Average monthly bookkeeping costs in the US run from about $100 to $700 for most small businesses that outsource, and $1,000 or more for complex books. NerdWallet puts the typical figure at around $300 a month. Published provider plans start at $99 (software-led), $149 to $300 (entry human-assisted) and $399 to $599 (dedicated monthly or weekly service). An in-house bookkeeper costs far more: the median US wage is $50,670 a year, before benefits.
This guide sets out what bookkeeping costs by the hour, by the month and by the year, and compares freelancers, bookkeeping firms, in-house staff and outsourced teams. Every figure comes from a published source, linked where it is used. If you want a quote for your own books, our bookkeeping services for small business are priced against your transaction volume and scope.
Bookkeeping costs at a glance
| How you buy bookkeeping | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In-house bookkeeper, wages only | $50,670 a year median ($24.36 an hour) | BLS, May 2025 |
| In-house bookkeeper, with benefits | About $72,400 a year at the median | Our estimate from BLS wage and benefit data |
| Freelance bookkeeper | About $43 an hour on average, $80 or more at the top | NerdWallet, citing Upwork |
| Software-led bookkeeping service | From $99 a month | Pilot Essentials |
| Entry human-assisted service | From $149 to $300 a month | Wave Advisors; QuickBooks Live Full Service |
| Dedicated monthly bookkeeping | From $399 a month (monthly close) or $599 (weekly) | Bookkeeper360 |
| Bundled bookkeeping and tax | $469 a month billed yearly, from 75 transactions a month | 1-800Accountant Business Complete |
| Cleanup or catch-up work | From $1,000 a project | Bookkeeper360 |
| Bookkeeping software alone | Free to $340 a month | Wave, Zoho Books, Xero, QuickBooks Online |
What does bookkeeping typically include?
Before comparing prices, make sure you are comparing the same work. Standard bookkeeping covers:
- Recording daily financial transactions
- Categorizing income and expenses
- Bank and credit card reconciliations
- Accounts payable and receivable tracking
- Invoice generation and payment follow-up
- Payroll data coordination (not always payroll processing itself)
- Basic financial reports such as the profit and loss statement and balance sheet
- A monthly close
Cash flow forecasting, budgeting, sales tax filing, payroll processing, tax returns and CFO-level analysis are usually priced separately or included only in higher tiers. Two quotes can differ by hundreds of dollars a month simply because one includes these and the other does not.
Average bookkeeping hourly rates in the US
Hourly pricing is common for freelancers and for one-off work such as a cleanup. There are two useful reference points: what employed bookkeepers earn, and what freelancers charge.
Wages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks earned a median of $24.36 an hour ($50,670 a year) in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $36,000 a year and the highest 10% more than $74,550, which works out to roughly $17 to $36 an hour on a full-time year.
Freelance rates. Freelancers charge more than the wage, because the rate covers their own taxes, software, insurance and unbilled time. NerdWallet cites Upwork data putting the average rate for bookkeeping services at $43 an hour, with many bookkeepers charging $80 or more.
| Hourly reference point | Rate |
|---|---|
| Employed bookkeeper, lowest 10% | Under about $17 an hour |
| Employed bookkeeper, median | $24.36 an hour |
| Employed bookkeeper, highest 10% | Over about $36 an hour |
| Freelance bookkeeper, average (Upwork) | About $43 an hour |
| Freelance bookkeeper, experienced | $80 an hour or more |
Rates rise with experience, certification, industry specialism and complexity. They also vary by location: bookkeepers in large, high-cost metro areas generally charge more than those in smaller markets, and a remote or offshore bookkeeper may charge less than either.
When hourly makes sense:
- A one-time cleanup or catch-up
- A very small business with low transaction volume
- Short-term or project-based needs, such as preparing for a loan or a tax deadline
Once transactions recur weekly and you need monthly reports, hourly billing gets unpredictable, and a monthly plan is usually better value.
Monthly bookkeeping plans: the most common model
Most small and mid-sized businesses pay a fixed monthly fee. It makes costs predictable and ties the provider to a regular close.
What published plans cost
| Provider and plan | Monthly price | What sets the price |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot Essentials | From $99 | AI categorizes and reconciles; for up to $100,000 in monthly expenses |
| Wave Advisors | From $149 | Bookkeeping support added to Wave’s software |
| QuickBooks Live Full Service Bookkeeping | From $300, after a one-time cleanup fee | Starting price; the cleanup fee is not published |
| Bookkeeper360 Monthly | From $399 | Books closed each month |
| Bookkeeper360 Weekly | From $599 | Books updated weekly |
| 1-800Accountant Business Complete | $469, billed yearly | Dedicated bookkeeper, starting at 75 monthly transactions, bundled with tax |
| Pilot Core and Custom | Quoted | Dedicated US-based bookkeeper; price scales with monthly expenses |
Across the market, NerdWallet puts most packages between about $200 and $700 a month and up. Its analysis of what bookkeepers report on forums such as r/Bookkeeping puts basic services at about $250 to $350, mid-range services at $500 to $700, and premium services at $1,000 and up.
