Cost guide · Updated July 2026

Bookkeeping cost for a small business in NZ

Bookkeeping is priced hourly or as a fixed monthly fee. Published 2026 guides put bookkeepers at roughly $40 to $75 an hour for standard work (higher for advisory), and a fixed monthly fee of around $200 to $700 depending on transaction volume, GST and payroll.

Written by The Contractor Hub.

Indicative ranges

Standard bookkeeping, per hour	$40 to $75 / hr
Advisory / consulting, per hour	$100 to $150 / hr
Fixed monthly fee	$200 to $700 / mo
Full-service (with payroll, GST)	$500 to $2,000 / mo

Indicative only, compiled July 2026 from the published New Zealand guides listed below. Treat these as a sanity check, then get written quotes.

What moves the price

Transaction volume and how tidy the records arrive move the fee most. Clean books cost less to keep.
Payroll, GST returns and cash-flow work add to basic transaction processing.
A fixed monthly package gives certainty and keeps accounts current; hourly suits one-off catch-ups.

Common questions

Bookkeeper or accountant?

A bookkeeper keeps the day-to-day records; an accountant handles tax, year-end and advice. Many businesses use both, and they often work together, and on TCH you can find and refer between them.

Hourly or fixed monthly?

Fixed monthly gives budget certainty and usually includes agreed work; hourly suits a one-off. Agree the scope up front either way.

Sources

Find bookkeepers near you

Get quotes from bookkeepers on TCH.

Post the job, free Browse bookkeepers