What Is the Average Cost of Tax Preparation by a CPA for Small Business?

“Average cost” is only useful if you know what’s included. These are the levers that move your CPA invoice.

Accountant Pricing Guide

Key fee drivers

  • Entity type: Schedule C vs. S-Corp vs. Partnership.
  • Number of states and local filings.
  • Bookkeeping quality (adjusting entries take time).
  • Fixed assets & depreciation complexity.
  • Shareholders/partners and K-1s.
  • Add-ons: quarterly tax planning, reasonable comp analysis, ERC lookbacks, etc.

How Long A Return Takes

How to keep tax-prep costs in check

  • Deliver reconciled books with a clean trial balance.
  • Provide organized backup (fixed asset schedules, loan statements, payroll reports).
  • Resolve open issues (uncleared transactions, negative balances) before hand-off.
  • Ask for a fixed-fee quote once your books are finalized.

Bookkeeping Vs Tax Prep Costs

Let RBO handle the monthly close-your CPA can price tax prep faster and fairer with clean financials.

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