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.
San Diego's Small Business Bookkeeper
The Next Step:
A Short Conversation
A quick call to tell us about your business. We'll listen, answer your questions, and give you a clear price quote.
More Questions
How do I reconcile accounts in QuickBooks?
Reconciliation matches your QuickBooks transactions against your bank or credit card statement. In QuickBooks Online, go to Settings, select Reconcile, and check off transactions until the difference reaches zero.
Read answerHow do I account for in-kind donations?
Record donated goods at fair market value as both revenue and expense. Donated services can only be recorded if they require specialized skills you would have otherwise paid for. Document the value and how you determined it.
Read answerHow do I account for work in progress?
Track all costs on incomplete projects in a WIP asset account. Move costs to expense when you recognize revenue. Review the WIP schedule monthly to catch overruns and unbilled work.
Read answerWhat forms do I need for new employees?
The core forms are the federal W-4 and I-9, plus California's DE 4 for state withholding. California also requires several notices at time of hire including wage theft prevention, workers' comp, and paid family leave information.
Read answerWhat 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 answerHow do I track expenses for rental properties?
Track expenses separately for each property using accounting software or a well-organized spreadsheet. Every expense gets tagged to the specific property, and you need to distinguish between repairs and capital improvements for tax purposes.
Read answer
