Startups typically pay between $300 and $3,000 per month for accounting services. The range is wide because a pre-revenue company with 20 transactions a month needs something very different from a Series A company with employees, inventory, and investors expecting monthly reports.

Several factors determine what you’ll actually pay. Transaction volume and complexity matter most. Multi-state operations, sales tax obligations, and payroll add cost. Investor reporting requirements push prices up because the work needs to be done right. And if your books need cleanup before ongoing work can start, that’s usually a separate one-time fee.

Basic bookkeeping for an early-stage startup runs $300 to $800 per month. This covers transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, and basic financial statements. You get clean books but not much strategic insight. For founders who just need someone to keep things organized while they focus on building, this works fine.

Once you’re raising money or have already closed a round, expect to pay $800 to $2,000 per month for accounting that produces investor-ready financials. This includes accrual-based accounting, proper revenue recognition, and monthly reporting packages that match what investors want to see. The difference between cash-basis bookkeeping and proper startup accounting shows up during due diligence.

Fractional CFO services add another $1,500 to $4,000 per month depending on hours and complexity. This is where you get financial modeling, fundraising support, cash flow management, and strategic guidance that helps you make better decisions with your capital. Not every startup needs this, but growth-stage companies usually do.

Tax preparation is often separate and runs $500 to $3,000 annually depending on entity type and complexity. Some firms bundle it with monthly services, others charge separately. R&D tax credits and other startup-specific tax strategies can save more than the accounting fees cost.

If your books are a mess from months of neglect, cleanup is a one-time cost ranging from $500 to $5,000 depending on severity. Getting books investor-ready after letting them slide for a year often costs more than a year of proper bookkeeping would have. Investors notice when financials were rushed together before a pitch.

The cheapest option isn’t always the best deal. A bookkeeper who doesn’t understand startups and high-growth companies might cost $200 a month but miss things that matter during due diligence. Clean, professional books signal that you run a tight operation. Sloppy financials make investors nervous about what else might be disorganized.

Look for someone who has actually worked with investors and understands what they look for during fundraising. Experience with burn rate calculations, runway forecasting, and cap table management matters more than just knowing how to categorize expenses.