The first question every business owner asks about outsourced accounting is what it costs. The frustrating answer is that it depends—on your transaction volume, complexity, service level, and a dozen other variables that make standardized pricing nearly impossible to quote.
But “it depends” doesn’t help you budget. And vague ranges like “$500 to $5,000 per month” are so broad they’re meaningless. You need numbers concrete enough to compare against your current spending, evaluate proposals from providers, and forecast your finance function costs as you grow.
According to Clutch’s 2024 survey of small business accounting, 37% of small businesses now outsource some or all of their accounting functions, up from 28% in 2020. The shift reflects growing recognition that outsourced accounting cost often beats in-house alternatives—not just on price, but on expertise and reliability. Yet many businesses overpay for services they don’t need or underpay for inadequate support because they don’t understand the pricing landscape.
This guide breaks down outsourced accounting costs by service level, explains what drives pricing variation, and helps you determine what you should actually budget for your specific situation.
The Three Tiers of Outsourced Accounting
Outsourced accounting isn’t a single service—it’s a spectrum ranging from basic transaction recording to full finance department replacement. Understanding the tiers helps you identify what you actually need and what it should cost.
Tier 1: Bookkeeping covers the foundational work of recording transactions, categorizing expenses, reconciling accounts, and producing basic financial statements. This is the minimum viable accounting function. Without accurate bookkeeping, nothing else in finance works properly. Bookkeeping services handle accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and monthly financial statement preparation. They don’t typically include strategic analysis, complex accounting judgments, or forward-looking planning.
Tier 2: Controller services add oversight, accuracy assurance, and more sophisticated accounting. A controller (or controller-level service) manages the monthly close process, ensures proper revenue recognition, handles accruals and adjustments, maintains the chart of accounts, prepares for audits, and provides operational financial analysis. Controller services assume bookkeeping is handled—either by the same provider or separately—and add the judgment layer that transforms transaction data into reliable financial information.
Tier 3: CFO services provide strategic financial leadership. This includes financial planning and analysis, cash flow forecasting, fundraising support, board and investor relations, and strategic decision support. CFO services assume both bookkeeping and controller functions are in place, adding the strategic perspective that guides business decisions. For a full breakdown of this level, see our guide on how fractional CFOs charge.
Most outsourced accounting relationships involve some combination of these tiers. A small business might need only Tier 1. A growth-stage startup might need all three. Understanding which tiers you require is the first step toward understanding your costs.
Outsourced Bookkeeping Costs
Basic bookkeeping is the most commoditized outsourced accounting service, with pricing that varies primarily based on transaction volume and complexity.
Transaction-based pricing charges per transaction processed—typically $1 to $3 per transaction for basic categorization and recording. A business processing 200 transactions monthly might pay $300 to $600 under this model. The advantage is direct correlation between activity and cost. The disadvantage is unpredictability; a month with unusually high transaction volume produces an unexpectedly high invoice.
Monthly retainer pricing is more common for ongoing relationships. According to Bench, one of the larger outsourced bookkeeping providers, small business bookkeeping typically ranges from $300 to $600 monthly for simple businesses (under 200 transactions, straightforward categorization) to $600 to $1,500 monthly for more complex situations (higher volume, multiple accounts, inventory, more categories).
What affects bookkeeping cost:
Transaction volume is the primary driver. A business with 50 monthly transactions costs less to maintain than one with 500. The relationship isn’t perfectly linear—there’s a baseline cost regardless of volume—but more transactions means more work means higher cost.
Number of accounts and integrations matters. Each bank account, credit card, payment processor, and connected system requires separate reconciliation. A business with one bank account and one credit card is simpler than one with five accounts across multiple institutions.
Categorization complexity affects time required. A professional services firm with three expense categories takes less time than a retailer with inventory, cost of goods sold, and dozens of expense types requiring careful classification.
Industry-specific requirements can add cost. Businesses with job costing, project accounting, or specialized compliance requirements need bookkeepers familiar with those needs. Generic bookkeeping services may not handle these well; specialized providers charge more.
Typical bookkeeping cost ranges:
| Business Type | Monthly Transactions | Expected Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Solo consultant/freelancer | Under 50 | $200–$400 |
| Small service business | 50–150 | $350–$700 |
| Growing startup | 150–300 | $600–$1,200 |
| E-commerce business | 300–1,000 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Multi-location business | 500+ | $2,000–$4,000+ |
Outsourced Controller Costs
Controller services add meaningful cost because they require more senior expertise and judgment. You’re not just paying for transaction processing—you’re paying for someone who can ensure your financials are accurate, compliant, and useful.
