Outsourced Bookkeeping Cost & ROI (2025 Update)
What You Really Pay-and What You Actually Save
Most small business owners know in-house bookkeeping is expensive.
What they don’t always know is how much outsourcing saves, once you factor in accuracy, CPA fees, and time.
This 2025 guide breaks down real outsourced bookkeeping costs, ROI math, and how to tell if you’re overpaying for internal staff or hourly contractors.
Predictable pricing beats guessing.
View flat rates →
Average Outsourced Bookkeeping Cost in 2025
| Business Size | Monthly Cost Range | Annual Equivalent | Typical In-House Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo / Startup | $250 – $400 | $3,000 – $4,800 | $40,000+ |
| Small Business (1–10 staff) | $400 – $700 | $4,800 – $8,400 | $55,000 – $65,000 |
| Mid-Sized (10–50 staff) | $700 – $900 | $8,400 – $10,800 | $70,000 – $90,000 |
| Multi-Entity / Franchise | $900 – $1,200+ | $10,800 – $14,400+ | $100,000+ |
Outsourcing cuts 60-80% of payroll costs while improving reporting accuracy and CPA coordination.
These prices include reconciliation, reporting, review, CPA oversight, and portal support-all on flat monthly billing.
What Affects Outsourced Bookkeeping Cost
- Transaction Volume – more bank/credit card activity = higher tier
- Complexity – multiple entities, inventory, or custom reporting
- Software & Integrations – QuickBooks/Xero + payroll or POS systems
- Review Frequency – quarterly vs monthly CPA checks
- Add-Ons – cleanup, sales tax, payroll journals, forecasting dashboards
Your price should scale with complexity, not surprise you later.
In-House vs Outsourced Bookkeeping →
How Outsourcing Compares to In-House (Real Dollars)
| Category | In-House (FT Employee) | Outsourced (RBO Model) |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $55,000 | – |
| Benefits & taxes | $15,000 | – |
| Software | $2,400 | Included |
| Training | $3,000 | Included |
| CPA cleanup | $1,200 | Included |
| Total Annual Cost | $76,600 | $6,000–$10,000 |
That’s ~$65,000 saved annually-without losing quality or control.
Benefits of Outsourced Bookkeeping →
ROI Calculator: What You Actually Get Back
ROI on outsourced bookkeeping isn’t just cost-cutting-it’s time and accuracy gains.
| Source of ROI | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll savings | Replace salary with flat fee | +$50k–$70k/yr |
| CPA cleanup reduction | Less rework at tax time | +$1k–$3k/yr |
| Time savings | Owner hours recovered | +100–200 hrs/yr |
| Decision speed | Real-time reports enable better calls | Unquantified but compounding |
ROI Range: 3×-6× annually (for SMBs <$10M revenue)
Example: A $600/month outsourced plan replaces $5,000+/month internal cost-saving 88 %, while accuracy and cycle speed improve.
Why Outsourced Pricing Is Flat
Hourly billing punishes efficiency.
Flat-rate bookkeeping rewards consistency and automation.
- Fixed cost every month
- SLA-based delivery
- Scalable with growth
- No hidden add-ons or retainers
See: Flat-Rate Bookkeeping-What’s Included
Real-World Savings (Client Scenarios)
| Client Type | Previous Setup | New Setup (RBO) | Savings | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services firm | $5,200/mo FT staff | $650/mo | 87 % | 99.2 % |
| eCommerce retailer | $4,800/mo contractor | $550/mo | 88 % | 99.6 % |
| Healthcare clinic | $6,000/mo CPA firm | $700/mo | 88 % | 99.4 % |
Result: Avg. 80 % cost reduction, Day 7-10 close cycles, zero backlog.
When Cost Isn’t the Only ROI
Cheap bookkeeping can cost more than outsourcing done right.
RBO adds value through:
- Automation: AI categorization + real-time reconciliations
- Bench depth: no single point of failure
- CPA oversight: ensures audit-ready accuracy
- Security: SOC alignment + MFA
- Scalability: one plan grows with your volume
You’re not buying hours-you’re buying outcomes.
Why Businesses Switch to Outsourced Bookkeeping →
Hidden Costs of Hiring Internally
- Payroll burden (FICA, health, PTO)
- Software & app subscriptions
- Training & turnover
- Recruiting cost & downtime
- Inconsistent close cycles
Outsourcing eliminates all five.
Want to Hire a Bookkeeper instead?
FAQs
What’s the average cost to outsource bookkeeping?
$250-$900/month depending on volume and complexity.
Do outsourced plans include CPA review?
Yes-RBO includes monthly or quarterly CPA oversight depending on plan tier.
Is cleanup included in pricing?
Cleanup/catch-up is a one-time scoped project before your first monthly close.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes-flat-rate, month-to-month, no contracts.
How fast is onboarding?
Typically 5 business days; first full close within 30 days.
Outsource once-save every month.
Predictable cost, measurable ROI, and CPA-reviewed accuracy built in.
Get a Custom Quote →
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