How Much Do Monthly Accounting Services Cost?
“Bookkeeping” and “accounting” get used interchangeably, but they are not the same service — and the price reflects the difference. Here is what a full-service monthly accounting plan costs, including what you get beyond basic bookkeeping, and how to know which level you need.
The difference between bookkeeping and accounting
Bookkeeping records what happened. Accounting turns those records into decisions. Full-service accounting adds adjusting entries, financial statements prepared to accounting standards, and a professional who interprets the numbers for you — not just files them.
- Bookkeeping: transactions recorded and accounts reconciled each month.
- Accounting: all of the above, plus accrual adjustments, GAAP-style statements, and month-end review by a CPA-led team.
What you will pay by business size
- Solopreneur / early stage: $500 to $900/month. One entity, cash basis, clean and simple.
- Established small business: $900 to $1,800/month. Higher volume, payroll, and monthly statements you share with a lender or partner.
- Complex or multi-entity: $1,800 to $2,500+/month. Accrual accounting, multiple entities, inventory, or investor reporting.
What drives your price
- Revenue and transaction volume — more activity means more to record and review.
- Cash vs. accrual — accrual accounting is more involved and costs more, but is often required as you grow.
- Number of entities — each legal entity has its own set of books.
- Reporting needs — basic statements cost less than lender packages or board reporting.
- Industry — each industry has its own nuances; inventory, supplies, job costing, and multi-state operations tend to add cost in certain industries.
Is an accounting service the right fit for you?
Full-service accounting earns its price when you make decisions off your financials — hiring, borrowing, pricing, or planning for taxes. If your priority is clean books and a tax return once a year, we recommend starting with monthly bookkeeping, and we will tailor the services to what you need.
What is included at Acction Advisors
- Everything in monthly bookkeeping (categorization, reconciliations, statements)
- Month-end adjusting entries and a CPA-led review
- Financial statements prepared to a consistent, standards-based format
- A monthly or quarterly check-in to talk through the numbers
- One relationship for your books, your questions, and your year-end handoff to tax
What costs extra
Payroll, monthly or quarterly meetings, and CFO advisory services are available as add-ons and quoted separately. Bundling them with monthly accounting usually costs less than buying each piece alone, because your books are already in our hands.
Frequently asked questions
Why is accounting more than bookkeeping?
Because it includes judgment, not just data entry — adjusting entries, standards-based statements, and a CPA-led review that makes your numbers reliable enough to act on.
Can I start with bookkeeping and upgrade later?
Yes. Many clients begin with monthly bookkeeping and move to full accounting as they grow or add staff, financing, or complexity. We size the plan to where you are now and can easily add services over time.
How do you set my exact price?
Our online estimator asks about revenue, bank accounts and credit cards, industry, and possible add-on services before giving you a price. If you are interested, we will set up an introductory meeting to understand your business’s specific needs and, if needed, prepare an updated proposal with the services we discussed and a set monthly price.
Get your estimate for monthly accounting services in about 60 seconds with our pricing estimator. Prefer to talk to a person? Email [email protected] and we will walk through our process and pricing with you. No pressure at all on our end.
Related reading
- Our accounting services
- Accounting Services Pricing Calculator
- Bookkeeper vs. accountant vs. CFO: which do you need?
- In-house hire vs. outsourced accounting firm