If you run a small business, bookkeeping is probably not the part of the job you look forward to most. Keeping up with transactions, invoices, expenses, bank reconciliations and financial records can take a surprising amount of time, particularly as the business grows.
This often leads to one practical question: how much does a bookkeeper cost in Australia?
There is no fixed price that every business pays. Bookkeeping fees depend on the amount of work involved, the number of transactions your business handles, whether you have employees, the accounting software you use and the level of support you need.
As a general guide, Australian businesses may pay around $40 to $120 or more per hour for bookkeeping, depending on the bookkeeper's experience and the complexity of the work. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers' 2025 survey reported an average hourly fee of $83.20 for bookkeeping services in Australia.
For ongoing work, many bookkeepers also offer monthly packages rather than charging by the hour. These can start at a few hundred dollars per month for a small business with straightforward accounts and increase as transaction volumes, payroll and reporting requirements become more complex.
The right price for your business is therefore less about finding the cheapest bookkeeper and more about understanding what you actually need.
What Does a Bookkeeper Actually Do?
Bookkeeping is more than entering numbers into accounting software.
A bookkeeper helps keep your financial records accurate and up to date. This can involve recording business transactions, matching payments and expenses, reconciling bank accounts, managing invoices and keeping your accounts organised.
For a business with employees, bookkeeping may also involve payroll processing and keeping payroll records up to date. If the business is registered for GST, there may also be additional work around GST transactions and preparing information for Business Activity Statements.
Good bookkeeping gives you a clearer picture of what is happening financially in your business. Instead of trying to work out your figures months later, you can see how much money is coming in, where it is being spent and whether customers still owe you money.
This is one reason many business owners choose professional bookkeeping services Perth rather than trying to manage every part of their accounts themselves.
How Much Does a Bookkeeper Charge Per Hour in Australia?
Hourly rates vary across Australia, so there is no single standard rate.
A less experienced bookkeeper may charge towards the lower end of the market, while an experienced bookkeeper handling more complicated accounts may charge considerably more. Specialist work, troubleshooting and more advanced financial support can also attract a higher rate.
The ICB's 2025 survey gives a useful benchmark, with the average hourly fee reported at $83.20.
However, an hourly rate should never be considered on its own.
Imagine one bookkeeper charges $60 per hour and another charges $85. At first glance, the first option appears cheaper. But if the $60-per-hour bookkeeper needs ten hours to complete the work while the other takes six hours, your total costs would be $600 compared with $510.
This is why it is worth asking what is included in the service and how much time the provider expects the work to take.
How Much Does Monthly Bookkeeping Cost?
For businesses that need bookkeeping regularly, a monthly arrangement can often be easier to manage than an hourly arrangement.
A very small business with a limited number of transactions may pay several hundred dollars per month. A business with more transactions, employees, multiple accounts and regular reporting may pay $1,000 or more each month. Larger or more complicated businesses can naturally cost considerably more.
There is no universal “average monthly bookkeeping cost” because businesses can have very different requirements.
For example, consider a sole trader with one bank account, a small number of monthly transactions and no employees. Their bookkeeping requirements may be relatively simple.
Now compare that with a growing business that has several bank accounts, credit cards, hundreds of transactions, employees, payroll, GST and a large number of customer invoices.
Both businesses are small businesses, but the amount of bookkeeping involved is completely different.
That is why a professional bookkeeper will usually want to understand your business before providing an accurate quote.
What Determines the Cost of a Bookkeeper?
The amount of bookkeeping work required is usually the biggest factor.
1. Transaction Volume
The more transactions your business processes, the more time is generally required to keep the accounts up to date.
A business making dozens of transactions each month has a very different workload from one processing hundreds of sales and expenses.
This becomes particularly important for businesses that are growing quickly. As sales increase, bookkeeping requirements often increase as well.
2. Number of Accounts
Your bookkeeper may need to reconcile more than just your main business bank account.
You might have a savings account, business credit card, payment platform or other financial accounts that also need to be checked and reconciled.
Having several accounts does not necessarily make bookkeeping difficult, but it can increase the amount of time required.
3. Payroll
Once you have employees, bookkeeping can become more involved.
