How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost?

How much does a bookkeeper cost for a small business? What do they charge? And how do hourly rate and monthly pricing actually compare?

These questions all feed into the overall bookkeeping services cost you need to plan for.

Good news: most small businesses fall into a few predictable pricing bands. Once you know where you sit, it's easier to judge whether you're getting a fair deal.

Not sure what fair looks like?

Get in touch with FlowFi.

We'll match you with a vetted bookkeeper and clear pricing for bookkeeping services.

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How much does a bookkeeper cost for a small business?

For most U.S. small businesses, ongoing bookkeeping lands between a few hundred dollars a month and a few thousand. Complexity and who you hire drive the range.

Very simple, low-transaction businesses can get by with light support at the bottom. As volume, accounts, and expectations grow, fees climb with them.

If you're still asking "what does a bookkeeper do" beyond data entry, think: accurate records, reconciled accounts, clean reports, numbers ready for tax and decisions.

Recent benchmarks put typical outsourced bookkeeping between $300 and $2,500 per month. Transaction volume, complexity, and scope of work determine where you land.

Starter packages run around $200–$300 per month. Multi-entity setups with controller review push past $2,500.

In practice:

Low end: lean starter package.

Middle: more involved monthly relationship.

High end: deeper analysis, reporting, and cleanup work.

Freelancers sometimes land slightly cheaper than full-service firms. But once you factor in experience and time, rates sit in the same ballpark.

So how much does bookkeeping cost for small business owners in practice?

Your small business bookkeeping cost usually falls into one of three bands.

Foundation tier. Simple service businesses with few transactions.

Mid tier. Growing companies that want proper closes and reporting.

Higher tier. Inventory, multiple locations, or demanding reporting needs.

If you're looking at bookkeeping for startups, you'll typically start low. You'll move up fast as transaction volume and investor expectations grow.

Wondering when to hire a bookkeeper?

Good rule: once closing your books each month eats into time you should spend on sales or delivery, it's time to move out of DIY.

How much does a bookkeeper cost per hour?

Hourly pricing is common when your needs are light or irregular.

A typical bookkeeper hourly rate for a straightforward small business sits in the $30–$60 per hour range. Location and experience drive variation.

Lower-cost areas or basic work: rates from the low $20s upward.

Coastal cities and specialist work: higher end of the range.

Freelancers generally cover that same band. Many charge $25–$60 per hour. Certified or highly experienced bookkeepers sometimes charge $75–$100+ for complex tasks.

Larger firms and CPA practices sit at the top. More overhead. More layers of review.

For basic data entry or simple catch-up, a lower rate works fine. But when you need bookkeeping clean up services for messy, multi-entity books, paying more for expertise saves money long-term.

So how much do bookkeepers charge per hour when your books are more complex?

Higher rates are common for inventory-heavy e-commerce, multiple bank and credit card accounts, detailed revenue recognition, or frequent investor reporting.

You're paying for time and judgment. Both matter.

How much does monthly bookkeeping cost?

Monthly pricing appears once you have consistent activity and want predictable support.

Most monthly bookkeeping services price tiers based on transaction count, accounts to reconcile, and whether extras like payroll, AP, or AR are included.

Each step up buys more time, more review, and more services bundled into one fee.

Recent benchmarks: ongoing outsourced bookkeeping commonly falls around $300–$1,500 per month. Complex setups run $1,500 to $2,500+ when controller review is layered in.

Low end: a few hundred per month for minimal activity.

High end: several thousand per month for multi-entity, high-volume, or regulated businesses.

For many small businesses, their average bookkeeping cost per month ends up between a lean starter plan and a comprehensive package with regular check-ins and clear reporting.

Simple service businesses sit on the lower end. E-commerce, restaurants, and inventory-heavy companies live toward the middle or higher. More work each month.

Bookkeeping pricing: hourly rates and monthly fees compared

Hourly billing suits very small businesses with unpredictable needs or occasional cleanup. You only pay for hours used. Good for testing relationships or low-volume books.

Trade-off: less predictability. Bills jump if you suddenly need more help.

Monthly fees work better with steady activity. Clear budget line. Consistent month-end processes instead of sporadic fixes.

Fixed fees encourage proactive relationships. Your bookkeeper plans recurring tasks instead of waiting for ad hoc requests.

When you compare bookkeeping pricing structure, look at hourly versus monthly side-by-side. See which model fits how your business actually behaves.

