The answer depends on what you actually need. Most small businesses use some combination of bookkeeping services throughout the year and accountant work at tax time. The pricing for each is different.

For ongoing bookkeeping, expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $600 per month depending on transaction volume and complexity. A simple service business with twenty transactions a month costs less than a construction company with job costing, payroll, and subcontractor payments. Monthly bookkeeping packages typically include bank reconciliation, expense categorization, and financial statements.

CPAs and accountants for tax preparation usually charge separately. Expect $300 to $1,500 for annual small business tax returns depending on your entity type and how messy your records are. An S-corp with multiple shareholders costs more than a single-member LLC with straightforward income and expenses.

The mistake most business owners make is paying accountant rates for bookkeeper work. CPAs are trained for tax strategy, audit representation, and complex financial analysis. Paying $200 an hour to categorize receipts doesn’t make sense when a bookkeeper can do that work for a fraction of the cost.

A better approach for most small businesses is hiring a bookkeeper for the ongoing monthly work and using an accountant just for taxes and strategic questions. Your books stay current throughout the year, which actually makes tax prep cheaper because the accountant isn’t reconstructing twelve months of transactions.

Factors that increase costs include high transaction volume, multiple bank accounts, payroll processing, inventory, and industry-specific needs. Businesses with clean books and simple operations pay less than those with complicated finances or months of backlog to sort through.

Mid-Missouri bookkeepers typically charge less than what you’d pay in Kansas City or St. Louis. Cost of living affects pricing just like everything else. Regional rates here often run lower than national averages.

Before focusing too much on cost, figure out what you actually need. If your books are a mess, cleanup comes first. If they’re current but you’re doing everything yourself and falling behind, monthly bookkeeping takes that off your plate. If you just need tax prep once a year and can handle the rest, you might only need an accountant at filing time.

The real question isn’t just how much it costs but what you get for the money. Good bookkeeping catches errors, keeps you compliant, and gives you numbers you can actually trust when making decisions. That’s worth more than the monthly fee.