Bookkeepers record and categorize transactions, reconcile accounts, and prepare monthly financial reports for small businesses, freelancers, and nonprofits. Most work solo or in a small practice and bill on a recurring monthly basis, with extra invoices for cleanup projects, catch-up work, payroll processing, and one-off tasks like year-end prep for a tax preparer.
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Most bookkeepers use one of three models: a monthly flat fee tied to a defined scope, hourly billing, or a one-time project fee. Monthly packages are the most common for ongoing clients and are usually priced by transaction volume, number of bank and credit card accounts, and whether payroll, accounts payable, or accounts receivable are included. Hourly billing is typical for cleanup work, messy books, and clients with unpredictable needs. Catch-up or cleanup projects are often quoted as a flat fee based on the number of months behind and the number of accounts, or billed hourly with a cap. Add-ons such as payroll runs, 1099 preparation, sales tax filings, and CFO-style reporting are usually priced separately. Many bookkeepers bill the monthly fee in advance at the start of the month, since the work happens after the month closes.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly bookkeeping | per hour | $35-90 |
| Monthly bookkeeping package (small business, under 100 transactions) | per month | $250-600 |
| Monthly bookkeeping package (higher volume, multiple accounts) | per month | $600-1,500 |
| Cleanup or catch-up bookkeeping | per hour | $50-100 |
| Bank and credit card reconciliation (standalone) | per account per month | $50-150 |
| Payroll processing | per pay run | $40-150 |
| 1099 preparation and filing | per form | $15-40 |
| Accounting software setup and chart of accounts | flat fee | $300-1,000 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping, March 2025 (transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliation, monthly P&L and balance sheet) | 1 month | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Payroll processing, bi-weekly, 3 employees | 2 pay run | $75.00 | $150.00 |
| Cleanup of October-December 2024 transactions (uncategorized items, 2 bank accounts) | 4.5 hour | $65.00 | $292.50 |
| 1099-NEC preparation and e-filing | 4 form | $25.00 | $100.00 |
| Total | $992.50 | ||
Notes: Payment due within 15 days of invoice date. Accepted by ACH or check. A late fee of 1.5% per month applies to balances over 30 days past due. Monthly service covers items listed in the engagement letter dated January 6, 2025; work outside that scope is billed hourly.
Bookkeeping is recurring, and clients and their accountants need to match each charge to the month of work.
It makes clear what the flat fee includes and which charges are extra, which prevents disputes over add-on work.
Clients can see what is routine and what is one-time, and it supports the fee if they ask for a breakdown.
Cleanup and ad hoc work is often questioned, and a dated description of what was fixed answers most pushback.
If pricing depends on accounts or filings, the count justifies the amount and shows when volume has grown.
If you buy a software seat or pay a filing fee on the client's behalf, list it separately at cost so it is not mistaken for your fee.
Bookkeepers often wait on clients to send documents and pay, so terms in writing support collection.
Many bookkeepers bill monthly packages at the start of the month or on a fixed date, with payment due on receipt or within 7 to 15 days. Cleanup projects often require a deposit of 25% to 50% before work begins, with the balance due at delivery. Hourly work is usually billed monthly in arrears, net 15 or net 30. Late fees of 1% to 1.5% per month are common but should be in your engagement letter first, and check your state's rules on interest charges. ACH and card payments are the norm, and many bookkeepers set up automatic recurring payments for retainer clients. Some pause work, or stop delivering reports, if an invoice is more than 30 days overdue, which should also be spelled out in writing.
Since you do the work after the month closes, billing at the start of the month keeps you from financing your clients. Autopay for recurring fees cuts down on chasing late payments.
List the accounts, transaction limits, reports, and turnaround time. Anything beyond that, such as extra accounts or messy backlogs, is billed hourly, and the invoice can point to the letter.
Fixing prior-period errors takes more time than regular upkeep. Bill it as its own line at a higher rate or as a flat project fee so the monthly price is not dragged down.
If a client doubles their transactions or adds a bank account, raise the monthly fee. Build a volume threshold into your agreement so the change is not a surprise.
Delays often come from clients who do not send statements or receipts. State that late documents may push back your delivery date, and bill the hours spent chasing them if it becomes a pattern.
Flat monthly fees work well for stable clients with predictable volume, and they give you steady income. Hourly billing suits cleanup, unclear scope, or clients who ask for frequent extras. Many bookkeepers use a flat fee for the base service and hourly rates for anything outside it.
It depends on the state. Most states do not tax bookkeeping services, but a few tax some professional or business services. Check with your state's department of revenue or a tax professional before assuming either way.
Generally yes, if your agreement says so. Include a clause allowing you to suspend services, including access to reports, when an invoice is a set number of days overdue. Give written notice before pausing, and be careful about withholding the client's own records, since some states have rules about returning them.
Bill it as time-based work at your hourly rate unless your package includes it. Include a line such as 'Coordination with CPA, year-end questions' with the hours so the client can see what it covers.
Fix the errors at no charge if they were your mistake and note the correction in your records. If the problem came from missing or wrong information from the client, explain that and bill the rework at your hourly rate. A clear scope and a record of what documents you received make this much easier.
Send a Bookkeeping estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Bookkeeping estimate template