How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost Per Month? Prices, Models, and What Affects the Rate

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• How Much Do Businesses Pay Bookkeepers?
• What Influences Bookkeeping Costs?
• How Much Do Business Size and Industry Type Matter?
• In-House or Outsourced: Bookkeeping Costs Explained
• State-Wise Pricing Comparison
• New York, NY
• Los Angeles, CA
• Dallas, TX
• Miami, FL
• Rural Midwest
• How Atidiv Ensures Optimum Bookkeeping Service Costs
• How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost FAQs

Bookkeeping is a professional service, and it requires years of experience to represent financial data accurately for bank reconciliation or audit purposes. Like any professional service, the costs of this service vary due to reasons ranging from the complexity level of the job and the location you are in. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a singular answer to the question – how much does a bookkeeper cost –  as it can vary between a few hundred to a few thousand USD.

Introduction

Running a business means making constant financial decisions, and every one of those decisions depends on the accuracy of your records. This is where bookkeeping becomes essential. Yet one of the most common questions entrepreneurs ask is simple: How much does a bookkeeper cost per month? The cost of the bookkeeper could increase if

• You are on a hot growth streak and have interconnected books requiring intensive data pulling.
• You operate in the central business hubs of California or New York, raising the professional costs of freelance bookkeepers further.
• If you are outsourcing, the pricing model that you choose for finance and accounting services also matters a lot in these cases.

In 2025, your company needs to opt for high-quality bookkeeping services so that you can have full transparency over finances and total control over strategy-making.

How Much Do Businesses Pay Bookkeepers?

Bookkeepers charge fees according to your business type and how much work you want them to do for you. Here is a table that lists the monthly costs that you would incur, so that you can have a rough estimate of what these services are going to cost you annually.

While these are a general estimate, you must understand that these costs might exclude employee benefits and taxes, which could take the price some 15-25% higher.

What Influences Bookkeeping Costs?

Let us now look at the major price drivers that influence the bookkeeping sector. It will help you gain major insights into why prices vary, and plan your budget accordingly:

• Business size: The bigger your business, the more transactions you will have to handle, thus requiring bookkeepers to put in more work hours. Thus, the monthly cost will have to be adjusted accordingly.
• Industry type: According to the industry your business falls under, the time dedicated towards ensuring compliance will vary. For instance, in the healthcare and retail sectors, the regulations tend to be comparatively tighter. It could have a considerable overall impact on bookkeeping costs.
• Location: Depending on where your business is based, the bookkeeping costs could increase. The reason for this could range from the cost of living the place offers to the demand for bookkeeping professionals, impacting wages.
• Bookkeeper expertise: Bookkeeping fees could increase based on the expertise of the bookkeeper in carrying out complex processes required to carry out your F&A functions.
• Services required: Accounting costs could increase based on the tasks you need to get accomplished. For instance, simple balance sheet verification tasks could be called basic. However, prices might shoot for services like payroll management or tax preparation.
• Technology deployment: This is an area that you need to consider in case you are opting for an outsourcing agency. Based on its mettle, U.S. accounting firms will deploy automation to pull accurate data to generate financial reports. However, opt for the ones that give you a more or less stable budget to avoid budget overshooting later on.

In 2025, you must consider these factors before deciding whether the monthly costs for a particular F&A service are worth the deal.

How Much Do Business Size and Industry Type Matter?

Businesses with high transaction volumes or specialized operational needs typically pay more for bookkeeping services. For instance, retailers processing hundreds of sales each month and managing inventory require more detailed recordkeeping, which increases costs compared to a solo consultant who deals with minimal transactions.

Furthermore, professional service providers such as freelancers and consultants often need less frequent reconciliation, resulting in lower fees. The table below gives you a clear picture of how much does a bookkeeper cost monthly, considering your business type and workload.

Therefore, you could say that the more complex your work process and work volume are, the less freelancers or independent retailers can provide value for money for you. This phase could be perfect to decide between an in-house finance and accounting team and a fully outsourced offshore team.

In-House or Outsourced: Bookkeeping Costs Explained

Let us now try to understand the advantages and disadvantages of in-house teams and outsourced companies so that you can make a better-informed choice.

