Short answer: For a good bookkeeper, expect to pay enough that they’re reliable, secure, and fast — not bargain-basement. If you want a quick benchmark for bookkeeping pricing in 2026, here’s the full guide and what’s typically included at each tier. Here’s the blunt breakdown and what you should actually get for your money.
What Should I Expect to Pay for a Good Bookkeeper? (2026 Guide)
Good Bookkeeper Price Ranges (US, Realistic)
Average Pricing Tiers: What to Expect
1. Basic / Very Small Business
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Cost: $200–$500/month (~$2,400–$6,000/year)
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What you get: Ideally suited for solopreneurs. A good bookkeeper covers one bank/CC reconciliation, a basic P&L, and a simple monthly close (no payroll or multi-platform e-commerce complexity).
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2. Solid Small-Business Package (Most Common)
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Cost: $400–$1,200/month (~$4,800–$14,400/year)
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What you get: The standard for growing companies. Includes full monthly close, multi-account reconciliations, payroll management, sales platform basics, and a monthly review call to ensure accuracy.
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3. Complex / High Volume / E-commerce
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Cost: $1,200–$3,000+/month (~$14,400–$36,000+/year)
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What you get: High-level support. Includes multi-entity/platform reconciliations, sales tax returns, complex integrations, cash flow reporting, and controller-level duties.
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4. Hourly Cleanup / Catch-up Projects
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Rate: $50–$150/hour (Cleanups typically 10–40 hours)
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Ballpark Total: $500–$6,000 depending on the mess.
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Note: A good bookkeeper will almost always charge this as a separate project to fix your historical data before beginning a monthly retainer.
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Next read: good bookkeeper cost breakdown (2026) — realistic monthly ranges and what you should actually get at each tier.
What Affects Price For a Good Bookkeeper?
What a Good Bookkeeper Needs to Know to Quote Accurately To provide a fair price and reliable service, a good bookkeeper will evaluate:
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Number of bank/credit card accounts and monthly transactions
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E-commerce complexity (many SKUs, refunds, marketplaces)
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Payroll (number of employees, frequency)
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Sales tax complexity (multi-state nexus)
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Integrations and apps (Shopify, Stripe, Square, inventory systems)
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Required turnaround (rush work costs more)
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Security & insurance (a good bookkeeper carries proper insurance, which reflects in the cost)
What You Should Expect to Get at Each Tier
Many business owners aren’t sure what they are paying for. A good bookkeeper does far more than just enter data; they follow a strict month-end process. Here is what should be included in your service:
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Cleaned & reconciled bank and credit card accounts (completed monthly).
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Reviewed P&L and Balance Sheet with all reclassifications documented.
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Month-end close checklist completed and delivered by the agreed SLA.
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Clear notes on unapplied payments, uncleared checks, and variances.
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Access & security protocols: usage of “least-privilege” QuickBooks access, encrypted file transfers, and a secure backup plan.
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Proactive communication: At least one monthly call and a short action list.
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Transparent billing: Fixed-scope pricing options for repeatable work (vs. hourly billing for cleanup projects).
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Service Level / Cadence You Should Demand
Service Standards: What to Expect from a Good Bookkeeper
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Timely Reporting: A good bookkeeper commits to a schedule, typically delivering the monthly close within 5–10 business days after month-end (depending on complexity).
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Responsiveness: You shouldn’t be left guessing; routine questions should be answered in 24–48 hours.
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Low-Risk Entry: A good bookkeeper is confident enough to offer a one-month paid trial or fixed deliverable before asking you to commit long-term.
How to Judge A Bookkeeper’s Value (Not Just Price)
Here is the text optimized to include “Good Bookkeeper” naturally while improving flow and impact:
- Does their work reduce your tax bill or save time? A good bookkeeper can uncover missed deductions, fix payroll mistakes, or stop leaky expenses. If your annual fee is $6k and they recover $30k once — that’s a 5× return. Buy that ROI, not a discount hourly rate.
- Systems Chops: A good bookkeeper must know QuickBooks (ProAdvisor preferred) and any apps you use to ensure your data flows correctly.
Negotiation & Contract Tips
How to Structure Your Agreement
Protect your business by ensuring your contract covers these essentials. A good bookkeeper will have no problem agreeing to these terms:
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Define the Scope: Get a fixed monthly scope with a clear list of included services and a written change-order process.
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Control Extra Costs: Cap out-of-scope hours or require pre-approval so you never face a surprise bill.
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Set Acceptance Criteria: Define what “done” looks like (e.g., “All bank/CC accounts reconciled to statement ending balance and flagged exceptions explained”).
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Plan the Exit: Ask for a 30–90 day exit clause and a full handover on termination. A good bookkeeper never holds your data hostage.
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Look for Savings: Negotiate discounts for 6–12 month commitments or for paying quarterly/annually.
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Demand Accountability: Insist on a remediation clause: if their errors cause measurable damages, a good bookkeeper will fix them at no extra cost.
Red Flags (Walk Away If…)
Warning Signs: What a Good Bookkeeper Would Never Do
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Asks for full admin/passwords instead of least-privilege access (a good bookkeeper prioritizes security).
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No documented process for backups or handover.
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Extremely low hourly rate with “unlimited” hours promised.
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If you don’t retain full ownership of your QuickBooks account.
Practical Next Step (What Actually Works)
The 30-Day Trial Strategy Run a 30-day paid trial to verify you have found a good bookkeeper:
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Set a fixed price to reconcile the last closed month.
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Require delivery of the P&L and Balance Sheet plus a list of the top 10 issues and recommended fixes.
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Score them on accuracy, speed, communication, and security.
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If they pass, sign a 6–12 month agreement.
Want a good bookkeeper who checks all these boxes? Book your free consultation for Bookkeeper + Taxes service questions today and see what real value looks like!
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