Bookkeeping, payroll, and controller services for small businesses in Scottsdale and Greater Phoenix.

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How much does bookkeeping cost for a small business?

Small business bookkeeping typically runs $200 to $600 per month for basic monthly services. The actual number depends on your transaction volume, how complicated your business is, and what level of service you actually need.

Transaction volume is the biggest factor. A service business with 40 transactions per month takes less time to reconcile than a retail shop processing 400. More bank accounts, credit cards, or payment platforms mean more reconciliation work. If you’re selling on multiple channels or have several locations, the time required goes up and so does the price.

Industry matters because some businesses need specialized accounting that generic bookkeeping doesn’t cover. E-commerce sellers need inventory tracking and platform fee reconciliation. Restaurants deal with food costs, tips, and multiple revenue streams. Contractors need job costing to know which projects actually make money. If your bookkeeper doesn’t understand your industry, you get technically accurate books that don’t tell you anything useful about how your business is performing.

What’s included varies widely between providers. Some offer basic transaction categorization and reconciliation. Others include monthly financial statements, accounts receivable management, and bill payment. Full-service bookkeeping that covers everything typically starts around $249 per month for straightforward businesses. Payroll is usually separate, and tax preparation is always a separate cost.

The cheapest quote isn’t always the best deal. A bookkeeper who doesn’t understand your business will produce statements that check the compliance box but don’t help you make decisions. You end up paying twice. Once for inadequate service and again when someone has to fix or interpret the results.

Some business owners handle their own books to save money. If you’re spending 8 to 10 hours monthly on bookkeeping, calculate what that time is actually worth. At most billing rates, you’re not saving anything. And if mistakes pile up, catch-up work to fix months or years of errors often costs more than professional service would have cost from the start.

For Phoenix area bookkeeping services, pricing tends to be competitive compared to other major metros. The key is finding someone who understands your specific business well enough to deliver statements that actually help you make better decisions. Financial reports that sit in a folder unused aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on, regardless of what you paid for them.

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More Questions

How do I separate business and personal expenses?

Open a dedicated business bank account and credit card, then use them exclusively for business transactions. Pay yourself through owner's draws or salary rather than paying personal bills directly from the business.

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How do I set up payroll for my small business?

Setting up payroll requires an EIN, state tax registrations, workers' comp insurance, and a method for processing pay. Arizona keeps it relatively simple with no local income taxes, but you still need accounts with the Department of Revenue and Department of Economic Security.

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My books are a mess, where do I even start?

Start by gathering your bank and credit card statements. These are your foundation since every business transaction flows through them. From there, focus on reconciliation before worrying about categorization or reports.

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How do I fix categorized transactions in QuickBooks?

Edit individual transactions from the Banking or Transactions tab by clicking on the entry and changing the category. For bulk fixes, select multiple transactions and use batch actions. Update categorization rules to prevent the same errors from recurring.

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What is prime cost and why does it matter for restaurants?

Prime cost is your food cost plus labor cost as a percentage of revenue. It's the most important metric for restaurant profitability because these are your two largest controllable expenses. Most restaurants should target 55% to 65%.

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What bookkeeping software works best for restaurants?

QuickBooks Online is the most common choice for restaurants because it integrates with most POS systems and handles tip tracking. Specialized software like Restaurant365 may be worth considering for multi-location operations.

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Scottsdale bookkeeping firm serving small businesses across Greater Phoenix. Full-service bookkeeping, payroll, and outsourced controller services backed by over a decade of hands-on accounting experience.

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