Accountant Cost: Average Fees Explained

What you pay an accountant depends on who you hire and what you ask them to do. A bookkeeper who keeps your records current, a non-CPA accountant who prepares returns, and a CPA who advises on tax strategy all fall in different price brackets. Some bill by the hour. Others quote a monthly fee or a flat price per return.

This page sorts the published figures by billing method so you can match a quote to the work behind it.

Hourly billing is the most common way to price advice, one-off projects, and cleanup work.

CPAs sit at the top of the range. A non-CPA accountant, who may hold a degree or other credential but not the state license, costs less. Bookkeepers cost less again, and a QuickBooks-certified bookkeeper falls in the range shown. Upwork's bookkeeping average, reported by NerdWallet, lands near the middle of that range.

Tax preparers who bill by the hour averaged the figure listed, according to National Association of Tax Professionals data reported by Accounting Today. That group mixes credentials, so it is not a CPA-only number.

Ongoing bookkeeping is often sold as a package. The monthly price rises with transaction volume and the number of accounts.

NerdWallet describes a typical monthly cost and then breaks it into basic and mid-range tiers. A basic package may cover bank reconciliation and categorizing transactions. Mid-range service may add financial reports, invoicing, or payroll support. The broad packages range reflects the full spread across providers.

If your books are behind, expect a one-time cleanup charge on top of the monthly fee. Ask the bookkeeper to quote it separately.

Small businesses tend to look at the annual total, and the data here gives two views.

NerdWallet reports a range for year-round service that combines accounting, tax planning, and tax preparation. A survey by Sam's List, reported by Accounting Today, found that clients planned to spend a set amount on accountants in a year. A yearly budget may rise if you add payroll, sales tax filings, or advisory work.

Some jobs are priced by the deliverable rather than the hour.

An S corporation or partnership return costs more than an individual return because the forms are more involved. Financial statement compilation or review has a wide range, which probably reflects the size of the company and the level of assurance requested. C corporation returns run higher still in the BPA survey cited by SmartAsset, for companies in the low millions of revenue.

The hourly rate looks consistent across sources, but the context may differ.

Business.com, SmartAsset, and NerdWallet all cite the same CPA hourly range. They may be drawing on overlapping underlying data, so three matching figures do not add up to three independent confirmations. Rates in big cities may sit near the high end, and rates in smaller markets near the low end, though the sources here do not give a regional split.

• Credentials. A CPA license usually raises the rate.
• Scope. Bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, and advisory work are priced differently.
• Business size. More transactions and more entities mean more hours.
• Condition of your records. Clean books cost less to work with.
• Frequency. Ongoing monthly service may carry a lower effective rate than ad hoc projects.
• Location and firm size. Large firms often charge more than solo practitioners, though this page does not have figures to quantify it.

A bookkeeper records transactions and keeps the books accurate. An accountant interprets the numbers and prepares reports and returns. A CPA holds a state license and can sign certain filings and attest to financial statements.

Many small businesses start with a bookkeeper and add a CPA for tax season or planning. If you only need a personal return prepared, a lower-cost preparer may do the job. When your finances involve multiple entities, large transactions, or an audit, a CPA is more likely to be the right fit. For advice about your own case, talk to a licensed accountant or tax professional.

• Is the price hourly, monthly, or a flat fee?
• What is included, and what is billed extra?
• Does the quote cover tax filing, or only the bookkeeping?
• Who does the work, and who reviews it?
• Is there a fee to clean up past records?
• How will you be billed if the scope changes?