Bookkeeper Fees in Sydney (2026)
Sydney bookkeepers charge $50–$130 per hour by the hour on our figures, and the point within that band reflects what you are buying, from basic data entry to a registered BAS agent preparing your statements. If you would rather pay a set amount, monthly packages start at $280–$840 per month for a micro business and run to $840–$1,700 per month for an established small business. Payroll and activity statements bundled together cost $1,100–$2,800 per month a month. Sydney businesses whose books have drifted behind pay for a rescue job first, $560–$3,350, before any monthly fee applies.
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 Sydney 2026
| Tier | Typical fee (ex GST) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly bookkeeping | $50–$130 per hour | Per hour |
| Monthly package, micro business | $280–$840 per month | Per month |
| Monthly package, established small business | $840–$1,700 per month | Per month |
| Monthly package with payroll and BAS | $1,100–$2,800 per month | Per month |
| Catch-up or rescue bookkeeping | $560–$3,350 | Per one-off |
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- What an hour buys. The hourly band, $50–$130 per hour, covers very different work. Coding invoices and entering data under the instruction and supervision of a registered agent is not a tax agent service, so a firm can give that work to junior staff. Confirming activity statement figures is something only a registered agent may charge for, which is part of why hourly quotes vary.
- Apartment businesses. Flats and apartments account for 30.7% of dwellings across Greater Sydney, well above the New South Wales share of 21.7% (ABS 2021 Census). Operating from a one or two bedroom unit leaves no room for filing cabinets. Electronic images of paper records satisfy the ATO when they faithfully and clearly reproduce the original, after which the paper can go, so scan as you work.
- Owners of rented homes. Just over a third of Greater Sydney households rent (35.9%, versus 32.6% statewide), paying a median $470 weekly (ABS 2021 Census). Behind every one of those rentals is an owner, and some also run a business. If that is you, tell the bookkeeper about the property up front and leave its tax treatment to a registered tax agent.
- Wages, super and STP. With staff on the books, a Sydney business sits at $1,100–$2,800 per month. A registered BAS agent can work out withholding and prepare employee income statements, lodge payroll data via STP and deal with super paid through a clearing house, all items on the TPB's list. Check that the quote names a headcount and a pay cycle.
- The unregistered shortcut. Business.gov.au is blunt: make sure anyone doing your BAS is a registered agent with the Tax Practitioners Board, because there is no protection if you use an unregistered tax or BAS agent. A cheaper bookkeeper who lodges for you without registration can leave you exposed to ATO penalties for their mistakes. Check the TPB Register before handing over access.
- Size of the rescue. A rescue quote of $560–$3,350 is shaped by the length of the gap, the number of accounts and the state of the paperwork. Statements that should already have been lodged come with their own due dates. A bookkeeper who sees every bank statement and ATO letter at the start can quote the job properly and sequence the lodgements.
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 Sydney
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.