Once you’ve calculated your expenses and working days, it’s time to set your MAR – or minimum acceptable rate. This is the absolute lowest hourly rate you would be willing to work for. While you will need to part with some money to obtain the services of an accountant, hiring an accountant means you will access the expert knowledge required to grow your business.

Do you work within a highly-sought-after, under-represented niche within your industry? Each of these factors should come into play when setting your prices and none of them inherently come down to you as an individual or your ‘worth’. As you can tell, how much you should charge as a bookkeeper can vary based on a lot of factors. So, you need to take your time when setting prices for your services. Again, the best course of action for you to take when setting prices is doing your research. Take a look at industry averages, rates by state, and more to get an idea of how much to charge your clients.

How can I ensure I am getting a fair price for accounting services?

If your client insists on a time-based rate, one way to help you get paid more of what you deserve is to offer a daily rate. The better you become in your field, the faster and more efficient you become at what you do. If you only charge for the time it took you to do the work, you are actually being penalized for all the knowledge and experience that has made you able to do great work https://www.bookstime.com/articles/accountant-for-independent-contractors in less time. You would need to constantly increase your fees to make sure you are being paid adequately, which is something your clients might not understand, or like. Roshan is the founder of Freelancing Hacks and he’s been freelancing full-time for over 10 years. He’s worked for reputable brands and millionaire clients, including websites like OptinMonster, DesignShack, and WPKube.

A client with a higher income is going to be able to afford a higher price tag for a bookkeeper, and your workload will be quite a bit higher than a small or medium client. This is the benefit to charging based on a percentage of your client’s revenue. You can categorize your clients into small, medium, accountant for freelancers and large based on the amount of time you spend on their bookkeeping each month. In fact, there is a whole industry and network of freelancers, who all vary in quality, speed, and the level of professionalism in their work. Get up and running with free payroll setup, and enjoy free expert support.

How to start determining your freelance rates

Using the freelancermap’s directory, type in your keyword to perform a search and the country you are interested in. We’ll show you the benefits of hiring an accountant, how to determine their fees and alternatives to hiring one if their cost is beyond your budget. Some common issues freelancers have regarding bookkeeping include mixing business and personal transactions, failing to do bookkeeping regularly (at least monthly), and losing purchase receipts. As you make project management and bookkeeping a part of your daily routine, you’ll be able to spend less time on it. This task management will give you more time to focus on your day-to-day work and even help you plan future growth and long-term financial health. Reconciling your bank account can make the day-to-day business of freelancing easier and prepare you for tax season.

• CFEs detect and prevent fraud in businesses, organizations, and government agencies.
• We recommend running away from this pricing strategy because it simply does not take into account years of knowledge and experience.
• This can be helpful when planning business strategies for growth too.
• If you decide to become certified as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, you’ll have the added benefit of a free subscription to QuickBooks Online Accountant.
• Can you find out average pricing for your industry (professional associations often share this kind of information)?
• The value of a freelance accountant is in the freedom of working for yourself.
• 5 Steps to Reasonable Freelance Pricing” article – we hoped it’s been useful and you’ve learned something new.

But if the I.R.S. caught your mistake and is charging penalties or auditing you, talk to a professional. As long as you’re happy with what you’re earning for the amount of work you do, there will never be a wrong price. Keep discussing the project and ask questions to understand what the client hopes to get out of the project. LinkedIn Salaries is another tool that lets you compare job salaries from different regions and countries around the world. Another easy way to figure out your rates is to explore salary estimate websites.

Your Career, Your Rates

Another option is to work as an in-house bookkeeper, which typically earn a salary of $49,672 per year, or the national average of $24 per hour. However, depending on where you live, average salaries can range from $71,500 to $27,500 per year. The average hourly rate for an accountant can vary depending on their experience level, location, and the specific services being provided. However, on average, they charge between $150 and $400 per hour. To determine an hourly rate, add up all those baseline monthly living costs and business expenses that you need to survive as a freelancer. Don’t forget to include how much income tax you’ll need to pay, as you’ll no longer have an employer taking income tax off of your paycheck.

That being said, these costs are typically included in most tuition packages. Additional services, such as auditing or consulting, may also impact the fees charged by accountants. These services require specialized knowledge and expertise and can command higher fees than traditional accounting services. Accountants are critical to businesses and individuals because they provide essential financial management services that enable them to make informed decisions and meet financial obligations. For this reason, it is useful to know accountants’ fees if you plan on doing business. Being aware of how much they cost can save you time, money, and effort.