Here, the point the table makes is that you have better control with an in-house team and high-level expertise with an outsourced one, along with other perks. However, the disadvantages of in-house teams look more rooted as compared to the outsourced firms’, which look mitigable. With outsourcing brands like Atidiv, you could gain more control over your F&A operations and get service delivered with 100% accuracy in 2025!

State-Wise Pricing Comparison

Let’s examine the pricing brackets offered by the top, middle, and lower-tier U.S. states, along with the reasons that support these rates. Please note that these rates are reflective of the median of what individual contractors and in-house staff make.

New York, NY

• Average hourly rate ranges from USD 35 to USD 60
• One of the most expensive markets for bookkeeping services, New York being the business capital of the United States
• Higher prices, reflecting strong demand and premium business activity

Los Angeles, CA

• Typical rates fall between USD 30 and USD 55 per hour
• A large pool of freelance bookkeepers keeps the market competitive
• Costs vary widely by experience and specialization, with freelancers varying in experience and expertise

Dallas, TX

• Hourly pricing usually ranges from USD 25 to USD 45
• More affordable than coastal metro areas
• Strong competition, helping keep rates moderate

Miami, FL

• Average fees range from USD 25 to USD 40 per hour.
• Slightly higher than the national average
• Influenced by tourism, real estate, and service-based industries

Rural Midwest

• Rates generally fall between USD 20 and USD 35 per hour.
• Among the lowest regional costs in the country
• Price reflecting lower operating expenses and demand

How Atidiv Ensures Optimum Bookkeeping Service Costs

Understanding the pricing structure of freelancers and firms, and then comparing them to find out the best pricing, could be challenging. To assist you, Atidiv offers expert oversight to help you manage finances efficiently within budget, with 390,000+ CAs and CPAs committed to your service.

With an F&A partnership with Atidiv, you get access to

• Flexible pricing models, including pay-as-you-go and fixed monthly plans
• Full financial management, including monthly closings and financial reporting, at a comprehensive package starting at about USD 1,500/month
• Packages start with a “Bookkeeping-as-you-go” option at about USD 15/hour, giving businesses the freedom to trim costs when volume is low or pay only as needed
• Eliminated fixed overhead costs such as salaries, benefits, and training
• Automation and structured workflows to improve accuracy and reduce manual effort.
• Scalable services that grow with your business needs, without the need to make fresh financial arrangements

What are you waiting for? Book your free consultation with us today, and explore a smarter way to manage your finance and accounting operations.

How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost FAQs

1. Why do bookkeeping costs vary so much between businesses in 2025?

Bookkeeping costs vary widely because no two businesses operate the same way. Furthermore, pricing is influenced by transaction volume, industry regulations, payroll size, and a variety of other reasons. According to business requirements, CEOs decide whether they are going to hire independent contractors, in-house staff, or outsource the department, after all. Based on this decision, the complexity of business dealings, and location, prices could vary dramatically. In 2025, the growing use of automation by outsourcing agencies like Atidiv allows both low-cost and high-performance premium services to coexist.

2. Is outsourcing bookkeeping more cost-effective than hiring in-house?

In most cases, yes. Outsourcing is significantly more cost-effective for small and mid-sized businesses. An in-house bookkeeper typically costs between USD 3,500 and USD 5,500 per month, excluding benefits, taxes, and overhead. Outsourced bookkeeping, on the other hand, usually ranges from USD 500 to USD 2,500 per month, depending on the service scope. Outsourcing also eliminates recruitment costs, employee turnover risk, and training expenses, while giving businesses access to a full team rather than relying on a single employee.

3. What types of costs should I watch out for beyond the base rate?

Beyond the base bookkeeping fee, businesses should account for hidden or add-on costs such as:

• Catch-up or historical cleanup work
• Payroll processing and payroll tax filings
• Sales tax or multi-state compliance
• Software subscriptions (QuickBooks, Xero, payroll tools)
• Custom financial reporting, forecasting, or audit support

These services are often billed separately and can increase your monthly expense if they are not included in your original package. Understanding what is bundled versus what is charged extra is critical for avoiding budget overruns.