Published: November 2025

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Australian bookkeepers charge anywhere from $45 per hour to $15,000 per month depending on your business size, transaction volume, and service requirements. But here's what most business owners discover too late: the pricing model matters more than the headline rate.

A bookkeeper charging $60 per hour might cost you $31,200 annually, while a monthly package bookkeeper at $2,800 per month costs $33,600 for the same work. The difference? The monthly package typically includes BAS preparation, better communication, and guaranteed availability. The hourly bookkeeper charges extra for everything.

This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly what bookkeepers charge across Australia in 2026, using real transaction volumes and business examples. Whether you're a Sydney café with 200 monthly transactions or a Melbourne professional services firm with 500 monthly transactions, you'll find the specific pricing data you need to budget correctly.

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Quick Answer: Bookkeeper Pricing Overview

Before diving into detailed breakdowns, here's what you need to know about bookkeeper pricing in Australia for 2026:

Hourly Rates:

• Range: $45-$95 per hour depending on location and experience

Transaction-Based Pricing:

• Range: $1.50-$4.00 per transaction

Monthly Packages:

• Small businesses: $800-$2,500 per month
• Medium businesses: $2,500-$6,000 per month
• Large businesses: $6,000-$15,000 per month

Regional Variations:

• Sydney and Melbourne: 10-20% premiums at higher end of ranges
• Brisbane and Perth: Mid-range pricing
• Regional areas: 15-25% below metro rates

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Pricing Models Explained

Australian bookkeepers use four primary pricing models, each with distinct advantages and hidden costs that significantly impact your bottom line.

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Hourly Rate Model

The hourly rate model means you pay for every hour the bookkeeper works on your books. This is the oldest and most traditional pricing model in the industry.

Typical Hourly Rates in 2026:

• Sydney and Melbourne CBD: $70-$95 per hour
• Sydney and Melbourne suburbs: $60-$80 per hour
• Brisbane and Perth: $55-$75 per hour
• Regional cities: $50-$65 per hour
• Country areas: $45-$60 per hour

When Hourly Rates Work Best:

• One-off catch-up work (12 months of receipts in a shoebox)
• Special projects like system migrations or cleanup work
• Very small businesses with unpredictable transaction volumes
• Testing a bookkeeper before committing to ongoing work

Advantages:

• Clear cost control - only pay for time used
• Flexibility to scale up or down month to month
• Easy to compare rates between bookkeepers
• No lock-in or minimum commitments

Disadvantages and Hidden Costs:

• Unpredictable monthly costs make budgeting difficult
• Every email, phone call, and question gets billed separately
• Minimum charge increments (many charge minimum 30-minute blocks)
• Less incentive for efficiency improvements or automation
• Can become expensive fast for ongoing needs
• BAS preparation and advisory often charged separately

Example: A Sydney professional services firm with 180 transactions monthly hired a bookkeeper at $75/hour. The bookkeeper took 6 hours monthly for transactions, 2 hours for reporting, plus 1.5 hours for BAS quarterly. Annual breakdown: $6,750 for transactions + $1,800 for reporting + $450 for BAS = $9,000 annually.

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Transaction-Based Pricing

Transaction-based pricing charges per item processed: each invoice raised, bill received, payment made, or receipt recorded. This model attempts to create more predictable pricing than hourly rates.

Typical Per-Transaction Rates:

• Simple transactions (bank transfers, standard invoices): $1.50-$2.50 each
• Complex transactions (multi-line bills, forex): $3.00-$4.00 each
• Bank reconciliation items: $1.00-$2.00 each

Example Calculation:

• Business with 200 transactions monthly at $2.00 each = $400/month
• Annual bookkeeping cost = $4,800
• Add $500/quarter for BAS = $2,000/year
• Total annual cost: $6,800

When Transaction-Based Pricing Works:

• Businesses with highly variable transaction volumes month-to-month
• Seasonal businesses with predictable busy and slow periods
• When you want clear cost attribution per transaction

The Major Problem with This Model:

Transaction-based pricing creates perverse incentives. Your bookkeeper gets paid more when you have more transactions, which means they're financially incentivised NOT to help you reduce transaction volume through:

• Automation
• Supplier consolidation
• Process improvements

Smart bookkeepers should help you reduce unnecessary transactions. Transaction-based pricing makes that impossible.

