UK Bookkeeping Pricing Guide 2026

How Much Does Bookkeeping Cost in the UK?

Honest, up-to-date pricing information for UK small businesses — plus Cledger's fixed-fee options from £175 per month.

See Cledger's Prices Book a Free Consultation

✓From £175/month✓Fixed monthly fee✓No hidden charges

What Affects Bookkeeping Costs

Three Factors That Determine What You Will Pay

Your transaction volume

A business with 50 transactions per month is fundamentally different to one with 500. Bookkeeping is priced on time, and time scales with volume. Most pricing guides quote a starting price — make sure you understand what transaction volume that covers before committing.

Hourly rate vs fixed monthly fee

Freelance bookkeepers typically charge £15-£35 per hour. At the end of a busy month, you may not know what the bill will be. Fixed-fee bookkeeping services charge one price regardless of volume, which makes cash flow planning simpler. Cledger operates on fixed monthly fees only.

What is actually included

Some bookkeeping quotes cover data entry only. Others include bank reconciliation, VAT returns, payroll and management accounts. Always compare on scope, not headline price. A £100/month quote that excludes VAT and payroll is not cheaper than a £175/month quote that includes both.

What You Get for Your Fixed Monthly Fee

Every Cledger bookkeeping client receives the following as standard. No add-ons, no extras at year-end.

Transaction processing

Every income and expense transaction coded, categorised and reconciled against your bank statement every month.

Bank reconciliation

Your accounts reconcile to your bank balance at the end of every month, catching errors and discrepancies before they become problems.

VAT returns

MTD-compliant quarterly VAT preparation and submission to HMRC. We advise on the right scheme for your business.

Accounts payable and receivable

Outstanding invoices tracked, supplier payments recorded, and aged debtor reports available on request.

Expense categorisation

All business expenses coded to the correct nominal code for tax purposes, maximising your allowable deductions.

Monthly reporting

A simple profit and loss summary every month so you know exactly where you stand financially.

Cloud software management

We manage your Xero or QuickBooks subscription and keep your chart of accounts clean and correctly structured.

Year-end pack

A clean, organised set of year-end records ready to pass to your accountant or for us to use for your annual accounts and CT600.

HMRC correspondence

Any bookkeeping-related queries from HMRC handled on your behalf.

Dedicated bookkeeper via Slack

A named qualified bookkeeper available during UK business hours.

Freelance Bookkeeper vs Cledger — What Is the Difference?

Qualified accountants, not just bookkeepers

Cledger's team are qualified accountants — not just bookkeepers. This means your books are maintained to accountancy standards from the start, which reduces your year-end accountancy bill and means you receive advice, not just data entry.

Fixed fee, no monthly surprises

Freelance bookkeepers charge by the hour. A busy trading month can produce an unexpectedly large invoice. Cledger charges one fixed fee per month, agreed in advance, regardless of transaction volume within your tier. You always know what you pay.

Continuity and cover

A sole freelance bookkeeper takes holidays, gets ill, and sometimes disappears. When that happens, your books stop. Cledger is a firm — your records are held centrally, your Slack channel stays active, and your deadlines are never missed because one person is unavailable.

Pricing

UK Bookkeeping Prices Compared — 2026

Service Type	Typical Price	What's Included	Fixed Fee?
Freelance bookkeeper	£15–£35/hour	Data entry, basic reconciliation	No
Local accounting firm	£150–£400/month	Bookkeeping + accounts	Yes (usually)
Online bookkeeping software only	£12–£35/month	Software only, no human	N/A
Cledger	From £175/month	Full bookkeeping, VAT, management accounts, dedicated accountant	Yes

Cledger's pricing is fixed and transparent. Your exact monthly fee depends on your turnover band and the services included. Use our calculator below for an instant personalised estimate.

Calculate My Price

Frequently Asked Questions About Bookkeeping Prices

Get a Fixed-Fee Bookkeeping Quote

Tell us about your business and we will give you a fixed monthly price in minutes — no call required.

Get an Instant Quote Or book a free consultation →