What is included in bookkeeping services?
Bookkeepers can offer a variety of services for business owners, including data entry of your business’s financial transactions, financial reporting, accounts receivable and payable, employee payroll, and closing the books each month. Your business may or may not need a full-service bookkeeper.

Can a bookkeeper help prepare and file my business taxes?
It’s important to note that bookkeepers do not handle tax planning and tax filing for businesses. If you need help with your business’s tax preparation, you should seek help from an accountant or a CPA. Find a reputable accountant near you.

Your business can work with an accountant and a bookkeeper to best delegate tasks to the appropriate professionals. Business.com recommends ensuring accountants are not spending time working on tasks that a bookkeeper can handle since accountants can be expensive if you’re working with a vendor.

How much does hiring a bookkeeper cost?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2025, the average annual salary of a bookkeeper is $47,440, and the average hourly rate is $22.81 per hour. Decide if your business has the budget for hiring an in-house employee or if hiring a vendor is more cost-effective. Take time to decide what services you need from a bookkeeper and how much time you would require their services each month.

Should you hire a bookkeeper for your business?
Every business is different. If you’re a startup owner, you may want to pass these financial tasks off to someone else so you can focus on the growth of your new business. In addition, if you’re not knowledgeable about business finance, hiring someone to handle these responsibilities is a good idea.

Consider whether you should grow your team by hiring an employee as an in-house bookkeeper or contracting with a vendor. Both options have pros and cons. Hiring a vendor can be a more affordable option for a small business, but having an in-house employee may offer you more data security.

What should I look for when hiring a bookkeeper?
It’s important to find a bookkeeper you can trust to ensure your financial data is in the right hands – after all, your business depends on it! You can look at the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers to check for licensing.

You can also check with BBB to see if a bookkeeper is BBB Accredited. BBB Accredited Businesses adhere to the BBB’s Standards for Trust.

For more information

Read all of BBB’s tips for your business’s growth and finances.

See what business resources BBB can offer your business.

Visit BBB’s Financial Planner HQ.