Cost guide · October 2026
How much does bookkeeping
cost in 2026?
A US bookkeeper costs about $36 an hour with benefits, US bookkeeping firms $200 to $5,000 a month, and offshore teams about $10 to $25 an hour. Opteamus starts at $15 an hour, reviewed by a chartered accountant (CA) level director.
$15/hr
Opteamus accounting team, starting rate
~$36/hr
a US bookkeeper costs with benefits
$200 to $5,000
a month at US bookkeeping and CPA firms
58%
less than a US bookkeeper for the same hours
Price comparison
What bookkeeping costs in 2026
Published or reported prices, checked in October 2026. Each figure links to its source.
| Option | Price | What you get | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opteamus offshore accounting team | From $15 an hour | Bookkeeping, reconciliations, AP and AR, payroll and statements, reviewed by a CA-level director, US business hours | Our pricing |
| Other offshore bookkeeping providers | About $10 to $25 an hour | Varies by provider and role | Madras Accountancy, Apr 1, 2026, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| US online bookkeeping services | About $99 to $799 a month by plan (Pilot, Bench, Bookkeeper360, Zeni) | Monthly books on a fixed package, often with onboarding fees and tax billed separately | inDinero, Sep 14, 2026, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| US bookkeeper-led firms | $200 to $1,000 a month | A US bookkeeper keeping your books | inDinero, Sep 14, 2026, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| US CPA-led firms | $750 to $5,000 a month | Books plus CPA review, often with tax | inDinero, Sep 14, 2026, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| In-house US bookkeeper | About $36 an hour with benefits ($24.36 median wage) | An employee you hire, train and manage | BLS wage, BLS benefits share |
Competitor details come from the public sources linked, checked on the date shown. Confirm current terms with each provider.
Monthly cost
What 20, 80 or 160 hours a month costs
From a small business with light books to a full-time bookkeeper.
| Option | 20 hours | 80 hours | 160 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opteamus | $300 to $500 | $1,200 to $2,000 | $2,400 to $4,000 |
| In-house US bookkeeper (with benefits) | About $710 | About $2,850 | About $5,690 |
Why Opteamus
Offshore rates, with a senior reviewer on every month
Every engagement is overseen by our Director of Accounting and Finance, who has CA-level expertise. Team members sign NDAs, work inside your own accounting software and keep logins in a password manager. Opteamus LLC is a US company, and our team works US business hours. See our accounting service.
FAQ
Common questions
How much does bookkeeping cost per month in 2026?
US bookkeeper-led firms charge about $200 to $1,000 a month, CPA-led firms $750 to $5,000, and online services $99 to $799 by plan. An in-house US bookkeeper costs about $36 an hour with benefits. Offshore teams charge about $10 to $25 an hour; Opteamus starts at $15.
How much does an offshore bookkeeper cost?
Published offshore bookkeeping rates run about $10 to $25 an hour. Opteamus charges $15 to $25 an hour, with every engagement reviewed by our Director of Accounting and Finance, who has CA-level expertise.
Is offshore bookkeeping cheaper than hiring in the US?
Yes. A US bookkeeper earns a median $24.36 an hour, and benefits bring the cost to about $36. At $15 an hour, an Opteamus accounting team costs about 40 to 70 percent of that for the same hours.
Do you prepare tax returns?
No. We handle bookkeeping, reconciliations, AP and AR, payroll and financial statement prep. Your CPA or tax preparer files the returns.
Can you work under my firm's brand?
Yes. We work white-label for CPA firms, accounting firms and fractional CFOs, and client names stay private.