How Much Should You Pay Your Bookkeeper?
You can hire in‑house, outsource, or run a hybrid. Here’s how the total cost of ownership (TCO) compares-and when each path makes sense.
Cost Components Side‑by‑Side
In‑House
- Salary + payroll taxes + benefits
- Software licenses and upgrades
- Hiring, training, management time
- PTO/coverage gaps
Outsourced
- Flat monthly fee (often $150-$375)
- Software included
- Scales up/down with add‑ons
- No hiring/HR overhead
When Outsourcing Wins
- Low/medium volume; you value predictable costs.
- Multi‑state sales‑tax, processors, or payroll you don’t want to manage.
- You want CPA‑reviewed outputs without building a finance team.
Need help fixing reconciliation errors and cleaning your books?
When In‑House Wins
- Very large volumes; heavy onsite workflows; custom ERP tasks.
- You need real‑time proximity for cross‑department processes.
Decision Checklist
- Current and projected volume (12-18 months).
- SLA expectations for monthly close and response times.
- Budget predictability vs staffing flexibility.
FAQs
Is outsourcing cheaper than hiring?
For most SMBs, yes-flat-rate outsourcing avoids salary, benefits, and management overhead.
Does outsourcing include accounting software?
Yes-our monthly plans include QuickBooks or Xero.
Dedicated bookkeeper