Monthly retainer pricing dominates controller-level engagements. Expect to pay $2,000 to $5,000 monthly for part-time controller oversight, depending on company complexity. This typically includes monthly close management, financial statement review, account reconciliation oversight, basic financial analysis, and audit preparation support.
Hourly pricing applies to some controller engagements, typically at $75 to $150 per hour depending on the controller’s experience and your location. A controller spending 20 hours monthly at $100/hour costs $2,000—roughly equivalent to the low end of retainer pricing. Hourly can work for variable needs but creates unpredictability.
What’s included varies significantly between providers. Some controller services include bookkeeping; others assume you’re handling bookkeeping separately. Some include basic FP&A work; others consider that CFO-level. Before comparing prices, ensure you’re comparing equivalent scope.
What affects controller cost:
Company complexity determines how much controller judgment is required. A SaaS company with deferred revenue, multi-year contracts, and ASC 606 compliance needs more controller attention than a cash-basis service business. Manufacturing companies with inventory, cost accounting, and standard costing require specialized expertise.
Reporting requirements add time. If you need detailed departmental P&Ls, project-level profitability, customer segment analysis, or other granular reporting, expect higher costs. Standard monthly financial statements take less time than customized management reporting packages.
Audit and compliance needs affect scope. Companies requiring annual audits need controllers who can prepare audit schedules, respond to auditor requests, and manage the audit relationship. This preparation adds meaningful time, especially in the months surrounding audit fieldwork.
Transaction volume flows through from bookkeeping. Even when bookkeeping is handled separately, higher transaction volumes mean more to review, more potential errors to catch, and more reconciliation work.
Typical controller cost ranges:
| Company Profile | Complexity Level | Expected Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Simple service business, no audit | Low | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Growing startup, basic reporting | Medium | $2,500–$4,000 |
| Multi-entity, audit required | High | $4,000–$6,500 |
| Complex operations, detailed reporting | Very High | $6,000–$10,000+ |
Outsourced CFO Costs
CFO-level services represent the premium tier of outsourced accounting, providing strategic guidance rather than transactional support. Pricing reflects the seniority and expertise required.
Monthly retainers for fractional CFO services typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 depending on time commitment and company needs. A growth-stage startup needing 15 hours monthly of CFO attention might pay $5,000 to $7,000. A company actively fundraising or navigating complex transactions might pay $10,000 to $15,000 for more intensive support.
Project-based pricing applies to defined CFO deliverables. Financial model development might cost $5,000 to $15,000. Fundraising support often runs $15,000 to $35,000 depending on round complexity. Due diligence preparation for M&A can range from $20,000 to $50,000. These projects typically supplement rather than replace ongoing retainer relationships.
What’s included at the CFO level varies more than at other tiers. Some fractional CFOs include board meeting attendance in their retainer; others charge separately. Fundraising support is often an add-on. Ensure you understand scope before comparing prices. Our detailed breakdown of fractional CFO pricing models covers typical inclusions and exclusions.
Complete Outsourced Accounting Cost: Bundled Services
Many providers offer bundled services combining bookkeeping, controller, and CFO functions. These integrated packages often provide better value than sourcing each tier separately.
Full-service outsourced accounting from an integrated provider typically costs $3,500 to $8,000 monthly for growing companies, including bookkeeping, controller oversight, and strategic CFO guidance. This compares favorably to assembling the same capabilities from separate providers:
- Bookkeeping: $800–$1,500
- Controller: $2,500–$4,500
- CFO: $4,000–$8,000
- Separate total: $7,300–$14,000
The integrated approach often costs 40-50% less because providers eliminate coordination overhead, share context across service levels, and operate more efficiently than disconnected vendors.
GetExact provides this type of integrated support, combining outsourced bookkeeping, controller services, and fractional CFO guidance in packages designed for growing companies. The integration means your CFO understands your books because they’re produced by the same team, eliminating the telephone-game dynamics that occur when services are fragmented.
Outsourced vs. In-House Accounting Costs
Understanding outsourced accounting cost requires comparison against the alternative: building an in-house team. The comparison isn’t straightforward because in-house costs extend well beyond salary.
