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The 2026 CPA Pricing Guide
What CPAs actually charge for tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, and advisory — by business type, by region, and by engagement model. Plus how to read a CPA proposal and what to negotiate.
- Median fees for individual & business tax returns
- Monthly bookkeeping & cleanup pricing benchmarks
- Advisory & fractional-CFO retainer ranges
What's inside
- Average hourly rates for CPAs by region and firm size
- Flat-fee benchmarks for 1040, 1065, 1120-S, and 1120 returns
- Monthly bookkeeping pricing tied to transaction volume
- Cleanup project pricing and how it's scoped
- S-Corp payroll & compliance bundle pricing
- Advisory and fractional-CFO retainer ranges
- A 10-point checklist for evaluating any CPA proposal
Want personalized pricing? Request 3 quotes from verified CPAs in your area.