Bookkeeping pricing is confusing because providers price different things: an employee's salary, a monthly subscription capped by expenses or revenue, an hourly rate, or a full-time offshore placement. This guide puts published 2026 numbers side by side so you can compare like with like. Prices change; always confirm with the provider.
Option 1: An in-house US bookkeeper
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2025 median pay of $50,670 for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks (BLS, similar occupations table). Experienced full-charge bookkeepers often earn more.
Add employer costs: in June 2026, benefits made up 31.5% of total compensation for full-time private-industry workers (BLS ECEC). A $50,670 salary therefore implies roughly $74,000 in total compensation as an illustrative estimate — before software, recruiting and management time.
Best for: companies that need someone on site, very complex books, or a finance team being built in-house.
Option 2: Online bookkeeping subscriptions
Several US online bookkeeping services publish prices. As of October 2026:
- Bench lists Bookkeeping Light at $199/month (for businesses with $250K or less in annual revenue), Bookkeeping at $399/month and Bookkeeping + Tax at $649/month, with lower annual prices. It also lists a fractional bookkeeper at $55/hour plus a $1,200 onboarding fee (Bench pricing).
- Pilot lists Essentials at $99/month (cash basis, up to $100K monthly expenses) and a Core plan with a US-based bookkeeper that starts higher and scales with monthly expenses (Pilot pricing).
These services are efficient for straightforward books. Scope limits matter: check what's included for AP, AR, payroll, accrual accounting and how quickly reports are delivered.
Best for: small businesses with simple books who want a predictable subscription.
Option 3: Offshore dedicated bookkeepers
Managed offshore providers place a full-time bookkeeper — commonly in the Philippines — dedicated to one client. Published 2026 rates include:
- Lioncrest: around $1,600/month for a bookkeeper, $1,500 for AP/AR, $2,200 for an accountant (Lioncrest).
- Ultimate Bookkeeper: $8.50/hour (about $1,473/month full-time) for 5+ years' experience and $10.75/hour (about $1,863/month) for 10+ years (Ultimate Bookkeeper).
- iSuporta: $1,400–$2,000/month all-inclusive (iSuporta).
Typical published ranges therefore cluster around $1,400–$2,000/month for a dedicated, full-time offshore bookkeeper, with senior and accountant-level roles higher.
Best for: higher-volume books, heavy AR/AP, or businesses that want a dedicated person working in their own QuickBooks or Xero file.
Comparison
| US in-house | Online subscription | Offshore dedicated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | ~$50K+ salary plus benefits | ~$99–$649+/mo (published entry tiers) | ~$1,400–$2,000+/mo |
| Dedicated person | Yes | Shared team | Yes |
| Works in your software | Yes | Often provider's software or workflow | Yes |
| Scales with volume | Fixed | Price rises with revenue/expenses | Fixed capacity (~full-time) |
| Tax filing | No (separate CPA) | Some plans include | No (separate CPA) |
Where ExecWing fits
ExecWing prices bookkeeping so you can start small and grow (pricing):
- Fractional by monthly transaction volume: $450/month (up to 100), $850 (up to 300), $1,400 (up to 750).
- Dedicated Bookkeeper at $2,100/month and Senior Bookkeeper at $2,600/month, with every close checked by a reviewer.
- Cleanup from $175 per month behind.
We price slightly above the lowest offshore placements because each close includes a second-person review and a named account lead. We don't prepare or file taxes or provide CPA services — we work alongside your CPA.
How to compare quotes
- Count your transactions. Bank and card lines, invoices, bills, payouts per month.
- List the scope. Reconciliations only, or AR, AP, payroll support and reporting?
- Check the basis. Cash or accrual?
- Check the close date. When will monthly reports arrive?
- Ask about review. Who checks the bookkeeper's work?
- Ask about security. Bank access, MFA, payment approvals.
- Ask about tax. Who files, and is the year-end package included?
A worked example: three quotes compared like-for-like
Quotes rarely match in scope, so normalize them before comparing. Here's an illustrative comparison for a business with about 350 transactions a month, two bank accounts, one card, Stripe, bi-weekly payroll and 40 vendor bills a month.
| Line | In-house US bookkeeper | Online subscription service | Dedicated offshore bookkeeper (managed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Salary + benefits + taxes (see BLS wage data for your area) | Tier priced by expenses or transactions; check current pricing | Flat monthly fee (ExecWing dedicated bookkeeper: $2,100) |
| Monthly reconciliation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bill entry and AP scheduling | Yes | Often an add-on or excluded | Yes, within approval rules |
| Invoicing and AR follow-up | Yes | Often excluded | Yes |
| Payroll journal entries | Yes | Usually included | Yes |
| Same-day responsiveness | Yes, during hours | Usually ticket or chat | Yes, during agreed hours |
| Reviewer | You or your CPA | Provider's team | Provider QA review |
| Software and tools | You pay | Included or you pay | You pay for your accounting software |
| Recruiting and turnover risk | Yours | Provider's | Provider's |
Ask every provider to fill in the same table, then compare total cost with scope.
The US salary reference point
The BLS publishes median pay for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, with state and metro breakdowns in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Add employer costs for benefits and payroll taxes. The BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release shows what those add on average. Also include recruiting fees, software seats and the cost of cover during vacations.
Hidden costs in each option
- In-house: recruiting time, training, vacation and sick-leave coverage, and key-person risk if they leave mid-year
- Subscription: scope exclusions that become add-on fees, less familiarity with your business, slower answers
- Offshore: time-zone planning, a stronger need for written processes, and the need to verify the provider's security and review practices
Checklist: security questions for any offshore bookkeeping provider
- [ ] Named user accounts in your accounting software, with MFA
- [ ] No storage of your online-banking passwords. Bank feeds should be connected by you
- [ ] The bookkeeper can prepare payments but not release them
- [ ] Company-managed or policy-controlled devices
- [ ] A confidentiality agreement and a written data-handling policy
- [ ] An offboarding process that removes access the same day
- [ ] Clear subprocessors and data locations, if you have contractual data requirements
Finally, request a sample deliverable before you sign, such as a redacted month-end close package. It shows the quality of the work more clearly than any sales call.
The bottom line
Online subscriptions are often the cheapest route for simple books. Dedicated offshore bookkeepers deliver more capacity for growing companies at a fraction of a US salary. In-house US hires make sense for complex, on-site finance roles. Compare on scope and quality, not just price.
Read fractional vs full-time bookkeeper or see Bookkeeping.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (bookkeeping clerks median pay, 2025).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026.
- Bench pricing; Pilot pricing (accessed October 2026).
- Lioncrest: Offshore Bookkeeping and Accounting Rates (2026); Ultimate Bookkeeper pricing; iSuporta (accessed October 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. ---SOURCES---
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