The Full Price Spectrum — Every Provider Tier
| Provider Type | Monthly Cost | What's Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (Wave / QuickBooks Self-Employed) | $0–$30/mo | Software only — your time | Sole proprietors, under 30 transactions/month |
| Bookkeeping software + human review (Bench, Pilot basic) | $299–$499/mo | Monthly reconciliation, P&L, proprietary software | Small businesses wanting low-touch US-supervised service |
| US freelance bookkeeper | $400–$1,500/mo | Bank rec, expense coding, monthly reports | Businesses wanting a local contact |
| Sharma Jyoti and Co (ICAI CA firm) | $200–$600/mo | Full bookkeeping + year-end CPA workpapers, 1099 tracking, quarterly tax data | Cost-conscious US small businesses and LLCs |
| US accounting firm (CPA doing bookkeeping) | $1,000–$3,500/mo | Full service, highly qualified — but overpriced for routine monthly work | Complex entities needing one provider for everything |
What Drives Your Monthly Bookkeeping Cost
Every bookkeeper prices on three primary factors:
- Transaction volume: The number of bank, credit card, and payment processor transactions per month. Under 75 is low; 75–200 is mid; 200+ is high volume.
- Entity complexity: Sole proprietor (Schedule C) is simplest. Multi-member LLC (Form 1065 + K-1s) adds capital account tracking. S-corp adds owner payroll, distributions tracking, and basis calculations.
- Add-on services: Payroll reconciliation, inventory/COGS tracking, accounts payable management, job costing, and catch-up work all add to the base price.
Sharma Jyoti and Co Pricing — By Business Type
| Business Type | Monthly Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor / single-member LLC (under 100 transactions) | $200–$250/mo | Bank rec, Schedule C coding, P&L, 1099 tracking, quarterly tax data |
| LLC / sole proprietor (100–200 transactions) | $250–$350/mo | Above + higher volume processing |
| Multi-member LLC (Form 1065) | $300–$450/mo | Above + capital account tracking, K-1 workpapers |
| S-corp (Form 1120-S) | $350–$600/mo | Above + payroll reconciliation, salary/distribution ledger, basis tracking |
| Business with employees (payroll reconciliation) | +$75–$150/mo | Payroll ledger, W-2 data, 941 data for CPA |
| Catch-up bookkeeping (behind 1–12 months) | $150–$1,800 one-time | Fixed fee based on months behind |
These prices are for ongoing monthly bookkeeping. Your US CPA reviews our workpapers and files your return — their fee is separate. The combined annual cost (our monthly bookkeeping + your CPA's return fee) is typically $3,500–$7,500 — versus $10,000–$25,000 if a US CPA handles both.
What Is NOT Included in Most Bookkeeping Quotes
Watch for these common exclusions when comparing bookkeeping quotes:
- Year-end CPA workpapers — many providers charge extra for the year-end package
- 1099-NEC preparation and e-filing — often an add-on charge in January
- Catch-up work — if your books are behind when you start, expect a one-time setup fee
- Payroll reconciliation — reconciling Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll to the general ledger
- Sales tax filings — most bookkeepers do not file state sales tax returns
At Sharma Jyoti and Co, year-end CPA workpapers and 1099 tracking are included in the standard monthly fee. Catch-up work is quoted separately and transparently before we begin.
The Two-Provider Model — How Most Clients Save the Most
The most cost-effective setup for a US small business:
- Sharma Jyoti and Co: Monthly bookkeeping, 1099 tracking, quarterly estimated tax data, year-end CPA workpaper package ($200–$600/mo)
- Your US CPA: Reviews our workpapers, prepares and files your tax return ($1,500–$3,000/year)
Total annual cost: $3,900–$10,200. A US CPA handling both monthly bookkeeping and tax filing typically charges $10,000–$25,000/year. The two-provider model saves $4,000–$15,000 annually with no reduction in quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
$200–$2,000/month depending on transaction volume, entity type, and provider. Sole proprietors with under 100 transactions/month: $200–$400. LLCs and S-corps with employees: $500–$1,200. At Sharma Jyoti and Co pricing starts at $200/month — the same work US providers charge $500–$1,000/month for.
Bank and credit card reconciliation, expense categorization to correct tax lines, 1099 tracking, monthly P&L and balance sheet, quarterly estimated tax data, and year-end CPA workpapers. At Sharma Jyoti and Co all of these are included in the standard monthly fee — no surprise January charges.
Bench charges $299–$899/month and uses proprietary software — your data is not portable to QuickBooks if you leave. At Sharma Jyoti and Co we work in QuickBooks (your data is always yours) from $200/month, with year-end CPA workpapers included. We are an ICAI CA firm — equivalent professional qualification to a US CPA.
Outsource to an ICAI CA firm in India (same qualification, 60–70% lower cost), keep books current monthly (no catch-up fees), and use the two-provider model — Indian CA firm for monthly bookkeeping + US CPA for year-end filing only. Most clients save $4,000–$10,000/year versus a US CPA handling everything.