Quick answer
- US: most bookkeepers charge $30-$90 an hour or $300-$2,500 a month, with the most common monthly fee in the $250-$499 range.1 Small-business packages often run $150-$375 a month.3
- Canada: basic bookkeeping runs about $200-$500 CAD a month and standard service $500-$1,200.7 Freelance bookkeepers charge $30-$90 an hour, most $40-$60.8
Hourly or a monthly flat fee?
Most bookkeepers start hourly and move clients to a monthly flat fee once they know the work. Monthly fees are easier for clients to budget, and they reward you for being efficient - especially with bank feeds, rules and receipt apps doing more of the work.
| Model | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $30-$901; $30-$60 for ordinary bookkeeping6 | $30-$90, most $40-$608; $25-$60 freelance, $60-$100+ certified9 |
| Monthly, small business | $150-$3753; most common $250-$4991 | $200-$500 basic7 |
| Monthly, more involved | $500-$2,000 outsourced4; up to $2,5001 | $500-$1,200 standard7; $300-$2,000 through a firm9 |
Pricing by client size
Monthly fees usually scale with the work, not the client's revenue. The common drivers are:
- Number of bank and credit card accounts to reconcile.
- Monthly transaction volume.
- Payroll, and how many employees.
- Sales tax or GST/HST filings, and how often.
- Inventory, multiple locations or classes, and how messy the records are.
Build two or three tiers around those drivers (for example, by transaction count), list what each includes, and price add-ons separately. That turns a "bookkeeping services price list" into something a client can understand in a minute.
How to price catch-up bookkeeping
Catch-up work - months or years of unreconciled books - is slower than monthly upkeep: missing statements, unclear transactions and corrections. Don't quote it blind. Review a sample first, then quote either a fixed price per month of backlog or an hourly estimate with a cap. Many bookkeepers charge more per month for catch-up than for regular monthly work, and ask for part of it upfront.
Your rate vs a bookkeeper's wage
The BLS median wage for employed bookkeepers is about $24.36 an hour - roughly $35 once an employer's costs are added.5 QuickBooks puts a full-time bookkeeper at around $47,000 a year.2 As a self-employed bookkeeper you're competing with that, but you also pay for software, insurance, training and your unbilled time, so your rate needs to sit well above the wage. Certifications help justify it: in Canada, CPB Canada certifies bookkeepers; in the US, groups like AIPB offer certification.
Bookkeeping rates in Canada
- Monthly: $200-$500 CAD basic, $500-$1,200 standard.7
- Firms: $300-$2,000 a month; freelancers $25-$60 an hour, $60-$100+ when certified.9
- Hourly overall: $20-$100+, with monthly retainers of $500-$3,000+.10
- Bookkeeping and accounting together: about $450-$800 a month for a small business.11
- Range across providers: $20-$150 an hour or $300-$2,300 a month.12
GST/HST filing is a natural add-on for Canadian clients. Quote in CAD before tax and register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. For services, the rate you charge generally depends on where your client is located, and work for clients outside Canada is often zero-rated - check CRA's rules for your situation.
Common questions
How much should I charge for bookkeeping services?
In the US, $30-$90 an hour or $300-$2,500 a month, with the most common monthly fee at $250-$499. In Canada, basic monthly bookkeeping runs $200-$500 CAD.
What hourly rate should a bookkeeper charge?
About $30-$90 in both countries, with certified bookkeepers in Canada charging $60-$100+.
How do I price catch-up bookkeeping?
Review a sample first, then quote a fixed price per month of backlog or an hourly estimate with a cap - typically at a higher rate than regular monthly work.
How much do QuickBooks bookkeepers charge?
Rates are similar to other bookkeepers - $30-$90 an hour or a monthly fee. QuickBooks itself puts monthly bookkeeping costs anywhere from about $300 for software-based services to $4,200 for a full-time hire.
How much does bookkeeping cost in Canada?
About $200-$500 CAD a month for basic service and $500-$1,200 for standard, or $30-$90 an hour freelance.
Let clients book a consult with their situation explained
On 1MinuteBooking, clients book a free consultation or a tax appointment, tell you about their situation first, and catch-up work comes in as a quote request. Free plan, no time limit.
See the bookkeeping booking pageSources
- Relay, Bookkeeping pricing guide 2026: how much to charge | Blog
- QuickBooks, How much does a bookkeeper cost in 2026 - QuickBooks
- Remote Books Online, Bookkeeping Pricing for Small Businesses (2026)
- TGG Accounting, How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost? 2026 Guide to
- Pelcro, How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost in 2026? (citing BLS wage data)
- Fino Partners, Bookkeeper Hourly Rate in the USA 2026: Costs & Hiring
- Premium Bookkeeping (Canada), How Much It Costs to Hire a Bookkeeper in Canada
- Outsource Bookkeeping (Canada), Bookkeeping Rates in Canada (2026): Complete Pricing Guide
- LedgerLogic (Canada), How Much Does Bookkeeping Cost in Canada? - LedgerLogic
- Custom CPA (Canada), How much do bookkeeping experts charge in Canada?
- Avalon Accounting (Canada), How Much Will Bookkeeping and Accounting Cost for My
- Bookly (Canada), What Do Bookkeepers Charge In Canada?
Prices are what these sources published as of September-October 2026. Rates vary by city, season and the job itself - use them as a starting point, not a rule.