Hire a Bookkeeper: Cost, Scope, and How to Get It Right
When is it time to hire a bookkeeper and should you go in-house, part-time, or outsourced? This guide gives you real cost ranges, exact responsibilities, interview questions, and red flags, so you can make the right call the first time.
Flat monthly options | CPA-reviewed accuracy | Month-to-month (no lock-in)
Also searched as: hire bookkeeper online, virtual bookkeeper, small business bookkeeper, bookkeeper near me.
Hiring a bookkeeper isn’t about “hours”, it’s about outcomes: clean books, on-time monthly closes, and tax-ready financials you can trust. RemoteBooksOnline pairs certified platform specialists (Xero & QuickBooks) with a CPA-designed close process so every reconciliation, journal entry, and report is done correctly the first time. Whether you’re switching from DIY, replacing an in-house hire, or scaling across multiple entities, we implement rules, automate the routine, and document variance notes, then a CPA reviews and signs off monthly. The result: accurate numbers, predictable cash-flow visibility, and zero year-end scramble. Get the clarity to run your business, without managing bookkeeping.
Where Hiring a Bookkeeper Fits in Your Bookkeeping Journey
Hiring a bookkeeper is usually part of a broader bookkeeping path:
- Clean up or catch up past financial data
- Establish ongoing monthly bookkeeping
- Use a dedicated bookkeeper for daily/weekly accuracy
- Add accounting or outsourced support as needed
If your books are behind, begin with QuickBooks Cleanup or Catch-Up Bookkeeping.
Once clean, a dedicated bookkeeper ensures accuracy alongside Monthly Bookkeeping + Accounting Services as your business grows.
Do You Actually Need a Bookkeeper Yet?
You’re ready if any 3+ are true:
150 bank/CC transactions per month - Payroll, sales tax, or inventory in play
- AR/AP aging > 30 days
- You spend >5 hrs/month “catching up”
- Lender/CPA asking for monthly reports
What a Bookkeeper Does (and Doesn’t)
Does: reconciliations, categorization, month-end close, P&L/BS/CF, AR/AP posting, receipt management, CPA coordination.
Doesn’t: tax filing, audited statements, complex GAAP advisory (that’s your CPA/CFO).
See also: Monthly Close Checklist (Free Template)
Hire In-House vs Outsourced vs Flat-Rate (Quick Compare)
| Option | Typical Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-House (FT) | $45–$70k + burden | On-site, embedded | Recruiting risk, single point of failure |
| In-House (PT) | $20–$35/hr | Flexible hours | Slower closes, limited coverage |
| Freelancer | $30–$60/hr | Low commitment | Variable quality, no bench |
| CPA firm | $1.2k–$2.5k/mo | High accuracy | Expensive, slower ops |
| RBO Flat-Rate | $250–$900/mo | CPA-reviewed, bench depth, predictable | Remote model (not in office) |
Explore: Outsourced Bookkeeping vs in-house.
Realistic Hiring Paths by Stage
Solo / early
Flat-rate monthly, upgrade as volume grows
SMB scaling
Flat-rate + AP/AR light; add CFO-lite as needed
Multi-entity
Flat-rate Scale + consolidations; add onsite finance later if required
How to Run a 30-Minute Skills Screen
- Give a small bank feed (25 lines) → categorize + reconcile
- Ask for a variance note explaining 3 outliers
- Have them write a month-end checklist from memory
- Request a sample P&L/BS and ask “what’s wrong here?”
Red Flags When Hiring
- No reconciliation proof; refuses a skills test
- Vague on close dates (“after month end…”)
- Won’t use MFA or least-privilege access
- Pushes hourly only; no scope clarity
- “We’ll fix it at tax time” (translation: we won’t)
Hire right, or skip hiring entirely with flat-rate monthly bookkeeping.
Industries We Serve
- Construction (job costing, WIP, retainage)
- eCommerce / Shopify / Amazon (inventory, fees, payouts)
- Real Estate (multi-LLC, property reporting)
- Professional Services / Agencies (time-to-bill)
- Restaurants (POS, daily sales summaries)
- Nonprofit (fund tracking)
- Healthcare (payor reconciliations)
- Startups / SaaS (accruals, deferred revenue)
Why Hire a Bookkeeper Online?
