PRICES · BOOKKEEPING

How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost for a Small Business?

By the Korven team · Prices as of
The short answer

Most US small businesses pay $300 to $700 a month for outsourced monthly bookkeeping. Established companies with payroll, inventory or several entities often pay $1,000 or more. At Korven, monthly bookkeeping starts at $750 a month for up to 200 transactions, as one flat fee. We never bill by the hour.

How much does Korven charge for monthly bookkeeping?

Korven charges $750 a month for up to 200 transactions, $1,250 for 201 to 500, and from $2,000 above that or with inventory or several companies.

Transactions a monthMonthly price
Up to 200$750
201 to 500$1,250
Over 500, inventory, or several companiesFrom $2,000

A transaction is one line on your bank or card statements: a deposit, a payment or a card charge. Prices as of October 2026; your exact fee is confirmed after a free review.

How much do other bookkeepers charge?

Other bookkeepers usually charge $250 to $350 a month for basic plans, $500 to $700 for established small businesses, and $1,000 and up for high-volume or inventory-heavy books. Freelance bookkeepers often charge $50 to $75 an hour, and bookkeeping firms that bill hourly $75 to $150.

Korven is priced for established companies, where a late or wrong close costs more than the fee. What you pay for is accountability: a senior specialist closes your books on a fixed calendar, and the same person answers your questions.

What is included in monthly bookkeeping?

Monthly bookkeeping at Korven includes six things:

  • Every bank and card account reconciled.
  • Every transaction categorized.
  • A clean general ledger.
  • Accounts payable and accounts receivable kept current.
  • Monthly financial statements you can actually read.
  • All of it in QuickBooks Online or Xero, inside your existing setup.

How much do payroll and 1099s cost?

Payroll costs $100 a month for up to 5 people, and 1099s cost $15 per form for monthly bookkeeping clients.

Add-onPrice
Payroll$100 a month for up to 5 people, plus $10 for each extra person. Payroll software such as Gusto is billed to you separately.
1099s$15 per form for monthly clients. Otherwise $25 per form, $100 minimum. Collecting missing W-9s: $10 per vendor. Mailed copies: $3 per form.
Catch-up, if your books are behind$200 per month behind for monthly clients

For payments made in 2026, the IRS reporting threshold for most 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC payments rises from $600 to $2,000.

What changes the price of bookkeeping?

Five things change the price of bookkeeping:

  • How many transactions you have each month.
  • How many bank, card and loan accounts there are.
  • Several companies or locations.
  • Inventory, which needs cost of goods tracked properly. Sellers, see e-commerce accounting.
  • How clean the books are today. If they are behind, catch-up comes first.

Is a freelancer, a firm or software better for bookkeeping?

Software is the cheapest option for bookkeeping, but someone still has to reconcile the accounts and catch the mistakes. A freelancer billing by the hour is cheap until a messy month costs more than you expected. A flat monthly fee from a firm turns bookkeeping into a number you can budget. See what our bookkeeping and payroll service covers.

What else do people ask about bookkeeping prices?

How much does a bookkeeper cost per hour?+
Freelance bookkeepers often charge $50 to $75 an hour, and bookkeeping firms $75 to $150. Korven does not bill hourly: one flat monthly fee, from $750 a month.
How much does bookkeeping cost a month for a small business?+
Typically $300 to $700 for small businesses and $1,000 or more for established companies. At Korven: $750 for up to 200 transactions, $1,250 for 201 to 500, and from $2,000 above that or with inventory or several companies.
Is payroll included?+
Payroll is an add-on: $100 a month for up to 5 people, plus $10 for each extra person. Payroll software such as Gusto is billed to you separately.
How much do 1099s cost?+
$15 per form for monthly bookkeeping clients. Otherwise $25 per form with a $100 minimum. Collecting missing W-9s is $10 per vendor.
What if my books are behind?+
Catch-up comes first. It is $250 per month behind, or $200 per month behind if you continue with monthly bookkeeping.
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