Payroll needs to be processed correctly and records need to be maintained for wages, PAYG withholding, superannuation and leave. The amount of work will depend on the number of employees and how frequently you run payroll.
For a business with several employees, having someone experienced manage the bookkeeping can save the owner a considerable amount of administrative time.
4. GST and BAS
GST can also add another layer to your bookkeeping requirements.
Your transactions need to be recorded correctly so that GST information is accurate when your Business Activity Statement is prepared.
If you need assistance with BAS preparation or lodgement, make sure you understand whether this is included in your bookkeeping package or charged separately. BAS services must be provided by a registered BAS agent where registration is required.
5. Accounting Software
Most modern businesses use accounting software such as Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks.
These platforms can make bookkeeping more efficient, but they do not remove the need for someone to check that transactions have been recorded and classified correctly.
Bank feeds can automatically import transactions, for example, but imported transactions can still be incorrectly categorised. Regular reconciliation and review remain important.
Businesses using Xero may choose professional Xero bookkeeping services Perth to help keep their accounts organised and up to date.
6. The Condition of Your Books
The condition of your existing records can make a significant difference to the cost.
If your accounts are already reconciled and organised, ongoing bookkeeping may be relatively straightforward.
On the other hand, if you have months of unreconciled transactions, missing invoices or incorrectly categorised expenses, the bookkeeper may first need to clean up the accounts.
This catch-up work is usually separate from regular monthly bookkeeping and can result in a higher initial cost.
Is It Cheaper to Hire a Bookkeeper Monthly or Pay Hourly?
Neither option is automatically cheaper.
Hourly bookkeeping can make sense if you only need occasional assistance. For example, you might need help cleaning up your accounts before the end of the financial year or catching up on several months of bookkeeping.
For businesses that need ongoing support, a monthly package can be easier to budget for.
A fixed monthly fee can also make it clearer what work your bookkeeper is responsible for each month. However, you should check the conditions carefully.
Some packages may have limits on the number of transactions, bank accounts, employees or hours included. Additional work may be charged separately.
Before agreeing to a price, ask the bookkeeper to explain exactly what the monthly fee covers.
How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost for a Small Business?
For a small business, bookkeeping costs can vary from relatively low monthly fees to more substantial amounts depending on the workload.
A sole trader who mainly invoices a handful of clients and has limited expenses may not need extensive bookkeeping support.
A small company with employees, GST obligations, multiple accounts and regular sales will generally require more time.
For example, a business owner might initially spend two or three hours each week managing their own bookkeeping. That may not seem like much, but over a year it can add up to more than 100 hours.
If that time could instead be spent serving customers, generating sales or managing the business, outsourcing the bookkeeping may make financial sense even if the monthly fee looks like another business expense.
The question is not simply whether you can find a cheap bookkeeper. It is whether professional bookkeeping provides enough value to justify the cost.
What Should Be Included in a Bookkeeping Service?
This is one of the most important things to check before comparing quotes.
Two bookkeepers can offer completely different services for a similar monthly price.
One may only handle transaction entry and bank reconciliation. Another may also manage invoices, accounts payable, payroll, GST records and monthly financial reports.
Ask whether the quoted price covers the work your business actually needs.
For example, if you require regular payroll but payroll is excluded from the package, your final monthly cost could be considerably higher than the advertised price.
The same applies to BAS preparation, catch-up bookkeeping and additional reporting.
A clear quote should leave you knowing what you are paying for rather than leaving you to work it out later.
Do You Really Need a Bookkeeper?
Not every Australian business needs to outsource its bookkeeping.
If your business is very small, your transactions are straightforward and you are comfortable using accounting software, you may be able to manage the books yourself.
However, bookkeeping often becomes harder to keep up with as the business grows.
You may find yourself spending evenings reconciling transactions, chasing invoices or trying to understand why your accounts do not balance.
That is usually when professional support starts to become more valuable.
A bookkeeper can take care of the regular financial administration while you concentrate on running the business.
It can also give your accountant cleaner records to work with when preparing financial statements and tax returns.
What Are the Benefits of Professional Bookkeeping?
The biggest benefit is often time.
Business owners have plenty of things competing for their attention. Spending hours every week dealing with bookkeeping can take you away from activities that directly contribute to the business.
