CostPrism
Business Updated June 2026

Bookkeeping Cost Calculator

Calculate 2026 bookkeeping costs by business size, monthly transactions, and service level — virtual bookkeeper vs. local CPA vs. in-house.

National avg: $300/month
Range: $150 – $800/month
Used by 31,240 people

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What Affects the Cost?

1. Pricing Models

Bookkeepers charge by the month (flat fee) or by the hour ($30–$80/hr for virtual, $50–$120/hr for local CPAs). Flat monthly pricing is most common for ongoing services: small businesses pay $150–$400/month; mid-size pay $400–$800/month; complex businesses pay $800–$2,000+/month.

2. What's Included

Standard monthly bookkeeping includes: bank and credit card reconciliation, categorizing transactions, accounts payable/receivable tracking, monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet), and year-end books cleanup. Tax preparation and payroll are usually separate services.

3. Virtual vs. Local

Virtual bookkeeping services (Bench, Pilot, Bookkeeper360) provide dedicated bookkeepers online at $150–$600/month. Local bookkeepers and CPAs charge $50–$120/hour. For most small businesses, virtual services offer equivalent quality at 30–50% lower cost. Local is better for complex situations requiring in-person meetings.

2026 Cost Reference Table

Type / Option Typical Cost Range
Freelance/part-time bookkeeper (5–10 hrs/mo) $150 – $400/month
Bench (virtual, small business) $299 – $499/month
Bench (virtual, growing business) $499 – $799/month
Local CPA firm (10–20 hrs/mo) $500 – $1,200/month
In-house part-time bookkeeper $2,000 – $3,500/month
Catch-up bookkeeping (per month behind) $200 – $500/month

Frequently Asked Questions

Small businesses pay $150–$500/month for virtual bookkeeping services. Local CPA bookkeeping costs $400–$1,200/month. The average small business with 50–100 transactions/month pays $300–$400/month. High-volume businesses (200+ transactions) pay $500–$800+/month.

Yes — most business owners spend 5–10 hours per month on bookkeeping. At $75–$150/hour opportunity cost, DIY bookkeeping costs more than a professional service. Clean books also reduce tax preparation costs by 30–50% and prevent costly errors.

A bookkeeper records and categorizes daily transactions and reconciles accounts. A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) analyzes financial data, provides tax advice, prepares tax returns, and offers strategic planning. Most businesses need both: a bookkeeper monthly and a CPA at tax time.

Compare Bookkeeping Services

Virtual bookkeeping services like Bench cost 40–60% less than local CPAs while handling the same monthly tasks.

Try Bench — Online Bookkeeping from $299/mo Botkeeper — AI-Powered Bookkeeping

Tips Before You Start

  • ✓ Virtual bookkeepers (Bench, Bookkeeper360) cost 40–60% less than local CPAs
  • ✓ Transaction volume is the #1 driver of cost — more transactions = more hours
  • ✓ Catch-up bookkeeping for years behind costs 2–3× regular monthly rates
  • ✓ Payroll adds $50–$150/month to bookkeeping costs if bundled
  • ✓ QuickBooks or Xero subscription ($30–$70/mo) is usually required on top of service fees

Cost by State — 2026

Based on national average pricing adjusted for local labor and material costs.