How much does a bookkeeper cost for a small business?
Small business bookkeeping typically runs $200 to $600 per month for basic services. That range covers transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, and monthly financial statements. Where you land depends on transaction volume, industry complexity, and which additional services you need.
Transaction volume drives most of the pricing difference. A consulting firm with 30 transactions per month takes less time than a retail store processing 400. More bank accounts, credit cards, or payment platforms mean more reconciliation work. Multiple locations or entities push costs toward the higher end of the range.
Industry matters too. A straightforward service business costs less to manage than a restaurant tracking inventory, tips, and food costs. Contractors need job costing. Healthcare practices deal with insurance payments and patient billing. Specialized industries require specialized knowledge, and that expertise commands higher rates.
What’s included varies significantly between providers. Some quote a low monthly rate for basic data entry, then charge extra for reports, catch-up work, or even answering questions. Others bundle ongoing bookkeeping with financial statements, regular check-ins, and advisory support in one price. Ask exactly what’s included before comparing quotes.
Payroll typically adds $50 to $150 per pay run, depending on employee count and state requirements. Tax preparation is almost always separate, usually $800 to $2,500 for small business returns depending on entity type and complexity. Sales tax filing might be included or charged separately.
The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value. A bookkeeper charging $200 monthly who doesn’t understand your industry will give you technically accurate but operationally useless books. You can’t make good decisions from financial statements that don’t track what actually matters for your business. Working with an Andover, MA bookkeeper who knows your industry means paying for relevant insight, not just data entry.
Going the DIY route sounds cheaper until you count the hours. Most business owners spend 8 to 12 hours monthly on bookkeeping when they handle it themselves. At whatever you could bill for those hours, that’s expensive. And when DIY books end up wrong, cleanup costs usually exceed what professional service would have cost all along.
The real question is what you get for the money. Accurate books mean clean records for tax prep, reliable numbers for decisions, and someone catching problems before they become expensive. That’s worth more than the monthly fee if it helps you run a better business.
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