If you’re shopping Memphis bookkeeping and keep landing on packages that start around $750/month — or books-only quotes with a hefty one-time onboarding fee — you’re not alone. Many owners only need clean, current books. Others genuinely need CPA-led tax and advisory bundled in. The right choice is about fit and scope, not which brand “wins.”
For the fundamentals of roles, see bookkeeping vs accounting. For broader pricing context, see how much a bookkeeper costs.
Public price bands (what you’ll see locally)
Published rates in the Memphis / Mid-South market tend to cluster into a few bands. Numbers below are typical public list ranges — not a critique of any one firm:
| Offer type | Typical public monthly | Onboarding / catch-up notes |
|---|---|---|
| Midsouth Bookkeeping (books-only) | $249 / $399 / $599 | No surprise onboarding fee on core plans; catch-up quoted separately |
| Dedicated bookkeepers (books-focused) | ~$375 / $750 / $1,500 | Often a one-time ~$500 onboarding fee |
| Full-service accounting packages | From ~$750 / $1,500 / $2,200 | Onboarding often ~2× monthly; catch-up sometimes $300–$800 per month of backlog |
Full-service packages in that $750+ band are a real local option — including firms with Cordova / Goodlett Farms–area headquarters. They’re built for owners who want tax, advisory, and books under one roof. Books-only monthly is for owners who already have (or prefer) a separate tax pro and mainly need the ledger kept honest.
What’s included in books-only monthly
Monthly bookkeeping is the cadence that keeps financials usable: categorize transactions, reconcile bank and cards, close the month, and deliver core reports (P&L + Balance Sheet). Mid South Bookkeeping’s plans stay in that lane — we don’t sell bundled tax filing or strategic advisory as part of the monthly fee.
- Transaction categorization and bank/credit card reconciliation
- General ledger maintenance and monthly close rhythm
- Core financial reports you can hand to your CPA
- QuickBooks-friendly workflows in the tools you already use
- Clear scope boundaries — payroll, catch-up, and specialty work quoted upfront
That’s the “books-only” product. You’re buying accuracy and consistency, not a mini-CFO retainer.
When you need CPA / tax / advisory bundled
A full-service package earns its price when you want more than a clean ledger:
- Tax return prep and proactive tax planning inside the same engagement
- Entity structure, multi-state, or multi-entity complexity
- Controller-style advisory, forecasts, or board-ready packages
- One firm responsible for books and tax deadlines
If that’s your situation, a $750+ package can be the right buy — even when a books-only plan looks cheaper on paper. You’re paying for breadth and a single point of ownership. Many Memphis owners still pair books-only monthly with an independent CPA at tax time; that split is common and often cheaper when you don’t need year-round advisory.
Who fits $249–$599
Mid South’s published plans are sized for volume, not revenue theater:
- Starter — $249/mo — light activity (~75 transactions, 1–2 accounts)
- Standard — $399/mo — established small businesses (~200 transactions, up to 4 accounts)
- Growth — $599/mo — busier ops (~400 transactions, deeper support)
You’re a strong fit if you need tax-ready books every month, already have (or can hire) a tax preparer separately, and don’t want to subsidize services you won’t use. You’re not a fit if you expect included tax filings, audit defense, or weekly strategy calls inside the same monthly number.
Compare plans on our pricing section or the Midsouth Bookkeeping Memphis overview.
What $750+ packages often include vs books-only
| Capability | Books-only monthly | Typical $750+ full-service |
|---|---|---|
| Bank reconciliation & categorization | Yes — core deliverable | Usually included |
| Monthly P&L / Balance Sheet | Yes | Yes, often with richer reporting |
| Tax return preparation | No — your CPA handles it | Often bundled or retained |
| Tax planning / advisory | No | Common at higher tiers |
| One-firm ownership of books + tax | Split vendors (by design) | Yes |
| Published entry price | $249–$599 | Often starts ~$750+ |
| Onboarding fee on core plans | None on Mid South core plans | Often ~2× monthly or a flat setup |
Neither model is “better.” A $399 books-only plan that keeps your ledger clean plus a seasonal CPA invoice can beat a $1,500 package if you don’t use the advisory. The reverse is also true: if you need proactive tax moves all year, bundling can be simpler than coordinating two vendors.
Catch-up / messy books path
Behind already? Don’t compare monthly rates until the backlog is priced. Catch-up is a project: how many months are open, how messy the file is, and which accounts need rebuilds. Some full-service menus list catch-up around $300–$800 per month of backlog; dedicated bookkeepers often charge a separate cleanup plus onboarding.
Mid South quotes catch-up clearly before work starts. Use the free catch-up estimator for a planning range in about a minute, then read catch-up bookkeeping for the process. Once current, most clients move to a monthly plan so the pile doesn’t rebuild.
Serving Memphis and West Tennessee — including Cordova-area owners who want books-only monthly without a full-service retainer. Start at Memphis bookkeeping or Cordova bookkeeping.
Choose the band that matches the job
- Need books kept current for a CPA you already trust? → Books-only monthly ($249–$599).
- Want tax, advisory, and books from one firm? → A $750+ full-service package is built for that.
- Priced out of $750+ but still need professional books? → Mid South’s published plans are the lane.
- Messy or months behind? → Catch-up first, then monthly.
Different fit. Different price band. Pick the scope you’ll actually use.