Other Disadvantages:

• Difficult to predict costs if transaction volumes fluctuate
• Disputes over what counts as one transaction vs multiple
• Advisory services and communication typically billed separately
• Doesn't include reporting, BAS, or strategic guidance

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Monthly Package Model (Most Common and Recommended)

Monthly packages have become the dominant pricing model for ongoing bookkeeping in Australia because they solve the predictability problem for both parties. You pay a fixed monthly fee for a defined set of services and transaction volume.

Most professional bookkeeping services use this model, delivering the best balance of predictable costs, comprehensive service, and value for money.

How Packages Typically Work:

• Fixed monthly fee based on transaction volume tiers
• Includes core bookkeeping, reporting, and usually BAS preparation
• Defined communication channels (email, phone)
• Reasonable ad-hoc questions included
• Overflow charged at hourly rate if you exceed tier limits

Standard Monthly Package Pricing by Transaction Volume:

Micro Businesses (50-150 transactions/month):

• Typical business: Sole trader, startup, micro business
• Monthly fee: $800-$1,800
• Annual cost: $9,600-$21,600

Small Businesses (150-300 transactions/month):

• Typical business: 5-15 staff
• Monthly fee: $1,800-$3,500
• Annual cost: $21,600-$42,000

Growing Businesses (300-500 transactions/month):

• Typical business: 15-50 staff
• Monthly fee: $3,500-$6,000
• Annual cost: $42,000-$72,000

Medium Businesses (500-800 transactions/month):

• Typical business: 50-100 staff
• Monthly fee: $6,000-$10,000
• Annual cost: $72,000-$120,000

Large Businesses (800+ transactions/month):

• Typical business: 100+ staff
• Monthly fee: $10,000-$15,000+
• Annual cost: $120,000-$180,000+

What's Typically Included in Monthly Packages:

Basic Package Inclusions:

• Daily or weekly transaction processing
• Bank reconciliation
• Accounts payable and receivable
• Monthly financial reports (P&L, Balance Sheet)
• Email and phone support

Standard Package Inclusions:

• Everything in Basic, plus:
• Quarterly BAS preparation by registered BAS agent
• Debtor management support
• Management reporting with commentary

Premium Package Inclusions:

• Everything in Standard, plus:
• Payroll processing
• Cash flow forecasting
• Budget vs actual tracking
• CFO advisory input
• Priority response times

Advantages of Monthly Packages:

• Predictable fixed monthly costs for budgeting
• Comprehensive service bundle (not paying extra for everything)
• Better communication and relationship building
• Bookkeeper incentivised to improve efficiency and automation
• Usually better value than hourly for ongoing needs
• Strategic continuity - your bookkeeper knows your business deeply

Disadvantages:

• Fixed cost regardless of actual usage in quiet months
• May require 3-6 month minimum commitments
• Overages charged if you exceed transaction tier

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Examples by Industry

Understanding bookkeeper costs through concrete examples from businesses similar to yours makes pricing decisions easier.

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Retail Business: Sydney Fashion Boutique

Business Profile:

• 15 staff (mix of full-time and casual)
• $3 million annual revenue
• Physical retail plus online sales
• Complex inventory management

Monthly Transaction Volume:

• Customer sales transactions: 200 (bulk entries from POS)
• Supplier bills and payments: 80
• Operating expenses (rent, utilities, marketing): 40
• Payroll entries: 30
• Total: 350 transactions/month

Typical Monthly Package Cost:

• Monthly retainer: $4,000-4,500
• Includes: All bookkeeping, weekly payroll, BAS quarterly, monthly reporting
• Annual cost: $48,000-54,000

Why This Pricing Works: Retail businesses generate high transaction volumes from sales but need weekly payroll for casual staff. Monthly packages typically include everything and provide direct communication channels for urgent questions during busy periods. The alternative hourly model would cost approximately $60,000-70,000 annually.

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Professional Services: Melbourne Architecture Firm

Business Profile:

• 25 staff (architects, designers, admin)
• $5 million annual revenue
• Project-based billing with retainers
• Relatively clean transaction structure

Monthly Transaction Volume:

• Client invoices: 35
• Supplier bills and payments: 60
• Operating expenses: 45
• Payroll entries: 40
• Total: 180 transactions/month

Typical Monthly Package Cost:

• Monthly retainer: $3,000-3,500
• Includes: Bookkeeping, fortnightly payroll, BAS quarterly, management reporting, debtor follow-up
• Annual cost: $36,000-42,000

Why This Pricing Works: Professional services firms have relatively low transaction volumes but need strong debtor management since clients are slow to pay on large invoices. Packages typically include proactive invoice follow-up and cash flow reporting. A DIY approach often costs partners 8+ hours monthly in time, plus accountant fees of $2,000-3,000 monthly.

