Bookkeeping Hourly Rate Calculator
Determine your ideal freelance bookkeeping hourly rate and monthly retainer based on your desired income, business expenses, taxes, and billable hours.
Hourly Rate or Monthly Retainer?
Whether you need to calculate your baseline hourly rate from scratch or estimate a flat monthly retainer for a client, pick the tool below.
Target Hourly Rate
Factor in salary, expenses, taxes, and realistic billable hours
Software, insurance, marketing, etc.
Allows for vacation/sick time
Not all hours are billable!
Your Ideal Hourly Rate
Revenue targets and time breakdown
Enter your financial goals and time availability, then click Calculate Hourly Rate.
Monthly Retainer Estimator
Package your services into a predictable monthly fee
e.g., QuickBooks subscription, payroll service fees
Retainer Estimate
Monthly fee breakdown and annual projection
Enter your rate and estimated hours, then click Calculate Retainer.
Freelance Bookkeeping Rate Ranges
General market averages for freelance bookkeeping services in the US/UK. Rates vary based on location, certifications, and service complexity.
| Experience Level | Typical Hourly Rate | Services Included |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level / Basic | $25 – $40 / hr | Data entry, basic reconciliation, monthly bank feeds |
| Mid-Level / Certified | $45 – $75 / hr | Full-cycle bookkeeping, AP/AR, monthly financial reports |
| Expert / Advisory | $80 – $150+ / hr | Complex multi-entity, cleanup, cash flow forecasting, CFO advisory |
| Payroll Add-on | $15 – $30 / hr | Processing payroll, tax filings, contractor 1099s |
| Software Setup | $150 – $500 flat | Initial chart of accounts setup, historical data migration |
Bookkeeping Rates FAQ
Everything you need to know about pricing your freelance bookkeeping services.
Freelance bookkeeping rates typically range from $25 to $150+ per hour, depending on experience, location, and services offered. Entry-level bookkeepers may charge $25–$40/hr, while certified professionals offering advisory services can charge $75–$150+/hr.
To calculate your rate: 1) Determine your desired annual take-home salary. 2) Add annual business expenses. 3) Divide by (1 – your tax rate) to find required gross revenue. 4) Divide that revenue by your total annual billable hours (weeks worked × billable hours per week).
Billable hours are time spent directly on client work that you can charge for (e.g., reconciling accounts, preparing reports). Non-billable hours include administrative tasks, marketing, continuing education, and software setup, which cannot be directly charged to a client.
A flat monthly retainer is generally preferred for ongoing bookkeeping. It provides predictable income for you and predictable costs for the client. You can use your calculated hourly rate and estimated monthly hours to establish a fair retainer fee.
Common expenses include accounting software subscriptions (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero), professional liability insurance, continuing education/certifications, home office expenses, marketing, and self-employment taxes.