Hiring · 9 min read

CPA Fee Schedule: What CPAs Charge in 2026

CPA fees vary by service, complexity, geography, and how the firm bills (hourly, fixed, or value-based). Use this fee schedule as a benchmark before you accept a quote — anything dramatically lower usually means cut scope, and anything dramatically higher should come with a written explanation.

Hourly rates by role

Staff accountant: $80–$150/hr
Senior accountant: $150–$250/hr
Manager: $200–$350/hr
Partner / principal: $300–$600/hr
Tax specialist or director: $400–$800/hr

Tax preparation flat fees

Personal 1040 (no Schedule C): $300–$700
Personal 1040 with Schedule C or E: $500–$1,500
LLC / partnership return (1065): $900–$2,500
S-Corp return (1120-S): $1,000–$2,800
C-Corp return (1120): $1,200–$3,500
State returns: $150–$400 each, multi-state add-ons common

Monthly bookkeeping packages

Starter (≤50 transactions/mo): $300–$500
Growth (50–250 transactions/mo): $500–$1,200
Scale (250–1,000 transactions/mo): $1,200–$3,000
Custom (>1,000 transactions or inventory): $3,000+

Free download

The CPA-Ready Business Finance Starter Kit

A practical, advisor-grade workbook for owners and founders — the foundations your CPA wishes every client showed up with. Books, taxes, cash flow, and entity decisions, in one place.

Monthly bookkeeping rhythm
Tax-ready document checklist
Entity & S-Corp decision guide
Cash flow & owner pay basics

Download free PDF Preview in browser

No signup required. Informational only — consult your CPA for advice.

Ready for the next step?

See the full Lead-Magnet Funnel — from free checklist to advisor-grade systems.

Open the funnel

Payroll, advisory, and CFO work

Payroll processing: $40–$150/mo base + $5–$15 per employee
Quarterly tax planning: $500–$2,000 per session
S-Corp reasonable comp study: $400–$1,200
Fractional CFO retainer: $1,500–$8,000/mo
Audit representation: $200–$500/hr, often billed in retainer blocks

What drives a higher quote

The same return can cost twice as much at two firms because of complexity hiding in the details — multi-state nexus, K-1s from passthroughs, foreign accounts, cryptocurrency, rental portfolios, prior-year amendments, or just messy books that the CPA has to clean before they can prep.

How to negotiate

Get three written quotes for identical scope. Ask each firm to break out what's included vs add-ons. A CPA willing to publish a fee schedule is a positive signal — opaque pricing usually means the bill grows after engagement.

Frequently asked

Why is my quote so much higher than the ranges above?

Either your situation is more complex than you think (multi-state, K-1s, crypto, prior year issues) or the firm is at the high end of the market. Ask for a written scope to see exactly what's driving the number.

Should I pay hourly or flat fee?

Flat fee is safer for predictable work like an annual return. Hourly makes sense for advisory and IRS response work where the scope is genuinely unknown.

Do CPAs charge for phone calls?

Many do, in 6 or 15-minute increments. Look for firms that include a defined number of advisory minutes in their flat fee — that aligns incentives better than the meter running every time you call.

Are CPA fees deductible?

Yes, fees tied to your business are fully deductible. Fees for personal tax prep are no longer deductible on Schedule A under current law.

What about cheap online tax services?

Fine for a W-2 only return. Once you have a Schedule C, K-1s, rental properties, or multi-state filings, the savings disappear quickly when you factor in missed deductions and audit risk.

Next step

Need a real human? Find a verified CPA in your city.

Search the directory More guides