How much does a bookkeeper cost per month? For most small businesses, expect to pay around $300 to $1,500 a month, depending on transaction volume, your payroll needs, and whether you hire a freelancer or a bookkeeping firm.
A very small business with one bank account can pay less. A business running payroll, inventory, and multiple accounts pays more.
The range is wide because bookkeeping can mean very different things depending on what you need. We’ve priced bookkeeping services for 250+ businesses over the past 6+ years, and the question we get asked more than almost any other is “so what should I actually be paying?”
Here’s what the numbers look like.
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How much does a bookkeeper cost per month? (Quick answer)
The price can be lower or higher depending on the work involved.
| Business Situation | Typical Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Solo or very small, one account, low volume | $200 – $500 |
| Small business, multiple accounts, no payroll | $500 – $900 |
| Growing business, payroll and reporting needs | $900 – $1,500 |
| Complex business, multiple entities or heavy transaction volume | $1,500 – $3,000+ |
These price ranges are similar when you hire a freelancer, a small bookkeeping firm, or an outsourced bookkeeping team. The bigger difference is what’s included in the price. That’s where two quotes that look similar at first can end up being very different.
Bookkeeper hourly rate vs. monthly packages
Bookkeepers generally charge in one of two ways: hourly rates or a flat monthly fee.
Hourly rates usually range from $25 to $60 per hour for small-business bookkeeping. Experienced or certified bookkeepers, as well as firms in higher-cost cities, may charge $75 to $100 an hour for specialized work or bookkeeping cleanup.
Hourly billing can work well for occasional help or a one-time catch-up project. It can be harder to budget when you need bookkeeping every month because the bill changes depending on how long the work takes.
For ongoing bookkeeping, a flat monthly fee is more common. You know the price from the start, and the bookkeeper can follow the same process each month instead of restarting every few weeks.
The bookkeeping cost levels
Your bookkeeping cost should depend more on how complex your books are than on your revenue alone. We use four levels, and each one relates to a real monthly number.
One or two bank accounts, fewer than 100 transactions a month, and no payroll. This is common for solo consultants and very early-stage businesses. Expect around $200 to $400 a month for basic categorization and reconciliations.
Multiple accounts, 100 to 300 transactions a month, and possibly one or two credit cards. Most established small businesses fall here. Expect around $400 to $900 a month. Monthly financial statements are often included at this level.
Add payroll, accounts payable and receivable tracking, or monthly reports for a lender or investor to review. Price is around $900 to $1,800 a month. This is usually when businesses start pricing bookkeeping and payroll together, as one provider is often already handling both.
Multiple businesses, inventory tracking, or thousands of transactions can increase the cost to $1,800 to $3,000+ a month. At this point, a dedicated bookkeeping team is better than one freelancer trying to handle everything.
For most businesses, figuring out your level is fairly simple. Count your bank and credit card accounts and ask whether you need payroll. If you’re still unsure, a quick conversation with a bookkeeper can usually clear it up.
What actually affects your price
A few things explain most of the difference between bookkeeping quotes:
Transaction volume: More transactions take more time to categorize and reconcile.
Number of accounts: Each bank account, credit card, and payment processor such as Stripe, PayPal, or Shopify adds more reconciliation work.
Payroll: Recording payroll activity and reconciling payroll liabilities require additional work than basic bookkeeping, and it’s priced that way.
Condition of your books: If you’re several months behind, you’ll need a separate catch-up or cleanup project before regular monthly bookkeeping begins. This is one of the most common unexpected costs.
Reporting depth: A basic profit and loss statement costs less than monthly KPI dashboards and cash flow forecasts.
A good provider should explain what applies to your business before giving you a price.
In-house vs. outsourced: what each option actually costs you
Hiring an in-house bookkeeper means paying a salary, not just an hourly task rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks was $50,670 as of May 2025, the most recent data available. That’s roughly $24 an hour before you add payroll taxes, benefits, software, or office space.
Once you include those additional expenses, a full-time in-house bookkeeper can cost around $4,000 to $5,500 a month.
With outsourced bookkeeping, you avoid most of those extra costs. You’re paying for the bookkeeping work rather than an employee’s desk, laptop, benefits, and other employment costs.
That’s why outsourcing can cost much less than hiring in-house, even when the actual bookkeeping hours are similar.