In-house bookkeeper costs:
A full-time bookkeeper earns $45,000 to $65,000 annually depending on location and experience, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Add 25-30% for payroll taxes, benefits, and overhead. Total cost: $56,000 to $85,000 annually, or $4,700 to $7,000 monthly.
Compare this to outsourced bookkeeping at $500 to $1,500 monthly. The outsourced option costs 70-85% less for equivalent transaction processing.
In-house controller costs:
Controllers earn $90,000 to $150,000 in salary depending on market and experience. Fully loaded cost reaches $115,000 to $195,000 annually, or $9,500 to $16,000 monthly.
Outsourced controller services at $2,500 to $5,000 monthly represent 60-75% savings.
In-house CFO costs:
CFO compensation ranges from $200,000 to $400,000 in base salary, with total compensation often reaching $350,000 to $550,000 including equity and benefits. Monthly cost: $29,000 to $46,000.
Fractional CFO services at $5,000 to $12,000 monthly represent 70-85% savings—while often providing more experienced talent than a company could attract for a full-time role at the same budget.
The hidden costs of in-house:
Beyond compensation, in-house accounting functions require management attention. Someone needs to recruit, onboard, train, review work, handle HR issues, provide backup during vacations, and replace people who leave. For companies without dedicated HR and finance leadership, this management burden falls on founders or executives whose time has high opportunity cost.
Turnover is particularly expensive. Accounting staff turnover averages 17% annually according to AccountingToday. Each departure triggers recruiting costs (typically 20-30% of annual salary), onboarding time, and productivity loss during transition. Outsourced providers absorb this turnover risk internally.
What Drives Outsourced Accounting Cost Variation
Providers quote wildly different prices for seemingly similar services. Understanding the drivers helps you evaluate whether price differences reflect value differences or just different pricing strategies.
Provider type affects pricing structure. Large national firms like Pilot or Bench offer standardized packages at scale, often with lower prices but less customization. Boutique firms offer more personalized service at premium prices. Individual practitioners may offer the lowest rates but with capacity constraints and key-person risk. Your size and needs determine which provider type fits best.
Geographic location of the provider matters less than it once did for remote services, but some correlation persists. Providers based in high-cost markets often charge more. Offshore providers offer significant discounts but with potential quality, communication, and timezone tradeoffs.
Specialization commands premium pricing. A provider specializing in SaaS accounting, healthcare compliance, or nonprofit fund accounting will likely charge more than generalists—but deliver more relevant expertise. The premium may be worthwhile if you operate in a specialized context.
Technology stack affects both capability and cost. Providers investing in automation can handle higher volumes at lower cost. Those using manual processes will charge more for equivalent work. Ask about technology during evaluation; it signals both capability and efficiency.
Service level agreements around response time, close timing, and availability affect pricing. Providers guaranteeing 48-hour response and close by day 5 charge more than those offering “best effort” service. Determine what service levels you actually need before paying premium for guarantees you won’t use.
Budgeting for Outsourced Accounting: A Framework
Rather than picking a number arbitrarily, build your budget from actual requirements.
Step 1: Assess your current transaction volume. Count monthly transactions across all accounts—bank transactions, credit card charges, invoices, payments. This establishes baseline bookkeeping needs.
Step 2: Identify complexity factors. Do you have inventory? Multiple entities? International transactions? Deferred revenue? Audit requirements? Each complexity factor adds cost. List yours explicitly.
Step 3: Determine required service levels. Do you need monthly P&L by department? Weekly cash flow updates? Board-ready financials? The reporting requirements you actually need shape scope and cost.
Step 4: Decide which tiers you need. Bookkeeping only? Bookkeeping plus controller? Full stack including CFO? This decision has the largest impact on total cost. Be honest about what you actually need versus what sounds impressive.
Step 5: Build the budget range. Using the ranges provided above, estimate low and high scenarios for your specific situation. Plan for the midpoint but ensure cash flow can handle the high end.
Step 6: Add contingency for growth. If you expect meaningful growth in the next year, budget for increased accounting needs. Transaction volumes and complexity tend to grow faster than revenue.
