Article Summary
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- Rates Follow the Role: A bookkeeper costs far less per hour than a CPA, and a CFO-level advisor costs the most.
- Billed Rates Exceed Wages: A firm's hourly rate covers salary, benefits, software, overhead, and profit, so it runs well above what the accountant takes home.
- Four Billing Models: Accountants charge hourly, by fixed monthly fee, per project or return, or by value delivered.
- Location Moves the Number: Pay for the same role varies by metro area, and firms price that into their rates.
- Clean Books Cost Less: Organized records and good software reduce billable hours more than any negotiation.
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Book a Free ConsultationAn accountant's hourly rate depends on credentials, experience, and location. QuickBooks' pricing guide puts the average at $150 to $400 an hour, with specialists at the top of that range. Bookkeepers usually charge far less, since their median wage is $24.36 an hour versus $40.23 for accountants.
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