Bookkeeper Fees in Cairns (2026)
Hiring a bookkeeper in Cairns: Bookkeepers who lodge BAS for a fee must be registered BAS agents with the Tax Practitioners Board.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: How much does a bookkeeper cost in Australia?
Detailed Pricing — Bookkeeper Cost in Cairns 2026
| Tier | Typical fee (ex GST) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly bookkeeping | $40–$110 per hour | Per hour |
| Monthly package, micro business | $230–$690 per month | Per month |
| Monthly package, established small business | $690–$1,400 per month | Per month |
| Monthly package with payroll and BAS | $920–$2,300 per month | Per month |
| Catch-up or rescue bookkeeping | $460–$2,750 | Per one-off |
Bookkeeper in Cairns: local notes
A Cairns bookkeeper who explains the fee in writing before starting is easier to hold to the quote.
Keep the bookkeeper's quote, any variation and the final invoice together; Cairns disputes are far simpler with paper.
If you are comparing a Cairns firm with one working remotely, ask who does the work and how you will meet.
Our Cairns band is a guide to typical bookkeeper fees, not a fixed price; your own scope sets the final figure.
You're in.
A local firm will be in touch about your enquiry. No spam, no middleman.
Getting quotes for Bookkeeper work in Cairns? Get a quote from a verified local bookkeeper — free, no obligation.
Get Cairns quotes →What Moves the Bookkeeper Cost in Cairns
- The Cairns area counted 153,425 residents at the 2021 Census, with a median age of 39 (ABS 2021 Census), and a bookkeeper here serves clients across the whole council area.
- 36.1% of Cairns households rent, above the Queensland figure of 33.1% (ABS 2021 Census).
- 71.0% of Cairns dwellings are separate houses and 17.0% are flats or apartments, against 12.5% across Queensland (ABS 2021 Census).
- Get two or three written Cairns quotes for the same scope, so the bookkeeper fees you compare cover the same work.
- If a Cairns bookkeeper quote sits outside our band, ask what is included before you rule it out: which accounting software they work in is the usual difference.
Bookkeeper, accountant or do it yourself?
Engage a bookkeeper once you have GST registration, staff, or more than a few dozen transactions a month; a clean file also cuts your accountant's year-end fee.
A sole trader with a handful of monthly transactions can keep clean books in software and hand a reconciled file to an accountant at year end.
How to Keep the Bookkeeper Cost Sane in Cairns
This guide is general information, not advice. Figures are typical ranges compiled from published Australian sources in 2026 and are not a quote; confirm fees with the provider before engaging them.
Frequently Asked Questions — Bookkeeper Cost in Cairns
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no provider can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →