How Much Does Outsourced Bookkeeping Cost in Australia?

By Leah Moore | 17 January 2026

Outsourced bookkeeping in Australia costs between $300 and $5,000+ per month. That's a wide range. The right number for your business depends on how complex your accounts are, how much you need done, and who you work with

We get asked about pricing more than almost anything else. Fair enough. You want to know what you're up for before you pick up the phone. So here's a transparent breakdown from a firm that's been doing this for hundreds of Australian businesses

What drives the cost

Transaction volume is the biggest factor. A sole trader with 30 transactions a month is a different beast to a construction business pushing 500+ across multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and supplier payments. More transactions, more reconciliation work. Simple

Complexity matters. Inventory, multi-currency, project costing, mixed Goods and Services Tax (GST) treatments in health and wellness - these all require more specialist attention. A straightforward services business with one bank account and one credit card is far simpler to manage than a manufacturer importing materials from three countries

Responsibilities are where it really varies. Basic bank reconciliation and quarterly Business Activity Statement (BAS) sits at one end. A full outsourced finance function - accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cashflow management, monthly reporting - sits at the other. More responsibility on our side, more investment. But also more of your time back

Software and integrations change everything. If you're on Xero with Dext for bills and a POS feeding transactions automatically, a lot of the heavy lifting is done before we touch it. If your systems are manual or disconnected, there's more work to stitch it together

Typical pricing for Australian businesses

These ranges reflect what we see across the industry in 2026, not just our own pricing. Every provider structures things differently, but this gives you a realistic benchmark

Micro businesses - under 50 transactions a month, sole traders or early-stage. $300 to $600 per month. Covers bank reconciliation, expense coding, quarterly BAS

Small businesses - 50 to 200 transactions, 1 to 10 employees. $600 to $1,200 per month. Full reconciliation, accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) management, BAS lodgement, monthly reporting

Growing businesses - 200 to 500+ transactions, 10 to 50 employees. $1,200 to $5000+ per month. A dedicated team running your full accounts function including payroll, cashflow oversight, and reporting that actually helps you make decisions

These are indicative. Every business is different. The only way to get your number is to have a conversation

What should be included

Not all bookkeeping quotes are created equal. Some providers quote a low monthly fee but exclude essentials that you'll end up paying extra for. Before you compare numbers, check what's actually in the scope

A solid outsourced bookkeeping agreement should cover: bank and credit card reconciliation, expense coding and categorisation, accounts payable processing, BAS preparation and lodgement, monthly financial reporting, and access to your bookkeeper for questions. Broader packages add accounts receivable management, payroll, cashflow reporting, and app stack management

Ask what happens when things change. If your transaction volume jumps during a busy quarter, does the price change? If you add employees and need payroll support, is that a separate agreement? The best providers build flexibility into fixed arrangements rather than nickelling and diming you for every variation

Fixed fees vs hourly rates

We don't charge by the hour. And there's a reason for that

Hourly billing creates a counterproductive relationship. You hesitate to ask questions because the clock is ticking. Your bookkeeper is incentivised to take longer, not work smarter. Nobody wins

At Digit, we agree on responsibilities, define the deliverables, and fix a monthly investment. If your business changes, we adjust. You get certainty. We get alignment. It's how a partnership should work

Some providers offer a hybrid model - a fixed base fee for core work plus hourly rates for ad-hoc requests. This can work, but watch the ad-hoc component. If you're regularly going over, you're paying more than a fully fixed arrangement would cost

The real comparison: outsourced vs in-house

Most people compare outsourced fees to a salary. That's the wrong comparison. The true cost of an in-house bookkeeper includes -

Salary - $65,000 to $90,000 depending on experience and location
Super - 12% on top (super guarantee rate from 1 July 2025)
Leave - Annual, sick, potentially long service
Overheads - Desk, equipment, software licences, training, management time
Key-person risk - When they're sick, on leave, or resign - your accounts stop

Add it up. A single inhouse bookkeeper costs $80,000 to $120,000+ a year in total employment cost. One person. One set of skills. One point of failure

An outsourced team gives you bookkeepers, accountants, payroll specialists, and technology experts with built-in redundancy. For a fraction of the cost

What about cheap offshore bookkeeping?

You'll find providers offering bookkeeping from $500 a month or less. The price looks great on paper

The reality is often different. Often they are VAs not accountants. Limited understanding of Australian tax law. BAS mistakes. Time zone gaps. Communication barriers. And when something goes wrong - who's accountable?

We take a different approach. Our team in the Philippines works directly with Australian clients, but they're managed by our Australian leadership team, trained in Australian compliance, and operate within our quality frameworks. We've written about why this model works. It's cost-efficient without cutting corners

Questions to ask before signing up

Before you commit to any provider, get clear answers to these -

What's in scope - and what's not? BAS lodgement, payroll, reporting, and compliance obligations should all be explicitly addressed. If something isn't mentioned, assume it's extra
Who does the work? Will you have a dedicated team or be passed between whoever's available? Consistency matters when someone is managing your accounts
What qualifications do they hold? If they're lodging your BAS, they need to be a registered BAS agent. Ask for their Tax Practitioners Board registration number
How do they handle errors? Mistakes happen. What matters is how they're caught and corrected. Ask about their quality assurance process and what happens if an error leads to an ATO penalty
What's the contract term? Lock-in contracts are a red flag. If the service is good, you'll stay. If it's not, you should be free to leave

How to get an accurate number

The best way is to talk to us. We'll look at your accounts on Xero, understand what you need, and put together a fixed monthly agreement. No lock-in contracts. No hidden fees

Get in touch and we'll give you a straight answer

Want a finance team without the overhead?

We embed into your business as your outsourced accounts team - bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, and advisory

Learn more

Leah Moore

Leah is Digit's Managing Partner and resident problem solver. She pulls apart tangled workflows, rebuilds them properly, and is fiercely protective of the team she's helped build

Meet Leah

Want a finance team without the overhead?

We embed into your business as your outsourced accounts team - bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, and advisory

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

Is outsourced bookkeeping tax-deductible in Australia?

Yes. Outsourced bookkeeping fees are a legitimate business expense and fully tax-deductible under the general deduction provisions. This applies whether you're a sole trader, partnership, company, or trust. The GST component on bookkeeping fees can also be claimed as an input tax credit on your BAS, which reduces the effective cost further. Keep the tax invoices from your provider - your accountant will need them at year-end.

Can I start with basic bookkeeping and add services later?

Yes, and this is how most businesses work with us. You might start with bank reconciliation and BAS, then add payroll six months later when your team grows. A good provider builds their pricing model around this - scaling your scope and fee as your needs change, without locking you into a package you don't need yet. Ask upfront how they handle scope changes so there are no surprises.

How do I know if I'm paying too much for bookkeeping?

Compare what you're getting, not just what you're paying. A $600 per month provider who only does bank reconciliation isn't cheaper than a $1,200 provider who also handles BAS, payroll, and monthly reporting - you're just paying for the rest somewhere else (or not getting it at all). If your books are consistently behind, your BAS is always last-minute, or you're still doing finance admin yourself, the price isn't the problem. The scope is.

Why does bookkeeping cost more for some industries?

Certain industries have more complex accounting requirements. Construction businesses deal with retention payments, progress claims, and job costing across multiple projects. Healthcare and wellness businesses handle mixed GST treatments where some services are GST-free and others aren't. Hospitality and retail involve high transaction volumes, inventory, and point-of-sale integrations. The more judgment calls your bookkeeper needs to make per transaction, the more time it takes - and that's reflected in the fee.