Cost guide
How much does a bookkeeper cost in Australia? (2026)
The short answer
About $79 an hour
is the national average for general bookkeeping, from the bookkeepers’ own industry survey. Most small businesses need a few hours a month.1
What bookkeepers charge an hour
| What | Typical price |
|---|---|
| National averageGeneral bookkeeping, all bookkeepers surveyed | $79.27an hour1 |
| Near a capital cityWithin 100km of a capital | $80.77an hour1 |
| RegionalMore than 100km from a capital | $75.98an hour1 |
| ICB membersMembers of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers | $79.91an hour1 |
| Not in any associationBookkeepers with no professional membership | $69.00an hour1 |
Working out a month1
At the national average of about $79 an hour:
4 hours a month (a small, tidy business) is about $317.
10 hours a month (payroll for a few staff, more invoices) is about $793.
Many bookkeepers will quote a fixed monthly price instead. Compare it against the hours you would expect to use.
A worked example to show how the numbers add up, not a quote.
Get three quotes and compare
Tell us once and hear from up to three bookkeepers who cover your postcode, every one matched to the regulator’s register. Free, no obligation.
15,909 bookkeepers listed·12,846 matched to the TPB register
What pushes the price up
- Volume. More invoices, bills and bank lines take more hours.
- Payroll. Staff mean pay runs, super and Single Touch Payroll reporting.
- Catch-up work. Months of unreconciled accounts cost far more than keeping up.
- BAS lodgement. Lodging BAS for a fee needs a registered BAS or tax agent, which may cost more than general bookkeeping.
Good to know: Anyone who charges you to prepare or lodge your BAS must be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. FIZO checks every bookkeeper it can against that register.2
Four questions to ask for a quote
- Is that a fixed monthly price, or by the hour?
- Which software do you work in, and will you use mine?
- Is payroll and BAS included, or extra?
- Are you a registered BAS agent?
Ready for a quote?
Tell us once and hear from up to three bookkeepers who cover your postcode, every one matched to the regulator’s register. Free, no obligation.
15,909 bookkeepers listed·12,846 matched to the TPB register
Where these prices come from
- Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, Annual Survey Report 2024 (reported 17 June 2025)
- Tax Practitioners Board, Find a registered tax or BAS agent
FIZO does not set or collect fees. Prices are what the sources report, rounded as they publish them. Your quote will depend on your situation.