🧾 What Should Bookkeepers Charge Per Transaction? A Guide to Tiered Pricing Based on Volume

For bookkeepers across North America, whether solo practitioners or part of a larger firm, one of the most consistent pricing strategies is to base fees on transaction volume. It’s simple, scalable, and aligns cost with workload. But how much should you charge per transaction?

After reviewing over 100 firm websites, pricing guides, and industry insights, we’ve compiled the current benchmarks and best practices for bookkeepers using a transaction-based pricing model.

📊 Why Transaction-Based Pricing Works

Transaction-based pricing:

• Provides clarity and transparency for clients.

• Scales with client growth. More activity, more bookkeeping work.

• Aligns pricing with the core workload: categorizing, reconciling, and reviewing transactions.

It’s especially useful for firms using automation tools like QuickBooks Online, Dext, or Xero, where the time cost per transaction can be quantified more precisely.

💰 Per-Transaction Pricing Tiers (USD)

Based on current data from U.S. and Canadian firms, here’s a realistic breakdown of average per-transaction pricing by volume tier:

Tier	Monthly Volume	Typical Monthly Fee	Average Per Transaction
Starter	0–100 transactions	$150–$300	$1.50–$3.00
Standard	101–200 transactions	$250–$500	$1.25–$2.50
Growth	201–400 transactions	$400–$750	$1.00–$2.00
Enterprise	400+ transactions	$700–$1,200+	$0.75–$1.50

⚠️ These prices reflect average rates among firms using efficient, often automated workflows. Prices are in USD.

💎 Boutique Firms May Charge More

Some high-touch or boutique firms, particularly those offering tailored services or focused on specific industries, may charge well above these ranges. For example, Clear Accounting, a Canadian firm, charges $4.69 CAD (~$3.47 USD) per transaction for the first 100 transactions. These rates reflect premium service offerings with more manual oversight, client communication, and strategic guidance.

🔍 What Influences These Rates?

Even within these tiers, price-per-transaction can vary based on:

• Workflow automation: More automation = lower costs.

• Labor model: Outsourcing can lower pricing; in-house teams may charge more.

• Geography: U.S. urban firms often price higher than rural or offshore firms.

• Client responsiveness: Though not covered in this model, slow clients increase admin time.

🧠 Should You Publish Your Prices?

Many bookkeepers are reluctant to publish pricing online, but firms that do often report higher-quality leads. If you adopt a transaction-based model:

• Include clear volume tiers

• Highlight what’s included in the base service

• Reserve room for custom quotes if clients fall outside typical tiers

✍️ Final Thoughts

If you're refining your bookkeeping pricing model, start with your capacity:

• How many transactions can you comfortably process per hour?

• What’s your target hourly rate?

• What tech can you leverage to improve efficiency?

From there, a tiered, transaction-based model gives clients clarity and gives you a scalable path to profitability.