How much should I pay a bookkeeper per month?
Most small businesses pay between $200 and $600 per month for bookkeeping. That range is wide because transaction volume, industry, and included services all affect what you should expect to pay.
Transaction volume is the biggest factor. A consultant with two bank accounts and 40 monthly transactions costs less to maintain than a retail store running a point-of-sale system with 400 transactions. More accounts and more activity means more time spent reconciling and categorizing.
Industry matters because some businesses need more than basic categorization. Construction companies need job costing. Restaurants deal with tip reporting and food cost tracking. A San Diego bookkeeper who understands your industry will cost more than a generalist but will produce financial statements that actually help you run your business.
What’s included in the monthly fee varies significantly between providers. Some bookkeepers only categorize transactions and reconcile accounts. Others include monthly financial statements, accounts receivable follow-up, and regular check-ins to review your numbers. Monthly bookkeeping packages in the San Diego area typically start around $250 for straightforward businesses and go up from there based on complexity.
Be cautious of prices that seem too low. A bookkeeper charging $100 per month is either working for below minimum wage, not doing thorough work, or planning to add fees for anything beyond basic data entry. Fixing messy books later costs more than paying for quality work upfront.
Payroll is usually a separate charge, typically $50 to $150 per pay run depending on your employee count. Tax preparation is also separate, with most small business returns running $800 to $2,000.
The better question isn’t just what to pay but what you’re getting for it. Ask potential bookkeepers what’s included in their base fee, what costs extra, and how they handle questions throughout the month. A bookkeeper who provides useful financial statements and responds when you have questions is worth more than someone who just enters transactions and disappears until next month.
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More Questions
What local taxes do San Diego businesses pay?
San Diego businesses primarily pay for a Business Tax Certificate, collect sales tax at 7.75%, and may owe property taxes. Unlike some cities, there's no local income or earnings tax in San Diego.
Read answerWhat is TOT and how do I track it?
TOT stands for Transient Occupancy Tax. It's a local tax on short-term lodging that you collect from guests and remit to the city. In San Diego, the rate is 10.5% and you need to track it separately from your rental income.
Read answerHow do I categorize business transactions?
Assign each transaction to a consistent account in your chart of accounts. The key is using the same category every time for similar expenses. Consistency matters more than getting every category perfect.
Read answerHow do I track business expenses properly?
Separate business and personal finances completely, record expenses promptly with the right category, and save receipts digitally. Reconcile your accounts weekly to catch mistakes while you still remember what happened.
Read answerWhat is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor?
A QuickBooks ProAdvisor is someone certified by Intuit after passing exams on QuickBooks features. The certification shows baseline software knowledge but experience applying it to real businesses matters more.
Read answerWhere can I find a bookkeeper in San Diego?
Check the QuickBooks ProAdvisor directory, search Google, or ask for referrals from your CPA or other business owners. Once you have candidates, evaluate based on industry experience, software expertise, and pricing structure.
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