How Much Does Bookkeeping Cost? Rates and Pricing Explained
The short answer: what bookkeeping costs depends mainly on how many transactions you have and what is included. At Accio Finance, bookkeeping fees range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $400, based on the number of transactions.
How bookkeepers charge
Most bookkeepers and firms use one of four pricing models:
| Pricing model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly flat fee | A fixed fee each month for an agreed scope of work. | Businesses that want a predictable cost. |
| Tiered by volume | The fee steps up with the number of transactions or accounts. | Businesses whose volume changes as they grow. |
| Hourly | You pay for the hours worked. | Occasional or very small amounts of work. |
| One-time project | A single fee for a defined job, such as a cleanup or catch-up. | Books that are behind or need fixing. |
What makes bookkeeping cost more or less
1. How many transactions you have
Every sale, bill and bank transaction has to be recorded and categorized. More transactions means more work.
2. How many accounts need reconciling
Each bank account, credit card and payment processor is reconciled every month.
3. What is included beyond the books
Payroll, paying bills, sending invoices and chasing payments all add to the monthly scope.
4. Inventory and several income streams
Tracking stock and cost of goods sold, or several locations or departments, takes extra work each month.
5. Whether the books need fixing first
If the books are behind or wrong, expect a one-time cleanup or catch-up fee before monthly bookkeeping starts. See our QuickBooks cleanup and catch-up service.
6. How often you want reports
Monthly reports cost less than weekly reports and regular review calls.
Outsourced bookkeeping or an in-house bookkeeper?
An in-house bookkeeper costs more than a salary: there are payroll taxes, benefits, software, training and the time it takes to hire. An outsourced service is one monthly fee, and you don’t manage a hire. For many small businesses, outsourcing costs less until the work needs a full-time person.
Questions to ask before you hire a bookkeeper
- Exactly what is included each month, and what costs extra?
- Who does the work, and who reviews it?
- Which software do you use, and do I keep access to my books?
- How often will I get reports, and what do they show?
- How is cleanup or catch-up work priced?
- How do you keep my financial data secure?
What Accio Finance charges
Our bookkeeping fees range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $400, based on the number of transactions. We confirm your exact price after a free consultation call, once we know your transaction volume, how many accounts you have and which services you need.
See what our outsourced bookkeeping service includes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bookkeeper cost?
It depends mainly on how many transactions you have and what is included. At Accio Finance, bookkeeping fees range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $400, based on the number of transactions. We confirm your exact price after a free consultation call.
Is it cheaper to outsource bookkeeping than to hire?
Often, for small businesses. A full-time hire adds salary, payroll taxes, benefits, software and training, while an outsourced service is one monthly fee. Compare both against the hours of work your books actually need.
How much does catch-up bookkeeping cost?
Catch-up and cleanup work is usually priced as a one-time project, based on how many months are behind and how many accounts need reconciling. Monthly bookkeeping is priced separately after that.
Why do bookkeeping rates vary so much?
Mainly because the amount of work varies: the number of transactions and accounts, whether payroll and bill payment are included, how often you want reports, and whether the books need fixing first.