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Hospitality: Brisbane Restaurant Group

Business Profile:

• 3 restaurant locations
• 40 staff (chefs, wait staff, managers)
• $4 million annual revenue
• High transaction volume and payroll complexity

Monthly Transaction Volume:

• Daily sales summaries (bulk): 90
• Supplier invoices (food, beverage, services): 120
• Operating expenses per location: 50
• Payroll entries (weekly, 40 staff): 160
• Total: 420 transactions/month

Typical Monthly Package Cost:

• Monthly retainer: $5,500-6,500
• Includes: All bookkeeping across 3 locations, weekly payroll with award compliance, BAS quarterly, consolidated reporting
• Annual cost: $66,000-78,000

Why This Pricing Works: Hospitality is complex with casual loading, penalty rates, award interpretation, and multiple locations. An in-house bookkeeper ($75K) plus payroll admin ($65K) typically costs $196K total. Professional services save $120K+ annually while providing better award compliance expertise and multi-location reporting.

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Trades Business: Sydney Electrical Contracting

Business Profile:

• 12 electricians plus apprentices
• $2.5 million annual revenue
• Mix of commercial and residential projects
• Progress claims and retention payments

Monthly Transaction Volume:

• Customer invoices and progress claims: 40
• Supplier invoices (materials, tools): 90
• Operating expenses (vehicles, insurance, rent): 50
• Payroll entries: 40
• Total: 220 transactions/month

Typical Monthly Package Cost:

• Monthly retainer: $3,400-4,000
• Includes: Bookkeeping, weekly payroll with apprentice wage tracking, BAS quarterly, job costing support, debtor management
• Annual cost: $40,800-48,000

Why This Pricing Works: Trades businesses need job costing visibility and proactive debtor management given 30-60 day payment terms are standard. Hourly bookkeepers at $70/hour typically cost $45K-50K annually but can't provide comprehensive job profitability analysis or systematic debtor follow-up.

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What Services Should Be Included

Understanding what's standard versus what costs extra helps you compare quotes accurately and avoid surprise bills.

Standard Inclusions in Most Packages:

Daily/Weekly Bookkeeping:

• Recording all financial transactions
• Bank reconciliation
• Accounts payable (bills and payments)
• Accounts receivable (invoices and receipts)
• Expense categorisation

Monthly Financial Reporting:

• Profit & Loss statement
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow statement (sometimes extra)
• Variance commentary

Quarterly BAS Preparation:

• Only if your bookkeeper is a registered BAS agent
• GST reconciliation
• PAYG withholding
• Quarterly lodgement

Communication:

• Email support during business hours
• Phone access (some packages limit this)
• Monthly or quarterly review meetings

Common Add-Ons (Usually Extra Cost):

Payroll Processing:

• Weekly, fortnightly, or monthly pay runs
• Leave accrual tracking
• Superannuation payments
• Single Touch Payroll compliance
• Award interpretation
• Additional cost: $500-1,500/month depending on staff numbers

Management Reporting:

• Budget vs actual analysis
• KPI dashboards
• Departmental reporting
• Custom management reports
• Additional cost: $200-800/month

CFO Advisory:

• Cash flow forecasting
• Scenario planning
• Strategic financial guidance
• Board reporting support
• Additional cost: $500-2,000/month

Debtor Management:

• Proactive invoice follow-up
• Payment reminder systems
• Aged receivables reporting
• Collections support
• Often included in premium packages or $300-600/month extra

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BAS Agent Registration: Why It Matters

This is critical and often misunderstood. In Australia, only registered BAS agents can legally prepare and lodge your Business Activity Statement.

Registration Requirements:

• Registered with the Tax Practitioners Board
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Annual continuing education
• Code of conduct compliance
• Complaint handling processes

Why You Need a Registered BAS Agent:

• Legal requirement - Non-registered bookkeepers cannot lodge BAS
• Liability protection - Registered agents have PI insurance if errors occur
• Professional accountability - Registered with TPB oversight
• ATO audit support - Can represent you in ATO matters
• Peace of mind - Professional standards and expertise

Cost Difference: Registered BAS agents typically charge $200-500 more per quarter than non-registered bookkeepers. This is worth every dollar for the protection and expertise.

