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
Can a bookkeeper manage my bill payments and accounts payable?
Yes. Managing bill payments and accounts payable is a core bookkeeping function. A bookkeeper can handle the full cycle from receiving vendor invoices to scheduling payments to reconciling everything in your accounting system.
Read answerHow do estimated quarterly tax payments work?
If you're self-employed or own a business, the IRS expects you to pay income tax throughout the year rather than waiting until April. You make four payments per year based on what you expect to owe, and underpaying can result in penalties.
Read answerHow long should I keep my business financial records?
The general rule is three years from the date you file your tax return, but many records should be kept longer. Payroll records, asset documentation, and entity formation papers all have different retention requirements.
Read answerHow do I transition my books to a new bookkeeper?
Pick a clean breakpoint like the end of a month or quarter, make sure everything is reconciled through that date, and gather all logins, documents, and supporting files your new bookkeeper will need. A smooth handoff prevents gaps and keeps you from paying to fix avoidable problems.
Read answerIs hiring a bookkeeper worth the cost for a small business?
For most small businesses, yes. The time you spend doing your own books has a real cost, and the mistakes that come from inexperience often end up more expensive than professional help would have been.
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.
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