What CPAs, bookkeepers, payroll services, and fractional CFOs charge, from published fee surveys and price lists, and what moves a quote up or down.
12 guides, each written by a CPA licensed in the US and Canada.
A CPA charges $280 on average for a basic Form 1040 (NATP 2025 study). Each schedule adds to it, and business returns average a $634 minimum. Fees by form, hourly rates, add-ons.
US TaxLLC tax prep costs $192 to $913 on national averages, depending on how the LLC is taxed: Schedule C, partnership, or S corp.
US TaxTypical construction CPA fees vary widely: about $1,500 to $10,000+ for tax returns, $500 to $2,000 a month for bookkeeping, and $5,000 to $30,000+ for reviews or audits.
US TaxCPAs charge $280 for a basic 1040 and $733 to $913 for a business return. Monthly small business CPA services run $350 to $3,000.
US TaxForensic accountants charge $450 to $500 an hour with a $3,000 median retainer per the 2024 SEAK survey. How hours add up by case type.
CFO & AdvisoryA fractional CFO costs $1,750 to $6,500 a month at 2026 prices, compared to a $269,750 midpoint salary for a full-time CFO.
US TaxTypical nonprofit audit fees vary widely: about $5,000 to $25,000 for the audit, $10,000 to $40,000+ with a Single Audit, and $1,000 to $5,000 for Form 990 preparation.
Small Business & BookkeepingA small business typically spends $3,000 to $15,000 a year on an accountant. What bookkeepers, tax accountants, and CPAs each charge.
Small Business & BookkeepingOutsourced bookkeeping costs $99 to $1,000 a month at September 2026 list prices. An in-house bookkeeper costs $50,670 a year at the median wage.
US TaxA CPA typically charges $350 and up to amend a return on Form 1040-X, plus $125 to $250 per state. What raises the fee, when amending pays for itself, and when you don't need to.
Small Business & BookkeepingPayroll software costs $17 to $180 a month plus $4 to $22 per employee at 2026 prices. A 10-person business pays $700 to $1,300 a year.
US TaxA financial statement audit for a small private business typically costs $10,000 to $30,000. A review runs $5,000 to $15,000 and a compilation $2,000 to $5,000. What moves the fee.