How Much Does an Offshore Staff Accountant Cost?

These are the prices providers publish on their own websites, and who quotes instead. Many providers give a number only after a call.

• Madras Accountancy: $12 to $20 an hour depending on volume and complexity; dedicated full-time staff from $1,400 a month; per-client bookkeeping $150 to $500 a month.
• The Fino Partners, per full-time role (160 hours): junior bookkeeper $1,800 a month, senior accountant $2,300, senior tax associate $2,500, tax reviewer $2,750, financial controller $3,500.
• SF Business Solutions: quoted per firm for CPA firms and other B2B partnerships, based on volume and the roles you need, rather than published as a rate. Best for a firm that wants to start hourly and switch to full-time once the volume is steady.
• MYCPE ONE describes hourly billing for small engagements and a fixed fee plus salaries for managed teams, without published rates. TOA Global and QX Accounting Services quote on request.

Seniority matters most: a reviewer or controller costs roughly double a junior bookkeeper at the same provider. After that come the hours you need, whether the person is dedicated to you or shared, and how complex the work is. Tax review, multi-entity books and industry-specific work cost more than routine categorizing and reconciliations.

Example numbers, for illustration only. A firm needs 40 hours a month of bookkeeping help. At $12 to $15 an hour, that is $480 to $600 a month. If the need grows to a full working month of about 160 hours, hourly billing at the same rate would be $1,920 to $2,400, and a full-time arrangement at published rates starting around $1,400 a month becomes the cheaper option.

The crossover is the point to watch: below it, pay by the hour; above it, a dedicated person usually costs less and gives you more continuity.

Compare the monthly cost with what the freed-up hours are worth to your firm.

• Count the hours of work you would hand over each month.
• Multiply by the provider's rate to get the monthly cost.
• Add the time your team will spend reviewing, at your internal cost per hour.
• Compare the total with either the fees you can bill for that work, or the cost of hiring locally for it.
• Example numbers: 120 hours a month at $12 to $15 is $1,440 to $2,400. Add 15 hours of review at $60 an hour ($900). If those clients bring in $8,000 a month, the work stays profitable with room to spare.

Budget for the first two or three months of heavier review, software seats for the new person, and the time it takes to write down your processes. Also check whether a provider charges setup fees or requires a minimum term; ask before you sign.