Outsourced Bookkeeping Cost: What Should You Pay in 2026?
A clear breakdown of outsourced bookkeeping costs for US and Canadian businesses — hourly, dedicated, and fixed-monthly pricing, and how to know what's fair.
"How much does outsourced bookkeeping cost?" is the first question almost every business owner asks — and the honest answer is it depends. But that's not very helpful, so let's put real numbers and ranges around it.
The short answer
Outsourced bookkeeping typically costs far less than an in-house hire. Rates start around $10/hour for standard bookkeeping and scale with complexity. Compared to a US or Canadian in-house bookkeeper — who can cost $50,000–$70,000+ a year once you add salary, benefits, payroll taxes, software, and office space — outsourcing usually saves 40–50%.
The three pricing models
Most providers (Aimfox included) offer three ways to engage:
1. Hourly
You pay only for the hours worked. Best for variable workloads, catch-up and clean-up projects, and businesses just getting started. Rates from $10/hour.
2. Dedicated staff
A part-time or full-time team member dedicated to your business — like an in-house hire without the overhead. Best when you have steady, predictable volume. Billed monthly.
3. Fixed monthly
A flat fee for a defined scope of bookkeeping and reporting. Best when you want predictable budgeting and a known monthly deliverable.
What drives the price
- Transaction volume — more accounts and transactions = more time.
- Number of accounts — multiple bank, credit-card, and loan accounts to reconcile.
- Complexity — inventory, multi-currency, job costing, or trust accounting add work.
- Frequency — weekly books cost more than monthly.
- Add-ons — payroll, AR/AP, or tax prep layered on top.
What's usually included
A good monthly bookkeeping package should cover bank and credit-card reconciliation, expense categorisation, accounts receivable and payable, and a month-end financial package (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow). Anything compliant with US GAAP and ready for your CPA.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is there a free trial so I can test the fit? (At Aimfox, your first month is free.)
- Is the work reviewed before it reaches me?
- Are there lock-in contracts, or can I scale up and down?
- How is my data secured?
The bottom line
Don't shop on price alone — the cheapest books are expensive if they're wrong. Look for a partner with a review layer, clear communication, and flexible pricing. If you want a real number for your situation, book a free consultation and we'll scope it with you.
