Here’s a clear 2026 breakdown so you can budget without guessing.
Quick answer
| Model | Typical 2026 cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY / owner nights & weekends | “Free” (expensive in time) | Brand-new, very low volume |
| Freelance bookkeeper | $25–$75/hour | Ad-hoc or project work |
| Outsourced monthly service | ~$150–$600+/month | Most small businesses |
| In-house bookkeeper | ~$45k–$80k+/year loaded | High volume, complex ops |
| Big firm / controller-led | $1,000–$5,000+/month | Growing multi-entity ops |
For a typical Memphis or West Tennessee small business with a few bank accounts and under a few hundred transactions a month, fixed-price outsourced bookkeeping is usually the sweet spot.
What actually drives the price
- Monthly transaction volume — more cards, more sales, more vendor bills = more work
- Number of accounts — each bank and card needs reconciliation
- Scope — categorization only vs. full close, AP/AR, reporting, review calls
- Condition of the books — catch-up and cleanup are separate from ongoing monthly
- Software complexity — clean QuickBooks Online is faster than a neglected desktop file
Mid South Bookkeeping’s published pricing
We publish rates on purpose — so you’re not negotiating in the dark:
- Starter — $249/mo — up to ~75 transactions, 1–2 accounts
- Standard — $399/mo — up to ~200 transactions, up to 4 accounts
- Growth — $599/mo — up to ~400 transactions, up to 6 accounts, deeper support
Every plan includes monthly reconciliation and core financial reports (P&L + Balance Sheet). Catch-up, payroll support, and specialized work are quoted clearly upfront. Behind already? Use the free catch-up cost calculator for a planning range in about a minute.
Outsourced vs in-house: a simple math check
An in-house hire isn’t just salary. Add taxes, benefits, software, training, and management time. For many small businesses, a strong monthly outsourced plan costs a fraction of a hire — and you still get professional reconciliation and reporting.
If your volume is light-to-moderate and you want tax-ready books without a W-2 bookkeeper, outsourcing usually wins on cost and consistency.
How to choose without overpaying
Ask any bookkeeper:
- What’s included in the monthly fee?
- How do you price catch-up?
- Who do I call when I have a question?
- Will my CPA get a usable year-end package?
- Do you work in my software (e.g. QuickBooks)?
If the answers are vague, keep shopping.
Local note for Memphis & West Tennessee
National apps can look cheap until you need a human. Mid South Bookkeeping is West Tennessee based — fixed monthly pricing, real support at (901) 673-8119, and books built for tax time, not just dashboards.