How transaction volume changes the price
Providers rarely publish a simple price per transaction. They price on a proxy for volume: monthly expenses (Pilot), monthly transactions (1-800Accountant) or how often the books are closed (Bookkeeper360). In practice the bands look like this:
| Your volume | Where you are likely to land | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low: a few dozen transactions, one bank account | Software-led or entry plans, about $99 to $300 a month | Mostly automated categorization and one reconciliation |
| Moderate: around 100 transactions, payroll | Dedicated monthly plans, about $300 to $700 a month | A bookkeeper reviews every account and closes monthly |
| High: hundreds of transactions, inventory, several channels | $1,000 a month and up, or a custom quote | More accounts, more reconciliations, weekly close, inventory and sales tax |
These bands combine the published plan prices above with NerdWallet’s ranges; your quote will depend on the factors below.
What influences bookkeeping costs?
- Business size and transaction volume. More transactions mean more hours of categorizing and reconciling.
- Number of accounts. Each bank account, credit card, payment processor and loan needs its own reconciliation.
- Industry. Inventory, sales tax across states, or regulated industries such as healthcare add work and risk.
- Location. Local rates follow local wages and demand.
- Bookkeeper expertise. A certified or specialist bookkeeper charges more than a generalist.
- Services required. Payroll, sales tax, tax preparation and forecasting all add cost.
- Technology. Providers that automate data capture and matching can charge less for the same volume; ask how they use software and what that means for your price.
- Close frequency and reporting. Weekly books and custom reports cost more than a monthly close with standard statements.
What ecommerce and DTC brands pay for
For a growing direct-to-consumer brand, revenue alone is not the main pricing factor. Bookkeepers look at:
- Monthly transaction volume
- Number of bank and payment accounts
- Inventory complexity
- Marketplace sales (Amazon, Shopify, Walmart and others), where each payout bundles sales, fees, refunds and taxes
- Payroll requirements
- Month-end reporting expectations
- Multi-entity or multi-country operations
Two brands with the same revenue can pay very different amounts if one sells through a single Shopify store and the other through five channels in three countries.
Business size and type: what a monthly bill usually covers
| Business profile | Typical workload | Where it usually sits |
|---|---|---|
| Independent consultant or freelancer | Few transactions, one account, no inventory | Software alone, or an entry plan |
| Service business with payroll | Around 100 transactions, payroll, a few accounts | A dedicated monthly plan |
| Retailer or ecommerce brand | Hundreds of transactions, inventory, several channels | A higher-tier or custom plan, often with weekly closes |
The more complex your operations, the less a single freelancer can cover on their own, and the more a firm or outsourced team with review and backup makes sense.
Annual bookkeeping spend: what businesses actually pay
Annual bookkeeping cost is the monthly fee times twelve, plus any one-off work. Using the published prices above:
| Model | Annual cost | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Software only | $0 to about $4,080 | Free plans up to QuickBooks Online Advanced at $340 a month list price |
| Software-led service | From about $1,190 | Pilot Essentials at $99 a month |
| Entry human-assisted service | About $1,790 to $3,600 | Wave Advisors at $149, QuickBooks Live Full Service at $300 a month |
| Dedicated monthly bookkeeping | About $4,790 to $7,190 | Bookkeeper360 at $399 to $599 a month |
| Bundled bookkeeping and tax | About $5,630 | 1-800Accountant at $469 a month |
| In-house bookkeeper at the median | About $72,400 | BLS median wage plus benefits (see below) |
Add one-off costs in the first year: a cleanup or catch-up project (Bookkeeper360 starts at $1,000), any setup fee, and your accounting software if the service does not include it.
Although bookkeeping is often seen as a cost center, accurate books reduce tax penalties, keep cash flow visible and support lending and fundraising. That value usually outweighs the fee.
