Hiring · 7 min read

How Much Does Monthly Bookkeeping Cost?

Monthly bookkeeping for U.S. small businesses generally runs $300 to $3,000+ per month. The number depends on transaction volume, software, number of accounts, payroll status, and how clean the books were when the engagement started.

Pricing tiers in 2026

  • Solopreneur / pre-revenue: $200–$400/mo (≤30 transactions)
  • Small business starter: $400–$700/mo (30–150 transactions)
  • Established small business: $700–$1,500/mo (150–500 transactions)
  • Multi-account / multi-entity: $1,500–$3,000/mo
  • High-volume ecommerce or restaurants: $2,500–$6,000/mo

What pushes pricing up

  • More than two bank accounts and one credit card
  • Inventory tracking and COGS calculations
  • AR/AP management (collections, bill pay)
  • Payroll for more than 5 employees
  • Multi-state sales tax filings
  • Class/location/project tracking for management reporting
  • Catch-up or cleanup of prior periods

In-house vs outsourced

A part-time in-house bookkeeper costs $25–$45/hr plus payroll taxes and tools — typically $1,500–$3,500/mo for 10–20 hours/week of coverage. Outsourced firms bundle the software, training, and backup coverage, often coming in below the loaded cost of an employee for the same scope.

The CPA-Ready Business Finance Starter Kit cover

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

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

Software costs to factor in

  • QuickBooks Online: $35–$235/mo by tier
  • Xero: $20–$80/mo
  • Bill.com or Melio for AP: $0–$80/mo + per-payment
  • Gusto or Rippling for payroll (separate)
  • Hubdoc, Dext, or Ramp for receipt capture

Hidden costs to ask about

  • Year-end close fee
  • 1099 filing fee
  • Additional account or entity charges
  • Cleanup of prior bookkeeper's mistakes
  • Custom reporting requests outside standard P&L/BS

Frequently asked

Is monthly bookkeeping worth it?

Once you're past 30 transactions a month or have employees, yes. The cost of doing it badly — missed deductions, tax surprises, audit risk — is higher than the monthly fee.

Can I just do my books once a year?

You can, but you'll lose the ability to make decisions on current data and you'll usually pay more because the bookkeeper has to reconstruct a year of activity at once.

Why are quotes so different?

Scope. Always ask what's included in the price — software, payroll JEs, sales tax, AR/AP, year-end close, 1099s — and compare on the same scope.

Do I need a CPA-led bookkeeping firm?

Not necessarily, but CPA-led firms typically have stronger review processes and integrate better with tax planning. They tend to cost 20–40% more.

What software is best?

QuickBooks Online has the widest ecosystem and is the safest default. Xero is excellent for international or design-led teams. NetSuite makes sense above ~$10M revenue.

Next step

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