If you’re deciding between hiring an employee and outsourcing, compare the full monthly cost of both options, not just the advertised salary.
Self-employed and freelance bookkeeper rates
If you’re specifically looking for a freelance or self-employed bookkeeper, standard rates are generally around $25 to $60 an hour. Bookkeepers with certifications or strong industry-specific experience may charge closer to $75 to $100 an hour.
A freelancer can be a good choice for a very small business with simple and predictable needs.
The main drawback is that you may not have backup. If your bookkeeper gets sick, takes a vacation, or leaves the business, you may suddenly have no one managing your books. A bookkeeping firm or team has other people who can step in when needed.
CPA vs. bookkeeper: why the price gap is so big
CPAs typically charge $150 to $400 an hour, and specialized tax work can cost even more. That’s several times the rate of a typical bookkeeper, but the two roles are very different.
A bookkeeper records and organizes transactions that have already happened. A CPA can interpret those numbers for tax planning, represent you before the IRS, and provide certain financial statement services that require a licensed professional.
One mistake we see often is a business paying CPA rates for basic monthly bookkeeping because their accountant has always “just handled it.” That usually isn’t the most cost-effective setup.
A bookkeeper can handle the monthly reconciliations and routine work, while a CPA steps in for tax preparation, tax strategy, and more complex financial questions.
For many small businesses, dividing those responsibilities costs less and gives both professionals more time to focus on the work they’re best suited for.
Red flags that mean you’re about to overpay (or underbuy)
A cheap quote isn’t always a good deal, and a high price doesn’t always mean better service. Be careful of these red flags:
If they haven’t asked about your transaction volume or number of accounts before giving you a price, that number isn’t real yet.
If your books are behind, ask if cleanup is charged separately because it usually is.
Some low-cost services depend heavily on software to categorize transactions with very little human review. That may work for simple books, but it can be risky when your finances are more complicated.
“We’ll handle your bookkeeping” doesn’t tell you much. Ask which reports you’ll receive and how often.
Making a mistake here doesn’t just cost you money. It can also lead to inaccurate books, and those problems show up at the worst time, usually around tax season.
How to get a quote you can actually trust
Before accepting a quote, ask the provider these questions:
A provider that answers all five clearly gives you a quote you can actually compare with others. If someone avoids two or three of these questions, that’s worth paying attention to.
If you’d rather get a clear answer, a quick conversation about your transaction volume and account setup can give you a much better idea of your actual cost than reading five more pricing pages.
We offer a free consultation and give you a clear answer about where your business fits within the pricing ranges above.
This is general information, not personalized tax advice, so check your specific situation with a licensed tax professional.
FAQs
How much should you pay someone to do your bookkeeping?
Most small businesses pay around $300 to $1,500 a month, depending on transaction volume, number of accounts, and whether payroll is included. If your books are simple and your transaction volume is low, you should generally be closer to the lower end of that range.
How much do self-employed bookkeepers charge?
Self-employed bookkeepers generally charge $25 to $60 an hour for standard work. Certified or highly experienced freelancers may charge $75 to $100 an hour. Location also affects pricing. Major metro areas cost more than smaller markets.
Is $300 a month reasonable for monthly bookkeeping?
Yes, for a small business with low transaction volume, one or two accounts, and no payroll, $300 a month can be reasonable. Once you add payroll, multiple entities, or a high number of transactions, that price usually won't cover the full amount of work involved.
Are bookkeeping fees tax deductible?
Yes. According to the IRS’s guidance on deducting business expenses, ordinary and necessary costs of running a business, which include bookkeeping and accounting fees, are deductible.
Meet Muhammad Aqib: Our Expert in Financial Planning and Analysis
He is the founder of Predawn Accounting and has more than six years of experience helping small businesses maintain organized financial records, improve reporting accuracy, and better understand their financial position.
He is a qualified Chartered Accountant from ICAP Pakistan, holds a BS in Accounting and Finance, is an ACCA Candidate, an FMVA Certified professional, has also earned a Financial Planning and Analysis certification from the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) and is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor with experience working across industries, including real estate, construction, e-commerce, SaaS, and marketing agencies.
Before founding Predawn Accounting in 2023, Mr. Aaqib worked with businesses across multiple industries, doing bookkeeping, financial reporting, financial modeling, fractional CFO, and other projects. He has also completed financial projects that helped businesses raise funding and improve financial operations.
