Overview: Bookkeeping Services
Bookkeeping is the weekly work that keeps a business legible. Transactions get categorized, bank and card accounts get reconciled, and at month end the books close so the figures actually mean something. Skip it and every other financial decision turns into guesswork, usually discovered in the spring. Many firms also send invoices and schedule bills, but that is usually a broader package than reconciliation alone, so check what a quote includes.
A bookkeeper is not an accountant, and the split matters when you are buying. Bookkeepers record and reconcile. Accountants interpret, prepare statements and file returns. Most bookkeeping companies work alongside your accountant and hand over clean records at year end, which costs a good deal less than paying an accountant to sort out a shoebox.
Ask how the service is delivered: full service where they touch every transaction, or a monthly review of what your own staff entered. Ask which software they work in, who gets access to the bank, how payments are approved, and when in the month the close happens. Ask what they do not do, because payroll, sales tax filings and returns are often priced separately.
Each listing reflects what a company publishes about its packages and the industries it knows. The state and city lists lead to nearby companies, and each city page shows which are based in that city and how clients describe the handover.
How much does bookkeeping cost?
Compare the work included, not just the monthly fee. Basic bookkeeping keeps records reconciled and produces reports. Sending customer invoices and paying suppliers require a broader service. Catch-up work is priced separately from ongoing monthly service.
| Service or situation | Estimated cost or fee basis | Scope and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Basic monthly bookkeeping | Starting fees: $300–$650/month and up | Transaction categorization, bank/card reconciliation and monthly reports for a small business. Customer invoicing and bill payment are separate. |
| Occasional bookkeeping help | Published rates: $75–$95/hour and up | Time-based bookkeeping support. Set an hours estimate and require approval before the agreed budget is exceeded. |
| Catch-up or cleanup of existing books | Quote after a file review | Fix old entries or reconstruct missing months. Ask for the total for the entire backlog, named accounts and closing reports. |
| Books, customer invoicing and bill payment | Starting package totals: about $800–$1,200/month and up | Includes the underlying bookkeeping service plus issuing invoices and supplier payments. Confirm transaction limits and who approves payments. |
What changes the cost
- Transactions, bank/card accounts and close frequency
- Backlog quality and payment/invoicing workload
Other costs to budget for
- Onboarding and historical cleanup
- Software, payroll and tax returns
Ask before hiring
What exactly is done each month, what is the volume limit, and is the first cleanup quoted separately?
Reconciliation and payment processing are different services; a low entry package may provide only the former.
Frequently asked questions
What does a bookkeeping company do each month?
Codes every transaction, reconciles the bank and card accounts, and closes the period so the reports tie, usually with a short set of month-end figures. Raising and chasing invoices and scheduling supplier payments are often a broader package than the basic one. Sales tax filings and payroll may be included or quoted separately, so get the list of monthly tasks in writing.
Where does bookkeeping stop and accounting start?
Bookkeeping records what happened and proves it ties to the bank. Accounting explains what it means, produces financial statements, and files the returns. Some bookkeeping companies employ accountants and offer both. Most work as a pair with your accounting firm, and that arrangement usually costs less than asking one side to do everything.
How is bookkeeping usually priced?
Normally a fixed monthly fee based on transaction volume, the number of accounts to reconcile, and whether payroll and sales tax are included. Catch-up work on old records is quoted separately. Ask what happens when volume grows, whether a phone call is chargeable, and how much notice either side needs to end the arrangement.
Should a bookkeeper have access to our bank?
View-only access is normal and sensible. Payment authority is a different decision and should stay with you or require two approvals. Set up separate logins rather than sharing yours, review the payment run before it goes out, and remove access the day the relationship ends. Ask what insurance the company carries.
Do bank feeds make a bookkeeper unnecessary?
Feeds import transactions; they do not decide what those transactions are. Rules guess, and they guess wrong on owner draws, transfers, loan payments and anything paid personally. Someone still has to reconcile, match receipts, and catch the duplicate. Automation reduced the typing, not the judgment.
