How small business accountant pricing usually works
A typical engagement starts with a short scoping call and a data review (software access, bank feeds, payroll settings, ATO status). You’ll then receive a quote that separates one‑off setup/cleanup from ongoing monthly or quarterly work. Once you accept the engagement letter, access is granted, baseline tasks are completed, and a reporting cadence is agreed.
Most providers offer a hybrid model: a fixed monthly fee with volume caps (e.g. transactions, employees, entities) plus out‑of‑scope hourly rates for unexpected work. This balances predictability for you with flexibility when things change.
Small business accountant cost in Australia: typical ranges
- Hourly rates: Accountant $120-$250+; Senior advisor/CFO $220-$450+; Bookkeeper/BAS agent $60-$150.
- Fixed monthly packages: $250-$1,500+ based on transaction volume, payroll, number of bank/shop feeds, and reporting needs.
- BAS lodgement: $150-$400 per quarter (often included in packages).
- Payroll: $80-$300+ per pay run base, or $5-$10+ per employee per run, depending on awards and complexity.
- Software setup/migration (e.g. Xero): $500-$3,000+ depending on conversion history and integrations.
- Year‑end (company) financials and tax: $1,500-$3,500+; Sole trader/tax only can be lower; groups and trusts cost more.
- Advisory/Virtual CFO: $1,200-$5,000+ per month where forecasting, board packs and cashflow management are required.
- Note: Most fees attract 10% GST and are tax‑deductible for the business.
Work out your own accounting cost
The ranges on this page are what the Australian market charges. This turns them into a figure for your business, because what you pay is decided by your entity type, whether you have payroll, and how tidy your file is when the accountant opens it.
Estimates only, built from the Australian ranges set out on this page. A real quote depends on your industry, your software and what the accountant finds in the file. Nothing here is financial or tax advice.
What to compare before you commit
Scope
Confirm exactly what’s included: bookkeeping volume limits, payroll frequency and headcount, BAS/IAS, year‑end tax, software, integrations, and management reports.
Software fit
Check experience with your stack (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, ecommerce platforms, payment gateways) and how data flows end‑to‑end.
Turnaround and communication
Ask about regular cycles (weekly/monthly/quarterly), response times, meeting rhythm, and escalation during deadlines.
Commercial fit
Compare pricing model (hourly vs fixed vs hybrid), any setup fee, minimum term, out‑of‑scope rates, and how price scales as you grow.
Cost examples by scenario
Indicative only-your quote should be based on your actual volumes and complexity.
- Sole trader (services, < $150k turnover, no payroll): $250-$450 per month for bookkeeping/BAS, plus $500-$1,200 annually for tax depending on records.
- Small company (tradie with 2-4 staff): $400-$900 per month incl. bookkeeping, payroll and BAS; year‑end $1,800-$2,800+.
- Ecommerce (Shopify/Xero, medium volume): $700-$1,500+ per month depending on sales channels, inventory and payment gateways; setup/migration $1,000-$3,000+.
- Professional consultant (company, no inventory, light payroll): $350-$700 per month; year‑end $1,500-$2,500+.
- Growing business with management reporting: $1,000-$3,000+ per month including monthly packs, KPIs and cashflow; optional VCFO $1,200-$5,000+ per month.
How to reduce your accounting bill without cutting corners
- Automate bank feeds and sales channels; reduce manual imports.
- Use consistent coding rules and provide timely answers to queries.
- Centralise receipts in one app; avoid mixed personal/business spending.
- Standardise payroll and awards; keep employee data accurate.
- Agree realistic reporting cadences; avoid last‑minute uploads.
- Keep one clean chart of accounts across all entities.
How much of this is really bookkeeping?
A large share of what people call the accountant's bill is bookkeeping, and it is usually cheaper bought as bookkeeping. Reconciliation, coding, payroll and BAS are ongoing work priced monthly. Year-end financials, the tax return and structural advice are the accountant's, priced annually.
If your year-end quote came back higher than you expected, the reason is often that the file arrived needing work first. That work is billed at accounting rates when it could have been done at bookkeeping rates during the year.
Best next steps
Write a clear brief that states your current software, transaction volumes, payroll headcount/frequency, entities/structures, any backlog, and the outcomes you need (BAS on time, zero backlog, monthly reports, year‑end done, etc.). Ask for a quote that separates setup/cleanup from ongoing work and lists any volume caps.
Verify registrations (Tax/BAS agent where relevant) and professional memberships (CPA/CA/IPA). Make sure you receive an engagement letter before work starts.
Use the related pages below to narrow by business type, then request pricing using the form.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small business accountant cost in Australia?
Expect $120-$250+ per hour for accountants and $60-$150 for bookkeepers/BAS agents. Fixed monthly packages often fall between $250-$1,500+ based on volume and payroll. BAS is commonly $150-$400 per quarter, and year‑end company financials and tax $1,500-$3,500+ for straightforward cases.
What drives the price?
Transaction count, number of bank/shop feeds, payroll headcount and awards, backlog/cleanup, multi‑entity structures, industry rules (e.g. construction/ecommerce), integrations, and reporting cadence.
Is the fee tax-deductible and does it include GST?
Accounting and bookkeeping fees are generally tax‑deductible. Most providers charge +10% GST unless stated otherwise.
Hourly vs fixed-fee-what’s better?
Hourly suits unknown or one‑off cleanup. Fixed‑fee suits steady work with clear volume limits. Many engagements combine both: a one‑off setup fee and an ongoing fixed package, with out‑of‑scope billed hourly.
What should be in a quote or engagement letter?
Defined scope and inclusions/exclusions, assumptions and volume caps, pricing and out‑of‑scope rates, turnaround times, deliverables (BAS, payroll, reports, year‑end), meeting rhythm, software access, and termination terms.
How do I get an accurate estimate?
Provide software access or sample exports, average monthly transactions, number of employees and pay frequency, sales channels, any deadlines or backlog, and the reporting cadence you want. Use the form below to share this detail securely.