Bookkeeper Hourly Rate Australia
What does a bookkeeper cost in Australia?
Bookkeeper hourly rates in Australia range from $50 to $120 per hour depending on experience, location, and complexity. Here's what to expect — and a better alternative for small businesses.
Junior / Entry Level
$50–$70/hr
Less experience, basic data entry and reconciliation. May require more oversight from your accountant.
Mid-Level Bookkeeper
$70–$95/hr
3–7 years experience. Can handle most small business bookkeeping including BAS preparation and payroll.
Senior / Specialist
$95–$120/hr
Experienced, often registered BAS agents. Higher rates in Sydney and Melbourne. May charge minimum hours.
Cost comparison
Hourly billing vs. fixed subscription
Hourly billing means your bookkeeping cost changes every month — more transactions, more invoices. A fixed subscription means you know exactly what you're paying regardless of volume.
| Factor | Hourly bookkeeper | advancr subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $400–$800+ — varies with volume | $249–$749 — fixed every month |
| Predictability | Low — invoice surprises are common | High — same price regardless of volume |
| Turnaround | Reactive — done when the bookkeeper is available | Predictable — completed on a monthly schedule |
| Software | Varies — may not use your preferred platform | Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks — works in your existing system |
| Scalability | Cost increases as business grows | Scales with you — upgrade tiers as needed |
| Lock-in | Often requires minimum hours or notice period | No lock-in — cancel or change anytime |
Why advancr
The problem with paying by the hour
Most small business owners don't know how long bookkeeping takes until they get the invoice. A busy month — more sales, more suppliers, more transactions — means a higher bill. That's unpredictable and hard to budget for.
01
Volume shouldn't change your cost
A good month for your business shouldn't mean a bigger bookkeeping invoice. advancr's subscription covers your books regardless of how many transactions you process.
02
Structured process, not ad hoc work
Hourly bookkeepers work reactively — you send documents when you remember, they bill for every email and call. advancr runs on a monthly system with a shared workspace and upload checklist.
03
Accountant-ready every month
Your records are reconciled, coded, and delivered on a predictable schedule — not whenever the bookkeeper gets around to it. Your accountant gets what they need, when they need it.
The maths for a typical SME
$600+
Average monthly spend with an hourly bookkeeper for a small business processing 100–200 transactions per month — before BAS or payroll.
- advancr Core starts at $249/mo
- Fixed price regardless of transaction volume
- BAS lodgement available as add-on from $70/mo
- No minimum hours, no lock-in contracts
Pricing
Fixed-price bookkeeping from $249/mo
No hourly rates. No surprise invoices. Just clean books and clear financials, every month.
01 — Core
Core
Clean, reliable bookkeeping handled end-to-end. The predictable financial foundation every business needs.
$249
per month · no lock-in
What's included
- ✓ Ongoing bookkeeping & reconciliation
- ✓ Shared workspace & monthly upload checklist
- ✓ Receipt, bank statement & document handling
- ✓ Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks compatible
- ✓ Accountant-ready financial records
★ Most Popular
02 — Momentum
Momentum
Everything in Core, plus monthly financial insight that turns your numbers into clear, actionable visibility.
$449
per month · no lock-in
Adds to Core
- ✓ Monthly plain-English financial summary
- ✓ Month-to-month performance signals
- ✓ Cash flow awareness indicators
- ✓ Trend visibility across periods
03 — Velocity
Velocity
For businesses in growth. Forward-looking visibility and strategic interpretation to support faster decisions.
$749
per month · no lock-in
Adds to Momentum
- ✓ Forward-looking financial outlook
- ✓ Strategic interpretation of signals
- ✓ Quarterly growth & risk reviews
- ✓ Finance that stays ahead of the business
Common Questions
Questions about bookkeeper costs
Bookkeeper hourly rates in Australia typically range from $50 to $120 per hour. Junior bookkeepers charge $50–$70/hr, mid-level bookkeepers charge $70–$95/hr, and senior or specialist bookkeepers charge $95–$120/hr. Rates are generally higher in Sydney and Melbourne than in regional areas.
With an hourly bookkeeper, a typical small business processing 100–200 transactions per month can expect to pay $400–$800+ per month — and that cost rises as the business grows. advancr's fixed-price subscription starts at $249/mo regardless of transaction volume, making costs predictable and easy to budget for.
For most small businesses, a subscription bookkeeping service is more cost-effective than hiring a bookkeeper by the hour. A fixed monthly subscription removes the unpredictability of hourly billing, eliminates minimum hour requirements, and gives you a structured process rather than reactive, ad-hoc work.
Yes — bookkeeping services in Australia are subject to GST if the provider is GST-registered. advancr's published prices are exclusive of GST. You'll see the GST amount clearly on your invoice each month.
advancr's subscription includes ongoing bookkeeping and reconciliation, a shared workspace and monthly upload checklist, receipt and document handling, and accountant-ready records — all delivered on a predictable monthly schedule. Unlike an hourly bookkeeper, the cost doesn't change based on how many transactions you process.
BAS preparation and lodgement is available as an add-on — quarterly at $140 or monthly at $70. It's not included in the base subscription, but all bookkeeping is GST-aware so your records are BAS-ready at each lodgement period.
Get started
Stop paying by the hour.
Start paying a flat rate.
Fixed-price bookkeeping for Australian small businesses. From $249/mo, no lock-in contracts, Xero and MYOB compatible.
