Bookkeeping costs $139 to $1,500 per month in 2026
Bookkeeping costs $139 to $1,500 per month for a small business in 2026. NerdWallet says small firms should expect to pay about $300 or more each month. TaxDome lists entry packages at $139 to $155 and mid range packages at $400 to $1,000. Price moves with the size of your firm, how many transactions you have, and how much help you want.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| NerdWallet | NerdWallet lists $200 to $700 a month for basic online bookkeeping, $1,000 or more for premium, and says to expect about $300 or more a month. |
| TaxDome | TaxDome lists $139 to $155 a month for entry packages, $400 to $1,000 for mid range, and over $1,000 for full service. |
| Futureproof | Futureproof lists $250 to $350 a month for basic outsourced work, $500 to $700 for mid range, and $25 to $60 an hour for freelancers. |
Bookkeeping price by service level
| Service level | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry package | $139 to $155 a month | TaxDome |
| Basic online service | $200 to $700 a month | NerdWallet |
| Basic outsourced, cash books | $250 to $350 a month | Futureproof |
| Mid range package | $400 to $1,000 a month | TaxDome |
| Mid range with bill pay | $500 to $700 a month | Futureproof |
| Premium or full service | $1,000 or more a month | NerdWallet |
| Freelancer by the hour | $25 to $60 an hour | Futureproof |
| Cleanup or catch up project | $500 to $7,500 | TaxDome |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Level of service | Basic work costs less than full service. NerdWallet lists $200 to $700 a month for basic, $500 to $700 mid range, and $1,000 or more premium. |
| Number of transactions | Some firms bill by the entry. TaxDome lists about $1.20 per transaction, falling to $0.75 at 200 or more a month. |
| Who does the work | Freelancers charge by the hour. Futureproof lists $25 to $60 an hour for freelancers and $75 to $100 or more for certified specialists. |
| Cash or accrual books | Accrual work and a controller review cost more. Futureproof lists $250 to $350 for basic cash work and $1,000 or more for accrual with review. |
| Setup and cleanup | Catch up work is often priced as a project. TaxDome lists $500 to $7,500 per project, and NerdWallet lists onboarding at $1,000 and up. |
What the price includes
A basic plan usually covers sorting transactions and simple reports. Mid range plans often add payroll, bill pay, invoicing, and budget help. TaxDome lists full service packages with forecasting, tax services, and deeper reports at over $1,000 a month. Cleanup of old books, tax filing, and catch up work are often billed on top.
Who charges this and how it is billed
Bookkeeping is sold by freelancers, small firms, accounting firms, and online services. Most bill a flat monthly fee. Some bill by the hour or by the transaction. TaxDome lists a tiered model of $39 a month for up to 30 transactions, then $0.95 for each one after. Cleanup and tax work are often a separate project fee. Get the scope and the fee in writing, with a clear list of what is not covered.
When you need this
You need a bookkeeper when you spend hours each month sorting receipts, fall behind on records, or get ready for taxes or a loan. They also help when payroll or invoices pile up. Many owners hire one once the business has steady sales and not enough time. Clean books show you what you earn and owe.
How to judge your quote
- Is the price flat, by the hour, or by the transaction?
- Does it include payroll, bill pay, invoices, and tax reports?
- Is cleanup of old books part of the quote, or extra?
- Is the bookkeeper trained in the software I use, such as QuickBooks?
- Compare the total with the range above: $139 to $1,500 per month for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Start with a basic plan. TaxDome lists entry packages at $139 to $155 a month, far below the $1,000 or more for full service.
- Send clean records each month. Fewer messy entries mean fewer hours billed, especially with a firm that charges by the hour.
- Compare per transaction pricing if you have few entries. TaxDome lists about $1.20 each, or a $39 monthly fee for up to 30.
- Pay only for what you need. Futureproof lists $250 to $350 for basic cash work, and $500 to $700 only when you add bill pay and invoicing.
- Fix old books once, then keep up monthly. TaxDome lists cleanup at $500 to $7,500 per project, so late work costs more.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from NerdWallet, TaxDome and Futureproof. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much is a bookkeeper per month?
NerdWallet says small businesses should expect about $300 or more each month. TaxDome lists $139 to $155 for entry plans and $400 to $1,000 for mid range ones.
How much do bookkeepers charge per hour?
Futureproof lists $25 to $60 an hour for freelancers and $75 to $100 or more for certified specialists. NerdWallet lists a $43 average on Upwork.
Can I pay per transaction?
Yes, some firms do this. TaxDome lists about $1.20 per transaction, or $0.75 each at 200 or more a month.
How much is cleanup of old books?
TaxDome lists $500 to $7,500 per project. The size of the mess and the months behind set the price.
Is software cheaper than a bookkeeper?
Software costs less but you do the work. A bookkeeper saves time. Futureproof lists $250 to $350 a month for basic outsourced help.