Average Bookkeeping Costs in the US: Hourly Rates, Monthly Plans, and Annual Spend

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What Does Bookkeeping Typically Include?
• Average Hourly Bookkeeping Rates in the US
• Monthly Bookkeeping Plans: The Most Common Model
• Annual Bookkeeping Spend: What Businesses Actually Pay
• Summary Table: Average Bookkeeping Costs in the US
• How Atidiv Provides Value for Money F&A Services
• Bookkeeping Hourly Rate FAQs

Bookkeeping is one of the most essential yet misunderstood business expenses. Many business owners know they “need a bookkeeper,” but few clearly understand bookkeeping hourly rate in the United States—or why prices vary so widely. Some businesses pay a few hundred dollars a month, while others spend several thousand annually for what seems like the same service. The pricing difference could be attributed to several factors that range from the complexity of the functions and the workload you require to be taken care of.

Introduction

The truth is that bookkeeping costs depend on multiple factors: 

• business size, 
• transaction volume, 
• complexity, 
• service model, and 
• whether the work is done in-house or outsourced. 

Understanding these cost structures helps businesses budget accurately and avoid overpaying, so that their market decisions always lead to overflowing profits. For that to happen with your enterprise, you must choose the right level of support for your financial needs. The catch is that hourly rates, monthly plans, and consequently your annual spend depend on this level. Here is a comprehensive guide to the costs you can expect for your bookkeeping needs in the US.

What Does Bookkeeping Typically Include?

Before examining the said costs, it’s important to understand what bookkeeping services usually cover. Standard bookkeeping tasks include:

• Recording daily financial transactions
• Categorizing income and expenses
• Bank and credit card reconciliations
• Accounts payable and receivable tracking
• Invoice generation and payment monitoring
• Payroll data coordination (not always payroll processing itself)
• Preparation of basic financial reports such as profit & loss statements and balance sheets

Advanced services, including cash flow forecasting, budgeting, or financial analysis, are often priced separately or included in higher-tier plans.

Average Bookkeeping Hourly Rates in the US

Hourly pricing is one of the most common types of bookkeeping services that is chosen by small businesses, and the major reason behind it is cost-effectiveness. Keeping an in-house bookkeeper is too much of a financial burden and, to some extent, unnecessary unless you are witnessing unprecedented growth early on.

However, the idea that freelancing services are cheap is too reductionist and must be taken with a pinch of salt. Here is why: 

• The expertise of the bookkeeper is a major factor that decides hourly rates, and you need to hit the sweet spot between efficacy and affordability while choosing
• The location of your business also contributes significantly to affordability, as rural regions will typically have lower costs than commercial hubs
• The complexity of your accounting processes and the tools you work with could influence pricing

These are the average hourly rates that you could expect bookkeepers to charge:

• Entry-level or freelance bookkeepers: $15–$50 per hour
• Experienced bookkeepers: $25–$35 per hour
• Specialized or senior-level bookkeepers: $30–$50+ per hour

Bookkeepers in the metropolitan cities could charge slightly more than these rates.

When should you hire bookkeepers on an hourly basis? 

• When you require a one-time cleanup or catch-up work
• If you are a very small business with low transaction volume
• You require bookkeeping services for short-term or project-based needs

In this context, it is relevant to note that the demand for virtual or offshore bookkeepers is on the rise. Businesses are acquiring the services of these experts with deep domain knowledge through reliable outsourcing agencies like Atidiv.

Therefore, in 2025, your business will have ample options to choose the right personnel to carry out bookkeeping tasks and not settle for cheap options for the sake of making cost savings. When transaction volumes increase or growth is unpredictable, you might as well opt for monthly bookkeeping services.

Monthly Bookkeeping Plans: The Most Common Model

For most small and mid-sized businesses, monthly bookkeeping plans are the preferred option. These plans provide ongoing support at a fixed cost, which helps with predictability and consistency.

