There’s no universal price tag for bookkeeping—it’s like asking how much a car costs. Bookkeeping Services in Cleveland. A used hatchback isn’t a Tesla, and a solo freelancer’s books aren’t a 50-employee restaurant’s. What you pay depends on your business size, transaction volume, complexity, and whether you hire in-house, freelance, or a firm. Below is a clear, no-fluff breakdown based on real-world rates in 2025 (U.S. averages, adjusted for inflation and remote work trends).
Quick Pricing Tiers (Monthly Retainer)
Business Type: Transactions/Mo: Monthly Cost: What You Get: Solopreneur / Freelancer<100$150 – $350Invoicing, expense tracking, bank recs, basic reports Small Business (1–10 employees)100–500$350 – $800Payroll (1–5 people), sales tax, monthly P&L + balance sheet: Growing Business (10–50 employees)500–2,000$800 – $2,000Multi-state tax, inventory, job costing, CFO-level insights: Complex / High-Volume (restaurants, e-commerce, real estate)2,000+$2,000 – $5,000+Daily recs, POS integration, audit prep, custom dashboards
Hourly Rates (If Not on Retainer)
Freelance bookkeeper: $30 – $60/hr
Certified Pro (QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Xero-certified): $60 – $90/hr
Bookkeeping firm (with CPA oversight): $100 – $150/hr
In-house full-time bookkeeper: $4,000 – $6,500/month salary (+ benefits)
Pro Tip: Retainers are almost always cheaper than hourly. A $500/month retainer often equals 15–20 billed hours—way better than $60/hr adding up fast.
What Drives the Price? (The 5 Big Factors)
Transaction Volume
50 transactions/month = simple.
500+/month = automation tools (like Hubdoc or Dext) needed → higher fee.
Payroll & HR Complexity
1 employee on Gusto? Easy.
15 employees across 3 states with 401(k) and garnishments? Price jumps.
Software & Integrations
Basic QuickBooks Online: included in most plans.
Shopify + Amazon + 3 POS systems + Bill.com? Add $200–$500/month.
Catch-Up Work (The “Messy Books” Tax)
Current books? Great—standard rate.
18 months behind with shoeboxes of receipts? One-time cleanup: $1,000 – $5,000.
Your Industry
E-commerce → COGS, inventory, sales tax nexus.
Construction → job costing, retainage, lien waivers.
Non-profits → fund accounting, grant tracking.
→ All cost 20–50% more than “standard” small biz.
Sample Real Quotes (2025)
Business Details Monthly Cost Etsy seller (200 sales/mo)Shopify + PayPal + sales tax (3 states)$450Coffee shop (1 location)Square POS, 2 PT staff, daily cash$650Marketing agency (8 employees)Trello billing, 3 contractors, quarterly tax$900Airbnb property manager (12 units)Rent, utilities, cleaning split by property$1,200
How to Save Money (Without Screwing Yourself)
Clean up your own mess first – categorize transactions in your bank feed monthly.
Use automation – connect apps (Stripe, Square, Expensify) to your accounting software.
Batch invoicing – send all client invoices weekly, not daily.
Go virtual – U.S.-based remote bookkeepers charge 30–50% less than local in-person.
Start small – hire for 3–6 months, then reassess.
Red Flags: Don’t Pay For…
A bookkeeper who can’t explain your P&L in plain English.
Anyone charging $200/month for 500+ transactions—they’re cutting corners.
Firms that won’t integrate with your tools (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.).
Bottom Line: What Should You Pay?
Under $250/month? Only if you’re a side hustler with <50 transactions.
$400–$800/month? Sweet spot for most small businesses (1–10 employees).
Over $1,500/month? Justified if you’re scaling, multi-state, or high-risk (audit-prone).
Start here: Message 2–3 bookkeepers with:
“I have [X] transactions/month, [Y] employees, use [software]. What’s your monthly rate for bank recs, payroll, and tax-ready reports?”
You’ll get quotes in 24 hours. Pick the one who asks smart questions—not the cheapest.
Your books are your business’s heartbeat. Pay enough to keep them accurate, but don’t overpay for ego (like a “senior” title with no substance). The right bookkeeper saves you 3–10x their fee in tax savings, time, and stress every year.