Red Flag: If a bookkeeper offers to do your BAS but isn't registered, run. You're both breaking the law and have zero protection if errors occur.

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True Cost Comparison: DIY vs Casual vs Professional

Let's compare the real costs of different approaches to see where professional bookkeeping actually sits.

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DIY Bookkeeping

Direct Costs:

• Accounting software: $1,200/year
• Tax agent for annual returns: $3,000/year
• Total cash cost: $4,200/year

Hidden Costs:

• Your time: 5-15 hours/week = 260-780 hours/year
• Opportunity cost at $80/hour: $20,800-62,400/year
• Error costs (missed deductions, late penalties): $2,000-10,000/year
• Total real cost: $27,000-76,600/year

Major Problems:

• Always behind (enters data monthly at best)
• No real-time financial visibility
• Mistakes in GST coding and classification
• BAS stress every quarter
• No strategic financial insight

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Casual/Part-Time Bookkeeper

Direct Costs:

• Bookkeeper 2 days/week at $60/hour: $24,960/year
• BAS agent (separate): $2,000/year
• Accountant for tax: $3,000/year
• Software: $1,200/year
• Total cost: $31,160/year

Problems:

• Limited availability (only there 2 days/week)
• No coverage when on leave
• Usually not a BAS agent (need separate provider)
• Limited advisory capability
• Single point of failure if they leave

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Professional Bookkeeping Service

Direct Costs:

• Monthly package: $2,500/month = $30,000/year
• (Software typically included)

What You Get:

• Daily bookkeeping and transaction processing
• Registered BAS agent included
• Monthly reporting and insights
• Direct communication channels for questions
• Team coverage (not dependent on one person)
• Strategic financial guidance
• Technology optimisation

The Winner: For most businesses over $1M revenue, professional services deliver better value than DIY or casual bookkeepers when you factor in opportunity cost, coverage, and expertise.

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How to Reduce Your Bookkeeping Costs

Professional bookkeeping isn't cheap, but you can significantly reduce costs through smart process improvements.

1. Reduce Transaction Volume

Every transaction costs money to process. Strategies to reduce volume:

• Consolidate suppliers (fewer invoices to process)
• Use monthly billing cycles instead of per-transaction
• Batch expense claims instead of daily submissions
• Use corporate cards with automatic categorisation

Impact: Reducing from 400 to 300 transactions/month can drop your package tier, saving $500-1,000/month.

2. Implement Receipt Management Systems

Poor receipt management wastes bookkeeper time:

• Use Receipt Bank or Dext to automate receipt capture
• Require staff to submit expenses weekly, not monthly
• Implement approval workflows before submission
• Use digital receipts wherever possible

Impact: Can reduce bookkeeping time by 20-30%

3. Automate Bank Feeds and Rules

Modern accounting software can automate significantly:

• Set up bank feeds in Xero for all accounts
• Create bank rules for recurring transactions
• Use automatic payment matching
• Enable automatic invoice reminders

Impact: Reduces manual data entry by 40-60%

4. Maintain Regular Reconciliation

The longer you wait, the more expensive catch-up becomes:

• Daily or weekly reconciliation is cheaper than monthly
• Monthly is cheaper than quarterly
• Quarterly is cheaper than annual catch-up

Impact: Regular reconciliation costs 30-50% less than catch-up work

5. Keep Clean Records

Organisation saves bookkeeper time:

• Use cloud storage with clear folder structure
• Name files consistently (Date-Supplier-Amount.pdf)
• Submit complete documentation first time
• Don't make your bookkeeper chase missing information

Impact: Can reduce monthly fees by 15-25%

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Red Flags: What to Avoid

Not all bookkeepers are created equal. Watch for these warning signs:

Pricing Red Flags:

• Suspiciously low rates ($30-40/hour) - indicates lack of experience or qualifications
• Unclear pricing structure - can't clearly explain what's included
• Hidden costs everywhere - every question costs extra
• No written agreement - verbal quotes that change monthly

Experience Red Flags:

• Not a registered BAS agent (if you're GST registered)
• Limited industry experience in your sector
• Can't provide references from similar businesses
• Unclear about qualifications - no CA, CPA, TPB registration

Service Red Flags:

• Poor communication during selection process
• Inflexibility in service delivery
• Unclear about availability and response times
• Dismissive of your business concerns or questions

Technology Red Flags:

• Using outdated software (MYOB AccountRight instead of Xero)
• Manual data entry instead of automation
• No cloud accounting (wants to use desktop software)
• Unfamiliar with your tech stack

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The ROI of Professional Bookkeeping

Professional bookkeeping costs money, but poor bookkeeping costs far more. Let's quantify the return on investment.

