How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost for a Small Business?
Think of bookkeeping like utilities-you want reliability at a sane price. Here’s how costs break down and how to land the right value.
Curious about cost? Check out our pricing page for transparent rates and customizable bookkeeping plans that fit your needs.
Bookkeeping Services Pricing Guide
Common price points
- Starter (side hustle/very low volume): typically low hundreds per month for reconciliations + basic reports.
- Core small business: mid-hundreds for monthly close, AP/AR syncing, and management reports.
- Growing/complex: up to ~$1,500+ when you add payroll, inventory/job costing, or multi-entity support.
Cost drivers that surprise owners
- Payment gateways (Shopify, Stripe, Square) with lots of micro-transactions.
- Inventory and COGS accuracy (ecommerce, retail, manufacturing).
- Departmental/job costing and custom reporting packs.
- Multiple entities that need consolidations.
How Many Bookkeepers Do You Need
Ways to optimize
- Use one bank and one primary processor if possible.
- Close monthly (not quarterly) to avoid compounding fixes.
- Share vendor 1099 info early-saves January scrambles (and dollars).
DIY vs. hiring
DIY works when volume is tiny; beyond that, opportunity cost (lost sales + errors) dwarfs the fee. Outsourcing returns time and reduces year-end tax prep costs.
Tell us your volume and industry-we’ll match you to the right plan (no upsell, no surprises).
Related reading
- Bookkeeping Services Cost (SMB)
- When To Hire A Bookkeeper
- How Many Bookkeepers Do I Need
- Startup Bookkeeping
Ready to get in touch? Visit our Contact page to connect with our team and find the perfect bookkeeping solution for your needs.