Freelance vs firm vs in-house vs outsourced bookkeeping
| Model | Typical cost | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance bookkeeper | About $43 an hour on average (Upwork, via NerdWallet) | Flexible, pay for hours used | One person, no backup; quality varies; hours can creep |
| Online bookkeeping firm | About $99 to $700+ a month on published plans | Fixed fee, software included or integrated, a review process | Standard scope; extras billed separately |
| In-house bookkeeper | About $50,670 median wages, about $72,400 with benefits | Full control, on site, immediate answers | Highest cost; hiring, training, turnover and cover for leave |
| Outsourced team | Quoted by scope and volume | A team rather than one person, scales with volume, no hiring | Less day-to-day control; depends on clear communication |
Why in-house costs more than the salary
The median wage is only part of the cost. The BLS reports that benefits made up 30.0% of private industry employers’ compensation costs in June 2026. Applied to the median bookkeeper wage of $50,670, that implies total compensation of about $72,400 a year, or about $6,000 a month, before recruiting, training, software, equipment and management time. That is our own calculation from the two BLS figures, not a BLS estimate for bookkeepers specifically.
Costs to watch for beyond the base rate
- Catch-up or historical cleanup work
- Payroll processing and payroll tax filings
- Sales tax, especially across several states
- Software subscriptions: QuickBooks Online lists $38 to $340 a month, Xero $25 to $90 after its introductory offer, and Zoho Books is free under $50K revenue and from $15 a month billed yearly
- Custom reporting, forecasting or audit support
- Year-end work for your tax preparer
Ask every provider what is included and what is billed extra. That one question explains most of the difference between quotes.
How Atidiv provides value for money in bookkeeping
Businesses often struggle to balance accurate books with cost, especially as transaction volumes grow and reconciliations slip. Atidiv’s bookkeeping services for small business are built for growing consumer brands, DTC companies and ecommerce businesses.
- Flexible models: a fixed monthly fee for full- or part-time bookkeeping, or a project for a cleanup, at custom pricing.
- The full monthly cycle: daily transaction processing, reconciliations, payables and receivables, month-end close and reporting.
- Your software: QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage, Zoho or FreshBooks, with QuickBooks- and Xero-certified professionals.
- A structured start: we onboard and review your setup, standardize accounts and automate what we can, then run the monthly close and dashboards.
- Teams in Miami, Pune and Manila.
Our pricing is custom, set against your transaction volume, accounts and scope, so you can compare it line by line with the bands above. Contact us for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What are average monthly bookkeeping costs in the US?
Most small businesses that outsource pay about $100 to $700 a month, and NerdWallet puts the typical figure around $300. Published plans start at $99 for software-led service, $149 to $300 for entry human-assisted plans and $399 to $599 for dedicated monthly or weekly bookkeeping. Complex books cost $1,000 a month or more.
How much does a bookkeeper cost per month?
It depends on the model. An outsourced service typically costs $100 to $700 a month for a small business. An in-house bookkeeper at the median US wage costs about $4,200 a month in wages alone, and about $6,000 once benefits are included.
What is the average bookkeeping hourly rate in the US?
Employed bookkeepers earned a median of $24.36 an hour in May 2025, according to the BLS. Freelancers charge more to cover their own costs: Upwork data cited by NerdWallet puts the average at $43 an hour, with experienced bookkeepers at $80 or more.
How much does annual bookkeeping cost?
For a small business using an outsourced service, roughly $1,200 to $7,200 a year on published plans, plus any cleanup in the first year. An in-house bookkeeper at the median costs about $50,670 a year in wages and about $72,400 with benefits.
Is hourly bookkeeping cheaper than a monthly plan?
For a very small business or a one-time task, hourly can be cheaper. Once transactions recur and you need monthly reports, a fixed monthly plan is usually more predictable and better value.
Is outsourcing bookkeeping more cost-effective than hiring in-house?
For most small and mid-sized businesses, yes. Published outsourced plans cost a fraction of the roughly $72,400 a year a median in-house bookkeeper costs with benefits, and remove recruiting, training and turnover. In-house makes more sense when the volume needs a full-time person on site.
Why do bookkeeping rates vary so much?
Transaction volume, number of accounts, industry, inventory, sales channels, payroll, reporting frequency, the bookkeeper’s expertise and location all change the work involved, and providers price on different measures of it.
Can small businesses afford professional bookkeeping?
Yes. Software-led and entry plans start between $99 and $300 a month, and free or low-cost software covers the smallest businesses. Services can be upgraded as volume grows.
Ben has a strong expertise in combining data and strategic thinking to help businesses that are in the process of growth, plan smarter, grow faster and make better business decisions. He has experience in economic research and managing operations, providing him with a broad & rounded analytical perspective from many angles. Curiosity is coupled with logical reasoning. Therefore he enjoys tackling complex issues and converting analysis/insights into action.