How Much Does Outsourced Bookkeeping Cost in 2026?
Published price ranges, what drives them, what catch-up work costs, and how to compare quotes like for like.
What do small businesses typically pay?
Published guides give wide ranges because “bookkeeping” covers very different amounts of work. Global FPO puts small-business bookkeeping at $200 to $2,500 a month, or $25 to $90 an hour. WSC Accounting breaks monthly cost down by annual revenue:
| Annual revenue | Typical monthly bookkeeping cost |
|---|---|
| Under $250K | $250 – $500 |
| $250K – $1M | $400 – $900 |
| $1M – $5M | $700 – $1,800 |
| $5M – $20M | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| $20M+ | $5,000+ |
Source: WSC Accounting. The same guide suggests budgeting $400 to $1,200 a month for solid outsourced bookkeeping and quotes $50 to $150 an hour for individual bookkeepers and CPA firms. Figures differ between providers and change over time, so treat them as ranges to check, not prices.
What drives the price?
- Transaction volume. Every line on every bank and card statement has to be reviewed and categorised.
- Number of accounts. Each bank account and credit card is a separate reconciliation. WSC Accounting cites roughly $25 to $50 a month per additional account.
- Payroll. Payroll has to be recorded and tied to the payroll register and liabilities.
- Entities and locations. Shared costs and intercompany transactions take real work.
- Inventory. Stock movements affect cost of goods.
- The state of the books. Clean books cost less to maintain than books that need constant correction.
- Reporting. More customised reporting costs more.
Hourly, flat monthly or per transaction?
Hourly billing is flexible but hard to predict, and it can discourage clients from asking questions. A flat monthly fee for a defined scope is easier to budget. Per-transaction pricing can suit very low or very high volumes. Whichever model is used, ask what is included, what triggers an extra charge, and whether the figure is confirmed in writing before you commit.
What does catch-up or cleanup cost?
Catch-up work is usually priced separately from the monthly fee. WSC Accounting gives a typical cleanup range of $1,500 to $6,000 depending on how far behind the books are. At A&M, ordinary small-business catch-up is typically $250 to $400 for each month brought up to date, quoted as a fixed price before work starts and never billed by the hour. Examples:
| Situation | A&M estimate |
|---|---|
| 3 months behind, one business, straightforward books | $750 – $1,200 |
| 12 months behind, straightforward books | $3,000 – $4,800 |
| 12 months behind, multi-location with payroll and inventory | $4,800 – $7,680 |
Ranges, not quotes. How catch-up works →
Why can offshore providers cost less?
An offshore provider does not carry U.S. office space, U.S. payroll or a U.S. sales team, so the same reconciliation can cost less. That is a difference in overhead, not necessarily in the quality of the work. It does mean due diligence matters more, because you are judging the provider on controls and results rather than on proximity. A due-diligence checklist →
What does white-label bookkeeping cost a CPA firm?
White-label pricing is usually quoted per client company, and the firm adds its own margin when it prices the client. Prices vary with volume, accounts, payroll, entities, locations and cleanup needed, so ask for a written per-company figure before you quote the client. A&M quotes firms a flat per-company price after a sample month, and a firm can start with a single client. How firm pricing works →
How A&M prices small-business bookkeeping
A&M's monthly bookkeeping starts at $275 a month, flat, for one company with two bank accounts, one credit card, monthly statements and reports. The figure then builds up in visible steps, for example $35 for each extra bank account, $30 for each extra card, $75 for each extra location and $125 if inventory is tracked, with higher transaction volumes and payroll adding further. The calculator shows the reason for every line, and the agreed fee is confirmed in writing after review. Estimate your price →
Sources
- Global FPO: “How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost for a Small Business in 2026?” ($200–$2,500 a month; $25–$90 an hour).
- WSC Accounting: “Bookkeeping Cost: A 2026 Pricing Guide for Small Business” (revenue-based ranges; cleanup $1,500–$6,000; $50–$150 an hour).
- A&M figures are from the A&M price calculator and catch-up pricing pages. Price figures were checked 3 October 2026; check the sources for current numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does bookkeeping cost for a small business?
Published 2026 guides give a wide range, roughly $200 to $2,500 a month, with $400 to $1,200 a common budget for solid outsourced service. The figure depends mainly on transaction volume, the number of accounts, payroll and how clean the books are.
Is outsourced bookkeeping cheaper than hiring someone?
It converts a salary and overheads into a monthly fee, so compare the total cost of an employee, including benefits, software and management time, with the outsourced fee for the same scope. The right answer depends on the volume of work.
Does a bookkeeping fee include tax filing?
No. Bookkeeping keeps the books current and reconciled. Tax preparation and filing are separate services from a CPA, enrolled agent or tax preparer.
Why do bookkeeping quotes differ so much?
Providers price different scopes, volumes and levels of review, and some bill hourly while others charge a flat fee. Compare quotes for the same list of accounts, transactions and deliverables.
Is catch-up bookkeeping billed by the hour?
At A&M it is not: catch-up is a fixed price agreed in writing before work starts. Other providers differ, so ask.
Work out your own figure
Set your accounts, volume and payroll in the calculator and see the reason for every line.