What does outsourced accounting cost?

By Travis Johnston · Straight Up Numbers

The cost depends on the condition of your books, the complexity of your business, and how much help you want beyond recording transactions. Monthly accounting, cash forecasting, and ongoing financial guidance are different responsibilities. A useful quote makes those responsibilities clear.

How pricing works at Straight Up Numbers

I propose a scope and monthly fee after discussing your business, current systems, and priorities. Any cleanup or custom reporting build should be identified separately so you know what is included before work begins. There is no single published price that fits every engagement.

What changes the fee?

• Condition of the books: Are accounts reconciled and current, or are there months of cleanup to complete?

• Business complexity: How many entities, accounts, payment systems, and reporting requirements need attention?

• Reporting needs: Are standard financial statements enough, or do you need profit by project, customer, or business unit?

• Forecasting and guidance: Do you need a cash forecast maintained and help evaluating hiring, spending, or financing decisions?

• Systems and handoffs: Who supplies the records, resolves questions, and approves payments? Can data be imported reliably?

Compare the scope, not just the monthly price

A lower quote may cover transaction processing and reconciliation but leave forecasting and management reporting with you. A broader engagement may include those tasks. Neither is automatically the right choice—the question is which responsibilities you need taken off your plate.

Ask each provider to describe the reporting schedule, who reviews the work, how questions are handled, and what costs extra. Confirm whether tax preparation, payroll processing, bill payment, and historical cleanup are included or handled elsewhere. Do not assume they are part of a monthly accounting fee.

Separate the starting work from the ongoing work

If your books need attention, QuickBooks cleanup (https://straightupnumbers.com/quickbooks-cleanup ) may be a first step. That is different from keeping the books current each month. Separating the two makes it easier to understand the initial work and the cost of continued support.

The same applies to custom reporting. Connecting accounting and operating systems can involve an initial build, followed by maintenance and review. API integrations can reduce repeat exports where the systems support them, but someone still needs to check the data and explain the results.

When does broader financial support make sense?

You may need more than bookkeeping if your reports arrive too late to guide decisions, you cannot see upcoming cash needs, or planning still falls entirely on you. A maintained cash flow forecast (https://straightupnumbers.com/cash-flow-forecast ) can help connect today's commitments to the weeks ahead.

For example, a business can report a profit while facing a cash shortfall because customer collections and payments happen at different times. The illustrative reporting example shows how that difference can affect a purchase decision.

What should you bring to a first conversation?

Your company website, the accounting system you use, who currently handles the work, and the questions your reports cannot answer are enough to start. You do not need to attach financial records or share account access with your first inquiry.

I am based in San Clemente and work directly with owners who want dependable accounting, clearer reporting, and practical help with financial decisions.

Find the right level of support

Tell me what you want taken off your plate and what you need to understand better. I would love to talk about how I can help and put together a scope that fits.

Talk with Travis