Some firms publish clear bookkeeping packages pricing so you see exactly what each tier includes. Freelancers may offer "soft packages" too. Estimated hours, consistent retainer, work stays within agreed bounds.

Average bookkeeping rates per hour and per month for small businesses

Average cost of bookkeeping services for small business

Blend hourly and monthly models together. You see a predictable range for ongoing support.

Across providers, the average cost of a bookkeeper for a small business reflects time needed to keep books accurate. Plus a premium for experience, systems, and reliability.

Simple businesses get by near the bottom. Growing or complex companies sit higher.

Most benchmarks show a middle band around $500–$900 per month for stable, recurring bookkeeping. Minimal setups below. Complex arrangements above.

Not rules. But useful benchmarks when comparing quotes or judging if your setup fits your size.

Those ranges imply an underlying bookkeeper hourly rate in the mid-$20s to mid-$60s. Reverse-engineer what goes into the monthly fee.

Even flat monthly prices assume a certain number of thoughtful hours per month. And what each hour is worth in your market.

Measuring value vs bookkeeping cost for small business owners

Tempting to treat bookkeeping as pure cost. Aim for the lowest fee.

But bookkeeping service cost is easier to justify when you compare it with the cost of bookkeeping mistakes, delays, and missed opportunities.

Late filings. Inaccurate records. Poor visibility. These become more expensive than paying for reliable help upfront.

Higher bookkeeping rates are tied to more complex work. Inventory. Multiple entities. Tight deadlines. Investor expectations.

You're not paying for data entry. You're paying for judgment, systems thinking, and catching problems before they hit your tax return or cash flow.

The real return: time saved and stress reduced.

Hours back every month. Spent on sales, delivery, or hiring instead of chasing receipts.

Better decisions because numbers are clean and current. That combination is worth far more than the line item. As long as the work is done well.

Key takeaways on bookkeeping fees for small business owners

No single "correct" fee. But there are normal ranges.

Very small, low-volume businesses need a few hours a month. Billed hourly or as a small retainer.

As you grow, you benefit from consistent monthly packages with clear scope and deliverables.

Instead of chasing a single number, think of bookkeeping prices as a range. Defined by complexity, transaction volume, and appetite for support beyond basic reconciliations.

Better question: "What level of accuracy, timeliness, and insight do we need?" Then see where that places you in market bands.

If the bookkeeper rates you're paying are far outside these ranges for your size, ask what you're getting in return.

Sometimes higher fees are justified. Deeper involvement. Better reporting. Fewer headaches.

Other times it signals scope creep, inefficiency, or a mismatch. Quick comparison against benchmarks shows whether to renegotiate, resize, or explore different models.

Want a second opinion? Reach out to FlowFi. We'll walk you through options and match you with a bookkeeper who fits your business and budget.

Hit "Book a call" at the top of the page.

FAQs on how much bookkeeping services cost

How much do accountants charge for bookkeeping?

Accountants and CPAs charge more for bookkeeping than dedicated firms or freelancers. You're paying for training, licensing, and oversight. CPA bookkeeping rates sit toward $60–$100+ per hour, especially within broader tax or advisory relationships.

When weighing bookkeeper vs CPA for bookkeeping, understand the price gap.

For straightforward transaction coding and reconciliations, a skilled bookkeeper is often better value.

CPAs make sense when you need tax strategy, audit prep, or complex compliance layered on top.

If your CPA does your bookkeeping at CPA rates, ask if that's necessary. A dedicated bookkeeper could handle recurring work at lower cost. Your CPA focuses on higher-level advisory.

Wondering how much to charge for bookkeeping services?

If you're a bookkeeper or accountant reading this, you might be thinking about your own pricing.

FlowFi runs a vetted expert network. We connect experienced finance professionals with ambitious clients.

Long-term relationships. Curated matches. No race-to-the-bottom pricing.

Focus on delivering high-quality work. FlowFi handles matching, structure, and support.

Interested in turning expertise into predictable income with better-fit clients? Explore the expert network.

Resources: current benchmarks on bookkeeping costs

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (median wages)

• Haven – Average Cost of Bookkeeping Services for Small Business

• YF Advisors – Bookkeeping Services for Small Business (average $300–$2,500/month range)

• QuickBooks Live – Full-Service Bookkeeping Pricing

• Omniga – Bookkeeping Services Pricing 2025 (small business $200–$600/month and $1,500+/month ranges)