Hiring a professional bookkeeper online gives you more flexibility, lower costs, and faster insights into your business finances. Whether you're looking for catch-up bookkeeping or ongoing monthly support, RemoteBooksOnline has you covered.
- Running a small business? Discover why bookkeeping matters and how to get it right.
- Confused between hiring a local bookkeeper or going virtual? See our full comparison to decide what fits your needs.
- New to remote bookkeeping? Here’s how it works and why it’s taking over.
- Should I Hire a Bookkeeper or Just Use QuickBooks?
What Our Customers Say
Empowering our clients with the financial support they need to thrive in their business is our sole focus.
They cleaned up 18 months of bookkeeping for us. Can’t thank them enough.
Amanda Reyes, Small Business Owner
I switched from a local bookkeeper, and RBO is 10x better.
Sean Lewis, Marketing Consultant
They helped me fix my QuickBooks mess without judgment.
Maria Patel, Freelance Designer
Fast, accurate, and affordable. The best team.
Jeff Howard, Retail Store Owner
I never imagined I’d trust a remote bookkeeper. They proved me wrong.
Diane Miller, Property Manager
Frequently Asked Questions
Flat-rate plans start at $150/month and include reconciliations, monthly financials, and CPA review. First month free.
Yes, QuickBooks, Xero, and more. We connect securely to banks and cards for smooth reconciliations.
Absolutely. We offer cleanup and catch-up to get you current before monthly service starts.
We provide CPA-reviewed books every month. Your filing CPA can file without rework, and we collaborate directly with them at year-end.
Most clients onboard within 3–7 business days. Cleanup timelines depend on backlog; we quote scope and dates up front.
Yes. Your day-to-day bookkeepers are Xero & QuickBooks Certified, and every month-end is CPA-reviewed.
Reconciliations for all accounts; clearing undeposited funds and suspense; accruals/prepaids/depreciation; AR/AP aging review; variance notes; CPA sign-off and period lock recommendation.
Yes. We’ll run light collections cadences and 2-way AP approvals. You retain final approval for payment releases.
Plans scale by volume and complexity. We right-size quickly without disrupting your cadence or reporting.
Dual-control workflows, documented rules, exceptions logs, and a CPA review before finalizing the period.
Not Sure If You Should Hire A Bookkeeper, Outsource, Or Start With A Plan?
When you say “hire a bookkeeper”, you might really need a cleanup project, a monthly bookkeeping plan, or a CPA/accounting partner. With RemoteBooksOnline, all three are options.
These are the paths most business owners compare:
If your books are behind:
If you want an ongoing bookkeeper:
If you need more than a bookkeeper:
If you want a full team instead of one hire:
We work with the platforms you trust, making bookkeeping easy and efficient.
Get Started Today
Hiring a bookkeeper is simple. Let us handle your books while you focus on what matters most-your business.
Why Small Businesses Trust RemoteBooksOnline
Fixed Monthly Pricing
100% Secure & Compliant
Trusted by Thousands of Small BusinessesIf you need broader service, view our bookkeeping services for full monthly support, our bookkeepers page to meet our certified team, or our accountants for small business page for CPA-level support.
Explore Hire a Bookkeeper Services by Location
Nationwide delivery, local compliance awareness-every state, city, and ZIP.
Hire a Bookkeeper near you? View all locations.
Which Bookkeeping Service Do You Need?
Each page provides detailed information on how we help solve specific pain points-whether you're behind on your books or looking to fully outsource.
Hire vs. DIY vs. In-House
| Option | Cost predictability | CPA-ready | Time required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hire RemoteBooksOnline | High (flat-rate) | Yes (monthly review) | Very low |
| DIY | High (your time) | Varies | High |
| In-House | Low (salary + overhead) | Varies | Medium |
How to Hire a Bookkeeper with RemoteBooksOnline
Get a Free Quote
Tell us about your bookkeeping needs, and we’ll send you a custom quote within 24 hours.
Connect Your Accounts
We securely connect to your bank and accounting software (like QuickBooks or Xero).
Start with a Free Month
Your first month of bookkeeping is completely free, no contracts, no hidden fees.
Receive Monthly Reports
Each month, you’ll receive CPA-ready reports prepared by certified bookkeepers.
Wondering if QuickBooks alone is enough? Compare doing it yourself vs. hiring a pro.