Time Savings

Most business owners spend 5-15 hours per week on bookkeeping and finance admin when they do it themselves. That's 20-60 hours monthly or 240-720 hours annually.

Your opportunity cost calculation:

If your time is worth $100/hour (conservative for most business owners), and you spend 10 hours weekly on bookkeeping:

• 40 hours monthly = $4,000 monthly opportunity cost
• 480 hours annually = $48,000 annual opportunity cost

A professional bookkeeper at $3,000/month costs $36,000 annually, saving you $12,000 while freeing up 480 hours to focus on revenue-generating activities.

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Error Avoidance and ATO Penalties

DIY bookkeeping commonly results in costly errors:

• Late BAS lodgement penalties: $313-$1,565 per quarter
• Incorrect GST reporting: Interest charges plus penalties
• Payroll errors: Fair Work penalties $6,600-$66,000 per breach
• Misclassified expenses: Additional tax assessments plus interest

A single ATO audit triggered by poor bookkeeping can cost $15,000-$50,000 in accountant fees, penalties, and back taxes.

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Better Business Decisions

Timely, accurate financial information enables better decisions. Professional bookkeepers provide:

• Real-time cash flow visibility (prevents cash crises)
• Profitability analysis (identify which products/services/customers are actually profitable)
• Budget tracking (catch problems before they become crises)
• Trend identification (spot opportunities and risks early)

The value of catching a cash flow problem 30 days earlier can easily exceed your entire annual bookkeeping cost.

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Making Your Selection: Key Questions to Ask

When interviewing potential bookkeepers, ask these critical questions to ensure you're making the right choice:

About Their Qualifications:

• Are you a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioners Board?
• What professional qualifications do you hold (CPA, CA, ICB)?
• What professional indemnity insurance coverage do you carry?
• How many years of bookkeeping experience do you have?

About Their Services:

• What exactly is included in your monthly package?
• What services cost extra?
• What accounting software do you specialise in?
• How do you handle communication (email, phone, S)?
• What's your typical response time to questions?

About Their Experience:

• How many clients do you currently serve in my industry?
• Can you provide references from businesses similar to mine?
• What size businesses do you typically work with?
• How do you stay current with ATO and Fair Work changes?

About Their Process:

• How often will we reconcile the books?
• What reports will I receive and how often?
• How do you handle annual leave or sick leave?
• What happens if I'm not satisfied with your service?
• Do you require a minimum contract term?

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The Bottom Line: What You Should Actually Pay

Here's the straight answer to what bookkeeping should cost your business in 2026:

For micro businesses ($500K-$2M revenue, <150 transactions/month):

• Expect to pay: $1,000-$2,500 monthly
• Package includes: Basic bookkeeping and BAS
• Annual cost: $12,000-$30,000

For small businesses ($2M-$10M revenue, 150-400 transactions/month):

• Expect to pay: $2,500-$5,000 monthly
• Package includes: Comprehensive bookkeeping, BAS, reporting, potentially payroll
• Annual cost: $30,000-$60,000

For medium businesses ($10M-$50M revenue, 400-800 transactions/month):

• Expect to pay: $5,000-$10,000 monthly
• Package includes: Full-service bookkeeping, payroll, BAS, management reporting, advisory
• Annual cost: $60,000-$120,000

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The Investment Worth Making

Professional bookkeeping isn't an expense. It's an investment that saves time, prevents costly errors, enables better decisions, and frees you to focus on growing your business.

The question isn't whether you can afford professional bookkeeping. It's whether you can afford to continue without it. When evaluating options, focus on the total value delivered - not just the monthly fee. A bookkeeper who costs $500 more per month but saves you 10 hours of work, prevents one ATO penalty, and helps you identify a cash flow issue 30 days earlier has delivered exponentially more value than their fee.

Take the time to find a qualified, registered BAS agent who understands your industry, communicates well, and delivers comprehensive service. The right bookkeeping partner becomes an invaluable asset to your business growth.

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