If you’re a business owner trying to stay on top of your finances, you’ve probably asked yourself: How much does a bookkeeper cost?
It’s a fair question — but the answer can vary widely depending on the scope of work, the structure of the bookkeeping service, and your specific business needs.
In this article, we’ll break down the key factors that influence bookkeeping costs, how we approach pricing at Bullseye Bookkeeping, and the difference between hiring an in-house bookkeeper versus outsourcing to a firm.
There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Price
Bookkeeping services are not all built the same — and neither are businesses. That’s why the cost of bookkeeping can vary so much from one company to the next.
Some bookkeeping firms price by the hour, while others (like us) use fixed-fee pricing. You might find offers for “starter packages” online, but unless those are tailored to your business, they can lead to unexpected add-ons or unclear deliverables.
Why We Quote Using Fixed Pricing
At Bullseye Bookkeeping, we provide quotes on a fixed-fee basis — not by the hour. Why?
Because fixed pricing gives our clients clarity, consistency, and confidence. You’ll know exactly what your monthly cost is, what’s included, and you won’t be surprised by a growing bill just because something took longer than expected.
How We Determine Your Quote
We customize every quote based on a detailed review of your books. No two businesses are alike, so we take a comprehensive look at your accounting file (typically in QuickBooks Online) to understand what’s needed.
Some of the key factors we consider when determining your fixed monthly fee include:
- Transaction volume: Higher volume means more time spent categorizing, reconciling, and reviewing activity.
- Number of accounts: We assess how many checking, savings, credit card, and loan accounts you have — each one needs monthly reconciliation.
- Business complexity: The nature of your industry, whether you invoice clients, deal with inventory, or have payroll, all impact how your books are managed.
- Current state of your books: Are things up to date and accurate? Or do we need to spend time cleaning up prior months or years?
- Financial reporting needs: If you want help understanding your statements, setting budgets, or getting regular insights — that’s factored in too.
If you’re not caught up or have messy records, we’ll start with a bookkeeping clean-up project, then transition to ongoing monthly support once everything’s in order.
What’s Included in Our Monthly Bookkeeping Services?
While every engagement is customized, most of our monthly clients receive:
- Categorization of all bank, credit card, and loan transactions
- Monthly reconciliations
- Financial statement preparation (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
- Year-end CPA collaboration
Some clients also choose to add services like budgeting, forecasting, and KPI dashboards to gain deeper insights into their performance.
In-House Bookkeeper vs. Outsourced Bookkeeping
Another factor that affects cost is whether you hire a bookkeeper as an employee or work with an outsourced bookkeeping firm.
In-house bookkeepers come with some advantages — they’re dedicated solely to your business and are often available during business hours. However, the cost of an employee goes beyond salary: payroll taxes, benefits, software, management, and training all add up. You also need to have someone knowledgeable enough to supervise their work.
Outsourced bookkeeping provides more flexibility and often gives you access to a broader range of expertise. Firms like ours are already equipped with systems, processes, and experience across multiple industries. For many small businesses, outsourcing offers a more cost-effective and efficient solution.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re managing your own books and wondering if it’s worth the investment to bring in a pro — the answer often comes down to opportunity cost. What could you be doing with your time if you weren’t trying to reconcile accounts, chase down errors, or prepare financials for your CPA?
Accurate books are the foundation for good decision-making, whether you’re applying for financing, preparing for tax season, or simply trying to understand your margins. Clean, reliable financials allow you to run your business with confidence.
Let’s Talk About Your Books
Still wondering how much bookkeeping would cost for your business?
Here’s our process:
- Submit an inquiry
- Schedule a quick call
- We discuss your business and your bookkeeping needs
- We review your QuickBooks account
- You receive a clear, fixed-fee quote
There’s no pressure, no hourly rates, and no surprises. Just a clear path to clean books and better financial visibility.
Final Thoughts
When you ask how much does a bookkeeper cost, what you’re really asking is: How much is it worth to know my numbers are right? With Bullseye Bookkeeping, you get more than categorized transactions — you get peace of mind, expert support, and a trusted financial partner.
Let’s clean up the chaos and put you back in control.
