How much does an outsourced bookkeeper cost?
If you're asking this, your finances are likely getting more complex—and that's a good sign. But figuring out what bookkeeping should cost (and what you're actually paying for) can be confusing.
Here’s the real answer: outsourced bookkeeping typically costs anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month. The right price depends on how your business runs, not just how many hours someone bills.
Let’s break it down.
Hourly bookkeeping rates don’t tell the whole story
When most people ask about bookkeeping costs, they’re thinking about the hourly rate. But that number alone doesn’t capture what you’re really paying for.
You also need to factor in:
Software costs (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.)
Time spent onboarding or fixing mistakes
The cost of delayed decisions when your books are a mess
Extra costs for your CPA to complete your tax return
In other words, a cheap bookkeeper can get expensive fast—especially if you’re constantly cleaning up errors or chasing late reports.
What drives bookkeeping costs up (or down)
Not every business needs the same level of support. A Shopify store with 2,000 monthly transactions isn’t in the same league as a consultant who sends five invoices.
Here’s what usually affects overall bookkeeping pricing:
How many transactions you handle
Number of accounts, credit cards, or business entities
Whether you’re on QuickBooks, Xero, or something else
Any clean-up or catch-up work needed
Extra complexity like inventory, job costing, or sales tax
Multi-company or multi-currency
If your business has outgrown DIY spreadsheets or part-time help, you’ll need a team that can keep up.
Why “cheap” bookkeeping usually isn’t
We’ve seen the consequences of hiring the wrong bookkeeper: tax penalties, delayed reports, messy reconciliations and unnecessary interest bills.
Clean books aren’t just a compliance checkbox. They’re the foundation for real financial clarity.
That’s why more companies are switching to outsourced accounting teams that know what they’re doing. You get timely reports, fewer surprises, and a better understanding of your numbers.
So, what should you actually pay?
If your revenue is in the $1M to $20M range, your needs are beyond what a solo bookkeeper can handle. You don’t just need someone to “do the books.” You need an outsourced bookkeeping team that fits how you operate.
At Arlo Performance, we build flat-rate packages based on the level of support your business actually needs. That might include:
Daily bookkeeping in QuickBooks or Xero
Month-end reconciliations and journal entries
Cash and accrual-based financial reporting
AP/AR tracking
Oversight from a dedicated controller
KPI dashboards and financial advisory
No guesswork. No surprise bills. Just clean numbers you can use.
Bottom line
Outsourced bookkeeping isn’t just a line item—it’s a lever. When your numbers are current and accurate, your decisions get sharper.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start scaling, we’re here to help.