How much do bookkeeping services cost per month?
Monthly bookkeeping for small businesses generally falls between $200 and $800. The range is wide because a consultant with 30 transactions a month is a completely different engagement than a contractor running hundreds of transactions across multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and vendor payments. More accounts and more activity mean more time reconciling, categorizing, and reviewing everything.
Industry complexity plays a significant role in pricing. A straightforward service business with one revenue stream costs less to maintain than a construction company that needs job costing or a restaurant tracking food costs and tip reporting. The bookkeeper needs to understand your industry to set things up in a way that actually helps you run the business, not just check a box.
At EMG, full-service bookkeeping starts at $200 per month. That includes transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliation, and financial reporting. Where you land within the range depends on your monthly expense volume and how complex your accounting needs are. A business with a single bank account and one credit card falls on the lower end. A business with multiple accounts, subcontractors to track, and inventory will be higher.
Add-on services affect total cost as well. Payroll, sales tax filings, invoicing, and bill payment are typically priced separately from base bookkeeping. Payroll alone can add $75 or more per month depending on employee count and pay frequency. Sales tax management adds another $150 per filing. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples when evaluating proposals from different providers, because some bundle services and others price them individually.
The cheapest option rarely delivers the best results. A bookkeeper charging rock-bottom prices often handles too many clients and doesn’t give your books the attention they need. Errors pile up, reports come late, and by tax time you’re dealing with a cleanup project that costs more than proper bookkeeping would have cost all year. On the other end, paying premium prices doesn’t help if the provider doesn’t understand your type of business.
What matters most is whether your small business bookkeeping gives you accurate and timely financial information you can actually use. Monthly statements should tell you where your money is going, whether you’re profitable, and where you have room to improve. If your current setup doesn’t do that, the issue might not be how much you’re spending but whether the service fits what your business actually needs.
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More Questions
How do I read a profit and loss statement?
A profit and loss statement reads from top to bottom, starting with revenue and subtracting costs until you reach net income. Each section tells you something different about how your business performed during a specific period.
Read answerWhat's the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?
Bookkeepers handle the day-to-day recording of financial transactions. Accountants use that information to prepare tax returns, analyze your finances, and advise on business decisions. Most small businesses need both functions working together.
Read answerWhat happens if I don't keep up with my bookkeeping?
Problems compound quickly. You lose visibility into cash flow, miss tax deductions, risk penalties on late filings, and pay more to fix the mess later than it would have cost to stay current.
Read answerHow do I organize my receipts and expenses throughout the year?
Use a dedicated business bank account, capture receipts digitally as they happen, and categorize expenses monthly. A simple consistent system beats a perfect system you never follow.
Read answerWhat records do I need to keep for tax purposes?
Keep organized records of income, expenses, bank statements, payroll documents, asset purchases, and entity formation papers. The IRS expects you to substantiate every number on your tax return, and missing records lead to lost deductions or problems during an audit.
Read answerWhat bookkeeping mistakes are most common for small businesses?
Mixing personal and business finances, falling behind on recordkeeping, and misclassifying expenses are among the most common. Most stem from business owners being stretched too thin to keep up.
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