A quote for outsourced bookkeeping can arrive as a monthly fee, an hourly rate or a revenue tier, and the three are hard to compare. Published monthly plans run from $99 to $750 and up, and some firms add a setup fee on top. The prices below come from each firm's own site in October 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Published monthly plans start at $99 at Pilot, $199 at Bench, $399 at Bookkeeper360 and $750 at inDinero.
- Bench lists a fractional bookkeeper at $55 an hour plus a $1,200 onboarding fee.
- Revenue, spending, how often the books are reconciled and whether tax is included move the price.
- An in-house hire costs more than the salary: BLS puts median pay for bookkeeping clerks at $50,670 before benefits.
- A recruited assistant costs a one-time $1,997 recruitment fee through us, plus the monthly salary you pay directly.
Introduction
Outsourcing bookkeeping means paying for part of a person's time and the software they work in. The sums differ because the packages differ. One firm sells software with answers on demand, another assigns a bookkeeper to your account, and a recruiter such as us finds one person who works for you.
Read each quote for what it includes: how many hours or transactions, which reports, how often accounts are reconciled and whether cleanup of older months costs extra.
Factors Influencing Outsourced Bookkeeping Costs
Four things move the price most:
- Size of the books. Bench's lowest plan is for businesses with revenue of $250,000 a year or less, and Pilot's Essentials plan covers up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, so bigger books move you up a tier.
- Scope. Bookkeeper360 prices weekly bookkeeping at $599 a month and monthly bookkeeping at $399, and tax, payroll and CFO work cost extra.
- Cleanup. Catching up on old months is often a separate job. Bookkeeper360 lists onboarding and prior bookkeeping from $1,000 a project, and Bench sells catch-up bookkeeping as its own service.
- Location. Salary levels differ from country to country, so a person hired in South Africa or the Philippines is paid on a different scale from a US hire.
Expertise counts as well. A bookkeeper who already works in your software and your industry needs less training, and a firm may charge more for that.
Typical Pricing Structures
Most firms sell a monthly plan. Bench, Bookkeeper360 and inDinero list monthly prices, and Bench takes 20 percent off when you pay for a year ahead.
Hourly work is the second model. Bench's fractional bookkeeper costs $55 an hour plus a one-time onboarding fee of $1,200, which suits a backlog or a few hours a week. Recruiting is a third: you pay a one-time fee and then the assistant's salary.
Average Cost Ranges
There is no average worth quoting, because the plans differ in what they cover. They fall into three groups.
Software with help on demand sits at the bottom. Pilot's Essentials plan is $99 a month for up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, and Bench's Bookkeeping Light plan is $199 a month for revenue of $250,000 a year or less. Our small business bookkeeping outsourcing guide covers how to choose services for a business that size.
A dedicated bookkeeper comes next. Bench's Bookkeeping plan is $399 a month, and Bookkeeper360 lists monthly bookkeeping from $399 and weekly bookkeeping from $599.
Accounting teams and controllers sit at the top. inDinero lists its Essential plan from $750 a month and its Growth plan from $1,250, and it quotes its Executive plan as a custom package.
Cost Comparison: Outsourced vs. In-House Bookkeeping
An in-house bookkeeper's cost goes beyond the salary. BLS puts the median pay for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks at $50,670 a year (May 2025), and benefits made up 30 percent of employer compensation costs in private industry in June 2026.
A detailed cost comparison of in-house and outsourced accounting puts the two routes side by side.
| In-House Bookkeeping | Outsourced Bookkeeping |
|---|---|
| Salaries and Benefits | Recurring Monthly Fees |
| Training and Development | Access to Expertise |
| Office Space and Equipment | Lower Overhead |
| Compliance and Regulatory Costs | Scalability |
Each row on the left has a counterpart on the right, and the real comparison adds them up over a year.
Additional Considerations
Price is one line of the decision. Three more belong on your checklist:
- Data security. Look for personal logins with two-step sign-in and a written security plan. Tax preparation firms must keep one under the FTC Safeguards Rule.
- Compliance. A bookkeeper keeps records and does not give tax or legal advice, and anyone paid to prepare a federal return needs an IRS PTIN.
- Software. Ask whether the fee includes the accounting software or whether you buy your own. Intuit lists QuickBooks Online at $38 to $340 a month at regular prices.
Read the notice period and the exit terms as well. Bench's Bookkeeping + Tax plan, for example, requires a 12-month commitment.
The table lists what each provider publishes today. Plans differ in scope, so compare what each one includes as well as the price.
| Plan | Published Price |
|---|---|
| Pilot Essentials (up to $100,000 in monthly expenses) | $99 a month |
| Bench Bookkeeping Light (revenue of $250,000 a year or less) | $199 a month |
| Bench Bookkeeping | $399 a month |
| Bookkeeper360 monthly bookkeeping | From $399 a month |
| Bookkeeper360 weekly bookkeeping | From $599 a month |
| inDinero Essential | From $750 a month |
| Bench fractional bookkeeper | $55 an hour plus $1,200 one-time onboarding |
| Through us | $1,997 one-time recruitment fee, then the assistant's monthly salary paid directly |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Hidden Fees Associated With Outsourced Bookkeeping Services?
Ask before you sign. The usual extras are cleanup of older months, onboarding, tax filing, payroll and charges for changing the plan. Bookkeeper360 lists onboarding and prior bookkeeping from $1,000 a project, and Bench charges a $1,200 one-time onboarding fee on its hourly option.
How Long Does It Typically Take to Onboard an Outsourced Bookkeeping Provider?
It depends on how many months need cleanup and how fast you grant access, so ask for a start date and a first-report date in writing. Through us the hiring process takes 7 to 10 days once you accept a quote, and then you interview candidates and choose.
Can I Customize the Services Provided by an Outsourced Bookkeeping Firm?
Yes. Firms sell different bundles: Bench separates bookkeeping, catch-up work and tax filing, and Bookkeeper360 prices weekly bookkeeping apart from monthly. Through us you describe the tasks and hours on a free 30-minute consultation call, and we recruit for that list.
What Are the Tax Implications of Using an Outsourced Bookkeeping Service?
They depend on your situation, so ask your tax preparer, since our assistants do not give tax advice. The IRS says fees charged by accountants that are ordinary and necessary expenses directly related to operating your business are deductible (Publication 535, last revised for 2022). Accurate books also make a return quicker to prepare.
How Can I Ensure the Security of My Financial Data With an Outsourced Provider?
Ask for the provider's measures in writing, give each person a personal login with two-step sign-in and keep payment approval yourself. Publication 4557 from the IRS is a checklist written for tax professionals.
Final Thought
Our post on how outsourcing accounting can save businesses money goes through where the savings come from. Price two or three options for the same list of tasks over twelve months, and book a free consultation call to see what a recruited assistant would cost for yours.