing roughly $80,000 or more in profit, the S-corp payroll-tax savings usually cover the fee, which is why the model works.
Where Amadae is different
Amadae does the same S-corp work, formation, election, payroll, quarterly estimates, and filings, but the foundation is different: your books run on Amadae's own general ledger, your banking and cards are in the platform, and invoices and payments post straight to the books. Nothing is re-keyed between QuickBooks, Gusto, and a tax preparer, because they are one system.
On top of that, every Amadae module ships with Mo, an AI operator that books meetings, chases signatures, summarizes metrics, and answers questions about your numbers. Collective's answer to the same needs is humans on email, which is slower and caps how much the service can do per dollar.
How to choose
If you want the most established name in solopreneur S-corp services and you like your existing QuickBooks plus Gusto stack, Collective is a safe choice. If you would rather consolidate banking, invoicing, books, taxes, and personal finance into one AI-native platform, Amadae covers more surface for the money. The free financial review will quote your exact situation against Collective's flat rate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amadae cheaper than Collective?
Often, but it depends on scope. Collective is a flat $299 per month. Amadae quotes full-service accounting after a free review, and its software modules are $10 per month each, so lighter needs cost meaningfully less while heavier full-service needs are priced to scope.
Do both file my personal return along with the S-corp return?
Yes. Both prepare the S-corp return and the owner's personal return. Amadae also generates K-1s and carries them through to the 1040 automatically.
Does Amadae absorb payroll fees like Collective absorbs Gusto?
Amadae runs payroll natively as part of its accounting service, so there is no separate payroll subscription to absorb in the first place.
What if I have not elected S-corp status yet?
Both will form the entity and file the election. Amadae also models whether the election actually saves you money first, since below roughly $80,000 of profit it often does not.
Other comparisons
Not sure which fits? Get a free financial review.
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