The right bookkeeping quote is not necessarily the lowest one. It is the quote that names the reconciliations, reports, questions and exceptions someone will handle each month, with any setup or historical cleanup priced separately.
For a US business owner, the useful question is: what work will still be mine after I pay? A service that categorizes bank activity is a different purchase from someone managing bills, collecting receivables or helping with cash decisions. Compare those responsibilities before comparing the monthly number.
What does outsourced bookkeeping cost in 2026?
Checked August 30, 2026: Pilot lists Essentials at $99 a month. Intuit Expert Full-Service Bookkeeping lists $300 a month after an initial cleanup fee. Bookkeeper360 lists monthly bookkeeping from $399 and onboarding or prior bookkeeping from $1,000 per project. Daxable industry bookkeeping starts at $299 a month.
These are selected published offers, not a market average or a cheapest-provider ranking. Pilot Core uses expense-based quoting and annual billing; confirm its current amount directly rather than applying the Essentials price to a human-led Core engagement. Recheck all provider terms before committing.
What belongs in the monthly scope?
Ask the provider to list the accounts reconciled, accounting basis, close schedule, statements delivered and owner questions covered. Confirm whether the software subscription, catch-up work, bill payments, receivables, payroll administration, 1099 work and specialist reporting are included, additional or unavailable.
Phone access is not the same as unlimited advisory time. A dedicated bookkeeper is not necessarily an exclusive employee. Request the actual contact method, meeting allowance, availability and response commitment. Do not infer a four-hour response or round-the-clock coverage from the word support.
What increases bookkeeping work and cost?
Complexity is not just transaction count. A real estate investor may need several entities and property-level records. A contractor may need job costs, retainage and work-in-progress inputs. An HVAC company may need service-versus-installation reporting and payroll allocations. Identify the reports and source systems before asking for a fixed quote.
Also disclose overdue reconciliations, missing statements, mixed personal spending and unsettled opening balances. A provider cannot price a reliable monthly close from bank-feed volume alone. Ask what would trigger a scope review and who approves extra work.
How do the provider options differ?
The table compares selected service descriptions, not equivalent packages. Intuit's service has an initial cleanup phase. Pilot separates its AI-led Essentials plan from Core with a US-based bookkeeper. Bookkeeper360 describes an accounting team and broader optional services. Daxable focuses on real estate, construction and home-service operations.
Check a sample report, an example question-and-answer process, and the written exclusions. Software automation and a human review process can coexist; the important distinction is who is responsible when the records disagree. No entry below establishes universal superiority.
How do you compare the full commitment?
Add the recurring charge over the billing term, the initial work, required software and any known add-ons. Confirm cancellation, renewal, refunds and the effect of higher volume. A monthly price billed annually can require a different commitment from a month-to-month arrangement.
Illustration only: twelve months at $299 equals $3,588 in recurring fees. That is not an all-in Daxable quote. It excludes any separately agreed cleanup, software or additional work. Ask for an itemized proposal; do not assume that a low starting price includes every account, entity or reporting request.
Which Daxable service should you price?
Start with <a href="/bookkeeping/">industry bookkeeping from $299 monthly</a> for reconciliations, monthly close and management-use statements. If recurring AP, AR, payroll administration or documentation work needs more capacity, discuss the <a href="/dedicated-team/">Dedicated Finance Team from $1,500 monthly</a>. Schedule, responsibilities, access and backup coverage are agreed in the scope; the starting price does not promise an exclusive 40-hour seat.
<a href="/controller-services/">Controller oversight</a> and <a href="/fractional-cfo-services/">fractional CFO support</a> start at $2,500 monthly for agreed finance-leadership work. They are not bundled into the $299 bookkeeping starting price. Use the <a href="/pricing/">service and pricing page</a> to compare fit, then request a proposal for the work you actually need.
Daxable does not prepare or file income-tax returns or provide tax or legal advice. Confirm any 1099 preparation or filing responsibility separately in writing. Do not assume it is free or included. If tax filing is your main requirement, ask your tax professional about that engagement rather than treating bookkeeping as a substitute.
| Provider or plan | Published entry point | Service distinction | Confirm before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Essentials | $99/month | AI-led cash-basis bookkeeping | Human review needs, accounting basis and remaining owner work |
| Pilot Core | Confirm expense-based quote; billed annually | US-based bookkeeper and broader workflows | Current quote, annual commitment and onboarding |
| Intuit Expert Full-Service Bookkeeping | $300/month after initial cleanup fee | Ongoing bookkeeping following cleanup | Cleanup amount, software and out-of-scope work |
| Bookkeeper360 | Monthly from $399; onboarding from $1,000/project | Accounting-team delivery | Initial work, add-ons and recurring scope |
| Daxable industry bookkeeping | From $299/month | Property, job and service-business bookkeeping | Entities, reports, cleanup, software and written support terms |
Published entry points are not equivalent scopes. Prices were checked August 30, 2026; request current written terms before choosing.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What does outsourced bookkeeping cost?
Selected published entry points checked August 30, 2026 include Pilot Essentials at $99 monthly, Intuit Expert Full-Service Bookkeeping at $300 monthly after an initial cleanup fee, Bookkeeper360 monthly bookkeeping from $399, and Daxable industry bookkeeping from $299. They cover different work and are not a market average.
Is historical bookkeeping cleanup included?
Not automatically. Intuit identifies an initial cleanup fee, and Bookkeeper360 lists onboarding or prior bookkeeping from $1,000 per project. Daxable assesses historical cleanup during discovery and scopes it separately. Obtain the amount and deliverables in writing.
Does a flat monthly price mean unlimited work?
No. Ask which entities, accounts, transactions, reports and support requests the monthly fee covers, along with the changes that trigger a revised quote. A starting price is not a promise of unlimited capacity.
Is tax filing part of Daxable bookkeeping?
No. Daxable does not prepare or file income-tax returns or provide tax advice. Confirm 1099 preparation or filing responsibility separately; do not assume it is included or free.
Is a full-time finance employee included for $299?
No. Industry bookkeeping starts at $299 monthly. Dedicated Finance Team support starts at $1,500 monthly with schedule and scope agreed separately. Neither starting price by itself guarantees an exclusive 40-hour employee.
Are controller and CFO services included in bookkeeping?
No. Daxable controller and fractional CFO support starts at $2,500 monthly for agreed finance-leadership work. Monthly bookkeeping, operating capacity and finance leadership address different needs.
What should I bring to a bookkeeping pricing call?
Bring the entity and account list, transaction volume, current software, date of the last reconciled month, missing-record concerns and the reports you need. Explain which tasks you want to retain and which you want the provider to handle.