How much does a bookkeeper charge per hour?
What are the average bookkeeping costs for small businesses? How much does a bookkeeper typically cost per hour? Is an hourly rate the most common fee structure?
What services do you want your bookkeeper to perform?
STANDARD BOOKKEEPING (No BAS services)
If you want standard bookkeeping duties that do not include BAS services then you would be looking at using a virtual assistant, admin assistant, or bookkeeper to complete those tasks.
The cost will be more expensive if you insist on them coming to you, as opposed to working online.
Virtual assistants cost anywhere from $35 hour plus
Virtual bookkeepers cost anywhere from $25 hour plus
Onsite will generally cost you anywhere from $55 hour plus
A contracted bookkeeper cannot advise you about anything like superannuation, payroll, GST, or indirect taxes. They are strictly working on the defaults of your accounting software. You will not be covered by the Australian Taxation Office’s safe harbor regime that protects you if your registered BAS Agent or Tax agent makes a mistake.
See https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-professionals/prepare-and-lodge/tax-agent-lodgment-program/safe-harbour/
Hatty Bell, Executive Assistant at Country Road Group
Great answer @Amanda Hoffmann - Certified Bookkeeper, BAS Agent . What's the different in cost when hiring offshore vs. Australia based? Can any virtual assistant undertake bookkeeping duties or do they need specific training?