Let us now take a look at the average monthly bookkeeping  costs that you can expect:

• Solo entrepreneurs and freelancers: $200–$500 per month
• Small businesses (10–100 transactions/month): $500–$1,200 per month
• Growing businesses (high transaction volume): $2,500+ per month

What is the rationale behind these figures, you might think. Let us try to understand the major pointers:

• Number of transactions per month
• Number of bank and credit card accounts
• Complexity of revenue streams
• Frequency of reporting
• Industry-specific requirements

Thus, the more complex and extensive your financial touchpoints are, the more effort it takes to extract data, verify it, and generate accurate reports. These are the clear indicators that you need a monthly bookkeeping service instead of fussing over bookkeeping hourly rates:

• Transactions are recurring: Sales, expenses, and payments happen weekly or monthly.
• Monthly reports are needed: Profit & loss, cash flow, or balance sheets are reviewed regularly.
• Invoicing is ongoing: Customer billing and payment follow-ups are frequent.
• Payroll or sales tax applies: Compliance requires consistent, timely bookkeeping.
• Transaction volume is increasing: Hourly costs become unpredictable.
• Financial data drives decisions: Accurate, up-to-date numbers are needed for planning and growth.

Therefore, if you are a service-based business with simple transactions, you will pay less than businesses that require extensive inventory management or have sales tax obligations. The annual bookkeeping rates give you a clearer picture of how much you are spending on F&A services.

Annual Bookkeeping Spend: What Businesses Actually Pay

The annual bookkeeping costs reflect a year-round comprehensive and continual accounting service, and not one-off reconciliations or report generation. These services might include historical cleanup of financial data, which involves complex processes requiring automated systems and analytical logic. Moreover, data migration requirements might also bring up costs further, in case you merge businesses or integrate cloud systems.

The median annual earnings of bookkeepers in the US were $49,210, according to data from 2024, keeping the bookkeeping hourly rate at $23.66. Let us take a look at the average annual costs of appointing a bookkeeper:

• Freelancers & micro-businesses: $2,500–$6,000 per year
• Small businesses: $6,000–$15,000 per year
• Mid-sized businesses: $15,000–$40,000+ per year

Although bookkeeping is often viewed as a cost center, many businesses find that accurate books reduce tax penalties, improve cash flow management, and support better decision-making. These advantages are seriously considered by businesses because they could potentially offset the expense.

Summary Table: Average Bookkeeping Costs in the US

It is understandable if you find yourself at sea with all these figures before your eyes. Let us help you out. Here is a table that charts out the cost range that you could expect for bookkeeping services based on the accounting features that you require.

Therefore, identify your business type and the major accounting requirements to understand your bookkeeping expenses in 2025.

How Atidiv Provides Value for Money F&A Service

Businesses across industries often struggle to balance bookkeeping accuracy with cost efficiency, as inconsistent records, delayed reconciliations, compliance risks, and rising bookkeeping expenses continue to trouble them with growing transaction volumes.

With 16+ years of experience in Finance & Accounting outsourcing, Atidiv has a team of 390,000+ accounting professionals partnering with global businesses. 

Here is how Atidiv delivers value-for-money F&A services:

• Cost-efficient bookkeeping models: Flexible hourly, monthly, and annual support structures that align with your transaction volume and growth stage.
• Experienced bookkeeping professionals: Skilled teams with hands-on expertise across industries, accounting standards, and leading accounting software.
• Process-driven accuracy: Standardized workflows for transaction recording, reconciliations, and reporting to reduce errors and rework
• Technology-enabled efficiency: Use of automation, cloud accounting tools, and real-time reporting to minimize manual effort and bookkeeping hourly overruns
• Scalable support: Easily scale services up or down as your business grows, without the fixed cost of an in-house bookkeeper
• Compliance-ready books: Clean, audit-ready records that support tax filings, reviews, and financial decision-making.

By partnering with Atidiv, businesses gain reliable bookkeeping support that delivers accuracy, transparency, and predictable costs without overpaying for unnecessary resources.

Looking to optimize your bookkeeping costs without compromising accuracy? Get in touch with us today to access cost-effective, scalable Finance & Accounting services tailored to your business needs.

Bookkeeping Hourly Rate FAQs

1. What is the average bookkeeping hourly rate in the US in 2025?

The average bookkeeping hourly rate in the US typically ranges from $15 to $50 per hour, depending on the bookkeeper’s experience, location, and the complexity of your accounting requirements. Specialized or senior bookkeepers may charge higher rates.

2. Is hourly bookkeeping cheaper than monthly bookkeeping plans?

Hourly bookkeeping may appear cheaper for very small businesses or one-time tasks, but costs can become unpredictable as transaction volume increases. Monthly plans often provide better value for businesses that need ongoing bookkeeping support and regular reporting.

3. Why do bookkeeping rates vary so much between businesses?

Bookkeeping rates vary based on factors such as business size, transaction volume, industry complexity, number of accounts, compliance requirements, and whether services are provided locally, virtually, or offshore.