What does bookkeeping include and why it affects price
Bookkeeping is broader than coding bank feeds. Your cost reflects how much of the finance cycle you want handled and how often. Typical inclusions are:
- Transaction capture and bank reconciliations, including bills, receipts and merchant feeds.
- Accounts receivable and payable support (invoicing, reminders, supplier bills, payment runs).
- Payroll processing and compliance (awards, super, STP, leave, end‑of‑year finalisation).
- GST review and BAS preparation/lodgement by a registered BAS agent.
- End‑of‑month checks, management reports and liaising with your tax accountant.
The more of these items you delegate, the higher the package, but the lower your year‑end clean‑up and the smoother your cash flow visibility.
Typical Australian pricing models
- Hourly rates: $60–$120+ for ongoing work, rising for complex payroll, multi‑currency or inventory; senior review or BAS agent sign‑off often $90–$160+.
- Fixed monthly packages: scoped by transaction count, bank accounts, entities, payroll headcount and reporting frequency.
- Per‑deliverable: BAS per lodgement, payroll per pay run, EOFY payroll finalisation per headcount, or a fixed fee for cleanup/migration.
Packages are best when the volume is predictable. Hourly can suit one‑off cleanup or uncertain scope.
Price guide by business profile
- Sole trader or micro business (light volume, no payroll): $250–$500+ per month or $150–$400 per BAS if quarterly only.
- Small business (100–400 txns/month, 1–5 staff): $400–$900+ per month, plus BAS if not included.
- Growing or multi‑channel (eCommerce, tools like Shopify/Amazon, inventory): $800–$1,500+ per month depending on integrations and reconciliations.
- Multi‑entity or consolidated groups: typically bespoke pricing; expect senior oversight and scheduled reporting.
These are indicative ranges. Your actual price depends on the mix of AR/AP work, payroll rules, deadlines and how tidy your records are today.
BAS, payroll and one‑off costs
BAS and IAS
Simple quarterly BAS is often $150–$300 when books are tidy; more complex groups, adjustments or catch‑ups can be $300–$600+ per lodgement.
Payroll
Expect a base fee plus $6–$15 per employee per pay run. Setup, award mapping, onboarding, super clearing and EOFY finalisation are usually separate line items.
Cleanup and catch‑up
From $500 for a light month to $1,000–$5,000+ for multi‑month backlogs, historical BAS corrections, or a migration to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks.
Software subscriptions
Cloud accounting typically ranges from entry to advanced plans depending on features like payroll, multi‑currency and projects. Confirm whether software is included in your package.
How to estimate your own bookkeeping cost
- List your bank/merchant feeds and average monthly transactions.
- Confirm GST registration and BAS frequency (monthly or quarterly).
- Count payroll headcount and pay frequency; note any awards or allowances.
- Note tools and integrations (e.g. Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Shopify, Square, Stripe, DEAR/Cin7).
- Decide if you want AR/AP handled (issuing invoices, chasing debtors, supplier bills, payment runs).
- Flag any catch‑up months, cleanup needs, or an upcoming migration.
Share this checklist when you request a quote so providers can scope accurately and avoid change orders later.
What to compare before you commit
Scope
Confirm what is included (reconciliations, AR/AP, payroll, BAS, reporting) and what triggers an out‑of‑scope fee.
Software fit
Choose a provider fluent in your stack and integrations, not just familiar with the brand names.
Turnaround and communication
Ask about processing cadence, response time SLAs, review steps and who handles urgent issues near lodgement deadlines.
Commercials
Compare hourly vs fixed fee, minimum terms, price review timing, and whether you want compliance only or advisory input.
Best next steps
Decide whether you need a one‑off fix (cleanup, BAS, payroll setup) or ongoing support. That decision shapes the brief, the pricing model and the level of experience you should budget for.
If you want broader guidance across tax, structure or cash flow, consider pairing bookkeeping with a small business accountant or advisory support.
Frequently asked questions
How Much Does Bookkeeping Cost?
The short answer depends on your structure, software, reporting obligations and how much hands on support you need. In Australia, expect $60–$120+ per hour or $250–$1,500+ per month for packages, with BAS, payroll and cleanup quoted by scope.
What should I check before deciding?
Review your business structure, tax registrations, payroll needs, software stack, reporting frequency and whether you need compliance only support or broader advisory input. Also note transaction volume, number of bank/merchant feeds, and any catch‑up months.
When should I get professional advice?
Get advice when the issue touches tax, structure, reporting deadlines, payroll awards, trust distributions, director/shareholder loans, finance applications or a system migration. A BAS‑registered bookkeeper can handle GST/BAS; involve your tax accountant for income tax and structuring.
What is the safest next step?
Use the checklist above to define scope, then request a fixed‑fee or clear hourly estimate. Compare scope, turnaround and software fit before you choose. If you want action now, submit the form below for tailored options.
Is software included in the price?
Sometimes. Confirm whether your package covers Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks subscriptions, payroll add‑ons and any app fees (eCommerce, inventory, timesheets). Software can be a significant component of total cost.