Pricing Guide · 2026
Cost of Outsourced Accounting vs. Hiring In-House
A detailed breakdown of what outsourced accounting services actually cost, how they compare to full-time salaries, and how to choose the right setup for your business.
The short answer
Outsourced accounting typically costs 30–60% less than building the same capability in-house, once you include salary, benefits, payroll taxes, software, and management overhead. A single in-house bookkeeper often runs $4,700–$6,250/month all-in; a dedicated outsourced accounting team starts at a fraction of that and scales with your business.
In-house cost
What a full-time finance team really costs really costs
| Role | Base salary | Total annual cost* | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | $45,000 – $60,000 | $56,000 – $75,000 | $4,700 – $6,250 |
| Staff Accountant | $55,000 – $75,000 | $69,000 – $94,000 | $5,750 – $7,800 |
| Accounting Manager | $75,000 – $110,000 | $94,000 – $138,000 | $7,800 – $11,500 |
| Controller | $95,000 – $140,000 | $119,000 – $175,000 | $9,900 – $14,600 |
| CFO / Finance Director | $150,000 – $250,000+ | $188,000 – $312,000+ | $15,600 – $26,000+ |
*Total cost includes ~25% payroll taxes, benefits, software, and overhead. Actual burden varies by state and benefits package.
Outsourced pricing
Degtar Accounting service tiers service tiers
Starter
$750/moSenior bookkeeping support
Monthly transaction categorization, reconciliation, and a clean P&L delivered every month.
Starter + Payroll
$1,250/moBookkeeper + payroll support
Everything in Starter plus payroll processing, reconciliation, and contractor/1099 management.
Starter + Payroll + Reporting
$1,750/moBookkeeper + payroll + monthly reporting
Clean books, payroll, monthly close, and a reporting package with basic KPI tracking.
Full Finance Back Office
Starts at $5,000/moDedicated finance team, scoped to your business
US-based finance lead plus a dedicated execution team for AP, AR, payroll, close, reporting, forecasting, and systems support.
Comparison
In-house vs. outsourced at a glance at a glance
1 in-house bookkeeper
In-house
$56K – $75K/yr
Outsourced
Starter tier: $9K/yr
Or upgrade to payroll + reporting for $21K/yr and still save 50%+ vs. one hire.
1 in-house accountant + payroll
In-house
$69K – $94K/yr
Outsourced
Starter + Payroll + Reporting: $21K/yr
Covers books, payroll, and monthly reporting without the salary burden.
Full finance function (lead + team)
In-house
$188K – $312K+/yr
Outsourced
Full Finance Back Office: starts at $60K/yr
US-based finance lead + execution team for a fraction of one senior hire.
ROI
Why outsourced accounting pays off pays off
Lower fixed cost
Convert a full-time salary + benefits burden into a predictable monthly service fee.
No single point of failure
One employee calls in sick, quits, or takes PTO. A team has coverage built in.
Scale without rehiring
Add services or hours as you grow without running another job search.
Built-in oversight
US-based finance lead included, so you get strategic guidance without a six-figure salary.
Recommendation
Which option fits your business? your business?
$0 – $2M in revenue
Starter or Starter + Payroll is usually enough. You get clean books, payroll handled, and reporting without paying for a full-time hire.
$2M – $10M in revenue
Starter + Payroll + Reporting gives you structured monthly close and KPI tracking. This is the bridge between basic bookkeeping and a real finance function.
$10M+ or complex operations
Full Finance Back Office replaces or supplements an in-house team with a US-based finance lead and dedicated execution team.
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