Accurate bookkeeping also gives you better financial visibility.
When your accounts are regularly updated and reconciled, you can more easily see whether sales are increasing, which expenses are taking up the most money and whether customers are paying on time.
It can also help identify problems earlier.
For example, if your business expenses suddenly increase but your sales remain unchanged, regular financial records can make that trend easier to spot.
Professional bookkeeping is therefore not just about keeping records for tax purposes. It can help you understand what is happening inside the business throughout the year.
How to Choose the Right Bookkeeper
Price should be part of the decision, but it should not be the only consideration.
Look for someone who understands businesses similar to yours and is familiar with the accounting software you use.
It is also worth asking how often they will update your books, how you will communicate with them and what happens when you need additional work.
If you are based in Perth, working with a local provider can also make communication easier, particularly if you want ongoing support rather than occasional bookkeeping assistance.
For businesses looking for bookkeepers Perth companies can work with on an ongoing basis, it is worth comparing experience, service scope and responsiveness alongside price.
Bookkeeping Cost vs Doing It Yourself
Doing your own bookkeeping may appear to save money because there is no bookkeeping invoice at the end of the month.
But there is still a cost: your time.
Suppose you spend four hours every week dealing with your accounts. That is roughly 16 hours a month or almost 200 hours a year. For some business owners, that may be perfectly manageable. For others, those hours could be spent on much more valuable activities.
There is also the risk of mistakes. Incorrectly categorised transactions, unreconciled accounts or incomplete records can create additional work later.
Outsourcing does not mean you have to hand over every financial decision. It simply means someone else takes responsibility for keeping the underlying records organised.
How Much Should You Budget for a Bookkeeper?
Rather than choosing a figure based on a general internet average, start by working out what your business actually needs.
Consider how many transactions you have each month, how many bank accounts need reconciliation, whether you have employees, whether you are registered for GST and what accounting software you use.
Then ask potential bookkeepers for a clear quote based on those requirements.
For a very small business, a few hundred dollars a month may be enough. A growing business with payroll, GST and higher transaction volumes may need to budget considerably more.
The important thing is that the fee should match the amount and quality of work being provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a bookkeeper in Australia?
There is no single national price, but Australian bookkeeping rates can commonly range from around $40 to $120 or more per hour. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers reported an average hourly fee of $83.20 in its 2025 survey.
How much does a bookkeeper cost per month in Australia?
Monthly bookkeeping can range from several hundred dollars for a very small business to $1,000 or more for businesses with higher transaction volumes, payroll and additional reporting requirements. The actual cost depends on the scope of work.
Is it worth paying for a bookkeeper?
For many business owners, it can be worthwhile if bookkeeping takes significant time away from running the business or if financial records are becoming difficult to manage. The value comes from saving time and keeping financial information accurate and organised.
Can a bookkeeper help with BAS?
A registered BAS agent can provide BAS services where required. If you are hiring a bookkeeper who will prepare or lodge BAS-related services, check whether the relevant services are included and whether the provider has the appropriate registration.
Is bookkeeping tax deductible in Australia?
Business bookkeeping expenses may generally be deductible where they meet the relevant requirements for a business tax deduction. The treatment can depend on your circumstances, so professional tax advice is appropriate if you are unsure.
Do I need a bookkeeper if I use Xero?
Not necessarily. Xero can automate many bookkeeping tasks, but transactions still need to be reviewed, categorised and reconciled correctly. A bookkeeper can help ensure your records remain accurate and up to date as the business grows.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does a bookkeeper cost in Australia?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. You might pay around $40 to $120 or more per hour, while ongoing monthly bookkeeping can range from a few hundred dollars to considerably more for a larger or more complex business.
What matters most is understanding what you are getting for the fee.
A good bookkeeper should do more than enter transactions. They should help keep your records accurate, organised and up to date so that you have a clearer picture of your business finances.
If bookkeeping is taking too much time or you are finding it difficult to keep your accounts up to date, professional bookkeeping services Perth can give you ongoing support without requiring you to manage every transaction yourself.
The right bookkeeping arrangement should fit your business, your workload and your budget — not simply be the cheapest option available.