Outsourced Accounting Cost by Company Stage
| Company Stage | Revenue Range | Typical Monthly Need | Expected Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-revenue startup | $0–$100K | Basic bookkeeping | $300–$600 |
| Early revenue | $100K–$500K | Bookkeeping + light oversight | $600–$1,500 |
| Growth stage | $500K–$3M | Bookkeeping + controller | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Scaling | $3M–$10M | Full stack (BK + Controller + CFO) | $5,000–$10,000 |
| Established | $10M–$25M | Full stack + enhanced CFO | $8,000–$15,000 |
These ranges assume moderate complexity. Businesses with unusual complexity—multi-entity structures, international operations, specialized compliance requirements—should budget 25-50% above these ranges.
Common Mistakes in Evaluating Outsourced Accounting Cost
Certain patterns repeatedly lead to poor outsourcing decisions. Avoiding these mistakes saves both money and frustration.
Choosing based solely on lowest price often backfires. The cheapest provider may lack the expertise to handle your complexity, miss errors that a more thorough provider would catch, or deliver such poor service that you spend your own time compensating. The goal is value, not minimum cost.
Comparing dissimilar scope produces misleading conclusions. A $2,000 quote including bookkeeping and controller services can’t be compared to a $1,200 quote for bookkeeping only. Ensure you’re comparing equivalent scope before making pricing judgments.
Ignoring transition costs understates true cost of switching providers. Moving to a new provider requires cleanup of existing books, system migration, and learning curve time. Budget several thousand dollars for transition whenever evaluating a provider change.
Underestimating your complexity leads to scope mismatches. If you describe your business as “simple” and engage a provider priced accordingly, you’ll either get inadequate service or face scope expansion charges as true complexity emerges. Be thorough in describing your needs upfront.
Forgetting about scalability creates future problems. A provider perfect for your current needs may not be able to grow with you. Engaging a provider you’ll outgrow in 18 months means another transition soon. Consider your growth trajectory when selecting providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does outsourced accounting cost?
Outsourced accounting typically costs $300 to $600 monthly for basic bookkeeping, $2,000 to $5,000 monthly for controller-level services, and $3,000 to $15,000 monthly for CFO services. Full-service packages combining all three tiers range from $3,500 to $10,000 monthly for growing companies. Actual cost depends on transaction volume, complexity, and service level requirements.
Is outsourced accounting cheaper than hiring in-house?
Yes, typically 60-80% cheaper. An in-house bookkeeper costs $4,700 to $7,000 monthly fully loaded versus $500 to $1,500 outsourced. An in-house controller costs $9,500 to $16,000 monthly versus $2,500 to $5,000 outsourced. The savings are largest at the CFO level, where outsourced options cost 70-85% less than full-time hires while often providing more experienced talent.
What’s included in outsourced accounting services?
Basic bookkeeping includes transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, accounts payable/receivable, and monthly financial statement preparation. Controller services add close management, accuracy review, accrual accounting, and audit preparation. CFO services add financial planning, cash flow forecasting, fundraising support, and strategic analysis. Scope varies by provider—always confirm what’s included before engaging.
How do I know if outsourced accounting is right for my business?
Outsourced accounting typically makes sense for companies under $25 million in revenue, those without existing finance staff, businesses wanting to avoid HR complexity of building a team, and companies needing expertise beyond what they could afford to hire. In-house teams become more practical at larger scale or when you need dedicated on-site presence. See our guide on when to outsource accounting.
What should I look for in an outsourced accounting provider?
Evaluate relevant industry experience, technology capabilities, service level guarantees, communication practices, and references from similar companies. Ensure scope clarity before comparing prices. Consider whether you need standalone bookkeeping, controller services, or a full-stack provider including CFO support. Our guide on choosing a fractional CFO covers evaluation criteria applicable to all outsourced finance services.
Understanding Your True Accounting Costs
Outsourced accounting cost isn’t just a line item to minimize—it’s an investment in financial infrastructure that affects decision quality, compliance risk, and operational efficiency. Underspending leaves you with unreliable data and strategic blind spots. Overspending diverts resources from growth.
The companies that get this right match their accounting investment to their actual needs. They understand which service tiers they require, evaluate providers on value rather than price alone, and budget for growth rather than just current state.
If you’re uncertain what level of accounting support your business needs or how your current spending compares to market rates, GetExact can help. We provide outsourced accounting services across all three tiers—bookkeeping, controller, and CFO—with pricing that reflects your actual complexity rather than arbitrary packages. Schedule a consultation to discuss your situation and get a transparent view of what comprehensive financial support would cost for your business.
