Step 1 — Verify Before Assuming
Before concluding you are overpaying, check two things:
- What is actually included in your fee? Year-end workpapers, 1099 tracking, payroll reconciliation, and sales tax filings are legitimate add-ons that justify higher fees. If your bookkeeper is delivering all of these, your fee may be fair.
- What is your monthly transaction count? Ask your bookkeeper or count it yourself in QuickBooks. High-volume businesses (300+ transactions/month) legitimately cost more — even at Sharma Jyoti and Co.
Pricing Red Flags — Signs You Are Being Overcharged
- Year-end workpapers charged as an add-on — these should always be included in standard monthly scope
- 1099 tracking charged separately each January — this is ongoing work, not a year-end surprise
- Vague invoices without transaction count or scope description
- Fee has increased year-over-year without increased scope
- Hourly billing with no monthly ceiling — busy months cost unpredictably more
- Books are in proprietary software — if you cannot export to QuickBooks, you are locked in
Market Benchmarks — What You Should Be Paying
| Entity / Situation | Fair Market Range | Sharma Jyoti and Co |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor / SMLLC, under 100 transactions | $200–$400/mo | $200–$250/mo |
| LLC, 100–200 transactions | $400–$700/mo | $300–$400/mo |
| Multi-member LLC (Form 1065) | $500–$900/mo | $350–$500/mo |
| S-corp with owner payroll | $600–$1,200/mo | $400–$600/mo |
| Business with 5+ employees | $800–$1,500/mo | $500–$750/mo |
How to Have the Conversation
If benchmarks suggest you are overpaying, have the conversation directly:
"I have been reviewing market rates for bookkeeping at my transaction volume and entity type, and I am seeing quotes significantly below what I am currently paying. Can you walk me through what is driving my current fee, and whether there is flexibility to adjust the scope or pricing?"
A good bookkeeper will explain clearly. If they cannot, or if they become defensive without justification, you have your answer.
How to Switch Without Losing Your Books
- Confirm your data ownership: In QuickBooks Online, go to Settings → Manage Users — you should be the admin. Your bookkeeper is only an additional user, not the owner. You cannot lose your data.
- Request a final reconciliation: Ask your current bookkeeper to reconcile through the last day of the current month before leaving.
- Give 30 days' notice: Professional and creates no gap.
- Brief the new bookkeeper: Share prior year tax returns and the QBO company URL. Sharma Jyoti and Co reviews the prior closing balance and proceeds forward from the first of the new month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Divide your monthly fee by your monthly transaction count. If you are paying over $4–$5 per transaction for basic reconciliation, get a comparison quote. Sharma Jyoti and Co provides a free quote within 24 hours — just share your current invoice and transaction count.
Yes. In QuickBooks Online you own the company file. Your bookkeeper is only an additional user — they cannot delete your data. Sharma Jyoti and Co handles the transition by reviewing prior closing balances and taking over from the beginning of the next month.
Year-end workpapers as a charged add-on, vague invoices without scope details, annual fee increases without scope increases, hourly billing with no ceiling, and books kept in proprietary software you cannot export. Any two of these warrant getting a comparison quote.