"How much does a bookkeeper cost?" is one of the first questions any small business owner asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on how much work there is. This guide explains the three ways bookkeepers charge, what pushes the price up or down, and how to tell whether you are getting real value rather than just the cheapest rate.
What bookkeeping usually costs
As a broad guide, Australian bookkeepers commonly charge around $50 to $120 per hour, while ongoing bookkeeping for a small business can range from roughly $300 to $1,500+ per month depending on transaction volume, payroll, complexity and the condition of the records.
| What your business looks like | Indicative ongoing cost |
|---|---|
| Very small or simple | $250 to $500 a month |
| Typical small business | $500 to $1,000+ a month |
| Higher volume, payroll or more complexity | $1,000 to $2,000+ a month |
| Hourly or ad hoc work | Around $50 to $120 an hour |
These are broad market guides only, not Hyndes Advisory pricing. Treat them as a starting point for what to expect. The rest of this guide explains what moves a business from one row to the next.
The three ways bookkeepers charge
Most bookkeepers price their work in one of three ways.
| Pricing model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | You pay for the time spent each month | Very small or irregular workloads |
| Fixed monthly fee | An agreed set fee covers the ongoing work | Ongoing work, and budgeting |
| One-off project fee | A set price for a defined piece of work | Catch-up and clean-up work |
For many established small businesses, a fixed monthly fee is the easiest arrangement to plan around. You know what you are paying, it covers the ongoing work, and it does not put you on a clock every time you have a question.
What drives the price
Two businesses can pay very different amounts for bookkeeping, and it usually comes down to a handful of factors:
- Transaction volume. More sales, purchases and bank movements means more to code and reconcile.
- Payroll. Running payroll, payslips and superannuation for staff adds work each cycle.
- Number of accounts. More bank and credit card accounts means more reconciling.
- Business complexity. Multiple entities, locations, payment platforms, inventory or more complex workflows can increase the amount of bookkeeping work required.
- How far behind the books are. A file that is months behind needs catch-up work before ongoing bookkeeping settles into a rhythm.
- Extra reporting. Management reports, cash flow forecasting or budgeting on top of the core bookkeeping add to the scope.
Ongoing bookkeeping for a small business is usually a monthly fee that scales with those factors, rather than a fixed one-size number. The best way to get an accurate figure is a quick look at your file, which is why most bookkeepers will quote after seeing what is actually involved.
Where BAS, GST, PAYG or tax services are required, these are handled by or referred to an appropriately registered BAS or tax practitioner.
Cheapest rate is not always cheapest
It is tempting to sort by price and pick the lowest, but the headline rate can be misleading. The real cost of bookkeeping includes the cost of getting it wrong: unreconciled accounts, miscoded transactions and BAS-time surprises are all more expensive to fix later than they were to do properly the first time.
When you compare quotes, compare what is included, not just the rate. A slightly higher fee that keeps your records genuinely clean and current is usually the cheaper option over a year.
Where to start
If you are not sure where your books stand, a one-off review is a simple place to start. The Bookkeeping Health Check is a one-off review of your records for $495 + GST: it looks at your reconciliations, unusual transactions, aged receivables and payables and your chart of accounts, and gives you a written summary of what is working and what to tighten up, with a 45 to 60 minute meeting to talk it through. The Health Check focuses on the quality and organisation of your bookkeeping records and does not include tax or BAS advice or lodgement.
From there, ongoing bookkeeping and accounts support can be quoted as a fixed monthly fee based on what your business actually needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bookkeeper cost in Australia?
As a broad guide, around $50 to $120 per hour, or roughly $300 to $1,500+ a month for ongoing bookkeeping, depending on the workload. Bookkeepers charge hourly, as a fixed monthly fee, or as a one-off project fee for catch-up work. The price is driven mainly by transaction volume, payroll, business complexity and how far behind the books are. A quick look at your file is the best way to get an accurate number.
Is it better to pay hourly or a fixed monthly fee?
For many small businesses a fixed monthly fee works better: it is predictable and it does not put you on a clock for every question. Hourly can suit very small or irregular workloads, and a one-off project fee suits catch-up work with a defined scope.
Why are some bookkeepers so much cheaper than others?
Price reflects experience, registration where BAS work is involved, and how much is actually included. The cheapest rate is not always the cheapest outcome, because errors and messy records cost more to fix later. Compare what is included, not just the headline rate.
What makes bookkeeping cost more?
The main drivers are transaction volume, whether you run payroll and how many staff, the number of accounts to reconcile, how complex the business is, how far behind the records are, and any extra work like management reporting or cash flow forecasting.
Is a bookkeeper worth the money?
It can be, particularly once bookkeeping starts taking significant time away from running the business or the records are regularly falling behind. Good bookkeeping gives you reliable records, clearer visibility over cash and less clean-up work later, and it reduces the scramble when your accountant or registered practitioner needs the records.
How can I reduce my bookkeeping costs?
Keep records tidy through the month, use Xero properly, get catch-up work done once so you start clean, and agree a fixed monthly scope so there are no surprises. Clean books are cheaper to maintain than messy ones are to fix.
Want to know what bookkeeping would cost for your business?
Every business is different. Book a free 30-minute chat and I can look at the volume and complexity of your bookkeeping, explain what level of support you actually need and provide a clear fixed quote.
Book a free 30-minute chat or call 0403 606 444.