What is the Cost of Hiring a Full Charge Bookkeeper?
A full charge bookkeeper handles the entire bookkeeping cycle – from entering transactions and reconciling accounts to preparing financial reports and supporting your CPA. But with more responsibility comes a higher price tag.
The cost of hiring a full charge bookkeeper can vary based on experience, location, and your business complexity. On average, expect to pay between $50,000 and $70,000 per year, or $4,200 to $6,000 per month, when factoring in salary, benefits, and overhead.
Cost Breakdown: In-House Full Charge Bookkeeper
- Base Salary
- Entry level: $45,000/year
- Mid-level: $55,000/year
- Experienced: $65,000-$75,000/year
- Benefits (25-30%)
- Health insurance
- Payroll taxes
- Paid time off
- Retirement contributions
- Overhead Costs
- Equipment, software licenses, office space
- Ongoing training or certifications
- Potential cost of turnover or re-hiring
Total Estimated Cost: $60,000-$90,000 annually
Outsourcing as a Cost-Effective Alternative
Outsourcing full charge bookkeeping services – especially through providers like RemoteBooksOnline – can cut your costs by 50-75%.
What You Pay Instead:
- Flat monthly rate starting at $150-$500/month
- No overhead, benefits, or turnover risk
- CPA-ready books, dedicated support, scalable services
Test Case Example
A dental practice hires a full charge bookkeeper at $58,000/year. After turnover, retraining, and missing payroll deadlines, they switch to RemoteBooksOnline. They now pay $375/month for full charge services – including reconciliations, reports, and payroll coordination – and haven’t missed a deadline since.
When You Should Consider Full Charge Bookkeeping
- You have employees and manage payroll
- You need financial reports monthly or quarterly
- Your CPA needs clean books for tax filings
- You have high transaction volume or multiple revenue streams
FAQs
Is a full charge bookkeeper the same as a CPA?
No. A full charge bookkeeper handles bookkeeping and reporting. A CPA handles tax filings, audits, and strategy.
Can I hire a freelance full charge bookkeeper instead?
Yes, but vetting, availability, and reliability can be inconsistent. Outsourced services offer dedicated teams and backup.
Do I still need accounting software if I outsource?
No. Most outsourced bookkeepers include or manage QuickBooks or other platforms on your behalf.
What’s the difference between regular and full charge bookkeepers?
Regular bookkeepers often need oversight. Full charge bookkeepers manage the entire process independently.
Hiring a full charge bookkeeper makes sense if your business needs complete bookkeeping support. But instead of paying $60K+ a year, outsourced solutions like RemoteBooksOnline offer the same expertise for a fraction of the cost – without any of the HR hassle.
Want full charge support without full-time cost?
Start your free month with RemoteBooksOnline today
Want to understand what a full-charge bookkeeper does? Our Full‑Charge Bookkeeper guide explains their role-from managing daily finances to preparing reports-for seamless financial control.
Wondering about remote bookkeeping rates? Our guide to remote bookkeeper pricing breaks down typical costs and value-so you can budget with confidence.
Thinking about outsourcing your financials? Our Why Hire a Bookkeeping Service blog explains the top benefits-from expert accuracy to serious time savings.
