In short
Outsourced accounting is charged as a fixed monthly fee set by the scope you need and your transaction volume — predictable, not hourly. For most small and medium businesses it costs significantly less than an in-house hire, and gives you a whole team instead of one person.
How the pricing works
Reputable outsourced accounting is priced as a fixed monthly fee, agreed up front against a defined scope of work — not billed by the hour. That matters: you can budget for it with certainty, and there is no incentive for the meter to run. You pay for the finance function you actually need, and nothing you don't.
A business that only needs bookkeeping sits at the lower end. A business taking a complete virtual finance function — bookkeeping, management accounts, payroll, VAT, year-end and advisory — sits higher, but still well below the cost of employing that capability in-house.
What drives the cost
- →Scope of services — bookkeeping only, or a full finance function
- →Monthly transaction volume — the number of invoices, bills and bank lines
- →Payroll — how many employees you run through payroll each month
- →VAT — whether you are registered and how often you file
- →Reporting frequency — monthly, quarterly, or on demand management accounts
- →Add-ons — cash flow forecasting, budgeting, or a virtual finance director
The real comparison: in-house vs outsourced
A monthly outsourced fee should be compared not with an accountant's salary, but with the true cost of employing one — which is much higher once the extras are added:
| The true cost of an in-house hire | Included when outsourced? |
|---|---|
| Salary | Yes — within one fee |
| Employer National Insurance | Yes |
| Pension contributions | Yes |
| Holiday & sickness cover | Yes — always covered |
| Recruitment & onboarding | Yes — live in days |
| Accounting software licences | Yes |
| Training & CPD | Yes — ACCA team |
Add those together and a single in-house hire often costs well over £40,000 a year all-in — for one person's capacity. An outsourced function delivers broader expertise for a fraction of that, and flexes as you grow.
Getting an accurate figure
Because the fee depends on your specific scope and volumes, the only honest way to price it is a short conversation about your business. We'll map exactly what you need, quote a fixed monthly fee with no hidden extras, and you can start from there. See our outsourced accounting service for what's included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does outsourced accounting cost per month?
It is almost always a fixed monthly fee rather than an hourly rate, set by the scope you need and your transaction volume. A business outsourcing just bookkeeping pays far less than one taking a complete virtual finance function with management accounts, payroll, VAT and advisory. Because the fee is fixed and agreed up front, it is predictable and easy to budget — and we give you an exact quote after a short call.
Is outsourcing cheaper than hiring an accountant?
For most small and medium businesses, yes — often substantially. A full-time in-house accountant costs far more than their salary once you add employer National Insurance, pension contributions, holiday and sickness cover, recruitment, and software licences. An outsourced service replaces all of that with one monthly fee, and gives you a whole team's expertise rather than a single person.
What affects the price of outsourced accounting?
The main drivers are: the scope of services (bookkeeping only vs a full finance function), your monthly transaction volume, the number of employees on payroll, whether you are VAT-registered and how often you file, and how frequently you want management accounts and reporting. Add-ons such as cash flow forecasting or a virtual finance director service increase the fee.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. The whole point of a fixed monthly fee is that you know exactly what you are paying. We agree the scope and price in advance, and if your needs change — say you take on staff or your turnover grows — we discuss and agree any change before it applies. No surprise invoices.