How Much Does Bookkeeping Cost for a Small Business in Canada? (2026 Pricing Guide)

One of the most common questions I get from small business owners across Ontario is: "How much should I be paying for bookkeeping?" The answer depends on a few key factors — and I'm going to break it all down for you honestly.

What Affects Bookkeeping Costs in Canada

Bookkeeping pricing is driven by:

• Transaction volume: More transactions = more time = higher cost
• Number of accounts: Multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and payment processors add complexity
• Industry: Retail, construction, and food service tend to be more complex than service businesses
• Software: Whether you're on QuickBooks, Wave, or something else affects setup time
• Catch-up work: If your books are behind, there's usually a one-time cleanup fee

Typical Bookkeeping Pricing in Ontario (2026)

Here's what you can realistically expect to pay:

• Solo operator / freelancer: $200–$400/month
• Small business (under $500K revenue): $400–$700/month
• Growing business ($500K–$2M revenue): $700–$1,500/month
• Larger SMB: $1,500+/month or part-time in-house bookkeeper

What We Charge at Lights Cameras Books

We offer three transparent bookkeeping packages with no hidden fees:

• Starter ($299/month): Perfect for solo operators and new businesses. Monthly reconciliation, basic reports, HST tracking.
• Growth ($599/month): Our most popular package for established small businesses. Everything in Starter plus accounts payable/receivable management and a quarterly strategy call.
• Pro ($999/month): Full-service bookkeeping with CFO-level insights, weekly reporting, and priority support.

See the full breakdown on our pricing page or book a free call to find out which package fits your business.

Is DIY Bookkeeping Worth It?

For most small business owners, no. The time you spend doing your own books is time you're not spending on revenue-generating activities. At $299/month, professional bookkeeping typically pays for itself many times over in time saved, errors avoided, and tax deductions properly captured.