How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost in the UK?

The honest answer is “it depends”, but that’s not much use when you’re trying to budget. Here’s what actually drives the price, and what to watch for so you don’t end up with a bill that doesn’t match what you were quoted.

Hourly vs fixed-fee pricing

Bookkeeping is priced two main ways:

Hourly rate: common with freelance or part-time bookkeepers, often somewhere in the £20-£40 an hour range depending on experience and location. This can work out cheap for very low transaction volumes, but it’s hard to budget for, and the incentive structure rewards slow work.
Fixed monthly fee: the more common model with accountancy firms, a flat price based on your transaction volume, VAT status and complexity, agreed upfront. You know exactly what you’re paying every month, no surprise invoice for a busy quarter.

For most small businesses, a fixed fee is the easier option to live with, it’s predictable, and it doesn’t punish you for asking a quick question or having a busier-than-usual month.

What affects the price

The main drivers are:

Transaction volume, how many sales, purchases and bank entries you generate each month
Whether you’re VAT-registered (VAT returns add real work)
Whether you run payroll alongside bookkeeping
How current your records already are, a backlog costs more to sort than staying on top of things
Which accounting software you use, most bookkeepers charge more to work outside Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent

A sole trader with a handful of invoices a month pays far less than a VAT-registered limited company running payroll for a team.

Hidden costs to watch for

Before signing up with anyone, check:

Whether the quote is truly all-in, or whether VAT returns, payroll or year-end tidy-up are billed separately
Whether catching up a backlog of unreconciled months is included or charged extra
Whether there’s a charge for quick questions, some providers bill for every email
Whether the price changes once you’re a few months in

A cheap-looking quote that turns into a string of add-ons often ends up more expensive than a slightly higher all-in fixed fee.

Provense’s fixed-fee approach

We price bookkeeping as part of a single fixed monthly fee, sole trader plans start from £129/month, with the exact figure confirmed after a free quote based on your actual transaction volume. No hourly clock, no charge for asking a question, and no surprise bill in the month your business gets busier.

See our full pricing, or get a fixed-price quote for bookkeeping based on your own numbers rather than a generic estimate.

Frequently asked questions

Are bookkeepers cheaper than accountants?

Generally, yes, bookkeeping is a narrower, more operational role than accountancy, so it's usually priced lower. That said, many small firms (ours included) bundle both into one fixed monthly fee, which often works out cheaper overall than paying two separate suppliers.

How much should I pay someone to do my bookkeeping?

It depends heavily on your transaction volume and whether you're VAT-registered, but a straightforward sole trader or small business typically pays somewhere in the low hundreds per month for a proper, reconciled service. Get a fixed quote based on your actual numbers rather than relying on a generic 'from' price.

Is it worth having a bookkeeper?

For most businesses past the very earliest stage, yes. The cost is usually far smaller than the value of the time saved, the mistakes avoided, and the confidence of knowing your numbers are accurate, especially once you factor in what an HMRC penalty or a rushed, error-filled tax return actually costs.

What affects how much a bookkeeper charges?

Mainly your transaction volume (how many sales, expenses and bank entries there are each month), whether you're VAT-registered, whether you run payroll, and how tidy your existing records are. A backlog of unreconciled months typically costs more to sort out than staying current going forward.

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Reviewed by Provense Accountants

Written and reviewed by our team of qualified accountants (AAT-regulated). This guide is general information, not personal tax advice, book a free consultation for advice on your situation.