How much does bookkeeping cost?
Outsourced bookkeeping for small businesses typically runs $500–$2,500 per month. The right number depends on transaction volume, entity count, and how much controller oversight you need. Below is a complete breakdown.
Every engagement starts with a free Financial Checkup, so we can see where your business falls and quote it exactly.
Bookkeeping pricing by business size
| Business stage | Typical monthly cost | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Solopreneur / sub-$500K | $300–$600 | Cash-basis transaction coding, bank rec, basic monthly P&L |
| Small business ($500K–$3M) | $750–$1,500 | Accrual-basis monthly close, A/R + A/P, full financial statements |
| Growing business ($3M–$10M) | $1,500–$3,000 | Full accrual close, payroll integration, multi-account complexity, KPI dashboards |
| Multi-entity / $10M+ | $2,500–$5,000+ | Multi-entity bookkeeping, intercompany, consolidated reporting, controller review |
These ranges reflect typical North Texas market pricing for outsourced firms; in-house bookkeepers cost $55K–$80K/year fully loaded, which equals approximately $4,500–$6,700/month.
What drives bookkeeping cost up or down?
Transaction volume
More transactions = more time to categorize, reconcile, and review. The biggest single cost driver.
Number of entities
Each LLC, S-corp, or trust adds its own books, intercompany handling, and consolidated reporting.
Number of bank / credit-card accounts
Each account requires monthly reconciliation. Five accounts is materially more work than one.
Accrual vs. cash basis
Accrual books require accruals, deferrals, and prepaids — more discipline, more accuracy, more cost.
Industry complexity
Construction (WIP), SaaS (deferred revenue), real estate (multi-property), healthcare (RCM) all add specialized work.
Reporting depth
Standard financials cost less than KPI dashboards, departmental reporting, or board-level packages.
Catch-up / cleanup
Most catch-up projects run $1,500–$5,000+. You get a fixed quote after your free review.
Controller oversight
Controller-level review (a second set of qualified eyes) catches errors that pure bookkeeping misses.
Frequently asked questions
How much does bookkeeping cost per month for a small business?
For most small businesses, monthly outsourced bookkeeping ranges from $500 to $2,500 per month, depending on transaction volume, number of bank/credit-card accounts, and entity count. Our Clarity tier (foundational bookkeeping + monthly reporting) starts at $750/month.
Is it cheaper to hire a bookkeeper or outsource?
For businesses under approximately $10M in revenue, outsourcing is almost always less expensive. A full-time in-house bookkeeper typically costs $55,000–$80,000 per year fully loaded (salary + benefits + payroll taxes + software + training). Outsourced bookkeeping at $750–$2,500/month produces equivalent or better quality with a controller-level review built in.
What does outsourced bookkeeping include?
Standard outsourced bookkeeping includes: monthly transaction categorization in QuickBooks Online, bank and credit-card reconciliations, A/R and A/P maintenance, monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow), and a controller review of the close package. Catch-up cleanup and entity setup are typically separate one-time fees.
How is bookkeeping priced?
Most reputable firms price by complexity rather than hours: transaction volume, number of accounts and entities, accrual vs. cash basis, industry-specific reporting (WIP for construction, deferred revenue for SaaS), and reporting depth. Hourly billing is common for project work; recurring engagements are almost always flat-fee monthly.
Quick Answers
- How much does bookkeeping cost per month?
- Most small businesses pay $500–$2,500 per month for outsourced bookkeeping. Solopreneurs run $300–$600, $500K–$3M businesses run $750–$1,500, and $3M–$10M businesses run $1,500–$3,000.
- Is outsourced bookkeeping cheaper than in-house?
- For businesses under ~$10M in revenue, yes. A full-time in-house bookkeeper costs $55K–$80K per year fully loaded (≈$4,500–$6,700/month) versus $750–$2,500/month outsourced — with controller-level review built in.
- What's the cheapest legitimate bookkeeping option?
- For businesses under $500K in revenue with simple cash-basis books, expect $300–$600/month from a reputable outsourced firm. Below that price, quality and reconciliation discipline typically suffer.
Get a real quote, not a range
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