Edmonton Business · Edmonton
How much does a bookkeeper cost in Edmonton? A straight answer.
Bookkeeping prices vary a lot, and most firms make you call to find out. Here's what drives the cost, how flat fees compare to hourly billing, and exactly what we charge.
By the Plum team- Updated Oct 2026
- 7 min read
- Bookkeeping cost depends on volume, complexity, payroll and how clean your records are.
- Hourly billing is unpredictable. Flat monthly fees tell you the price before you start.
- Plum's plans start at $125, $299 and $599 a month, with custom plans above that.
- Catch-up and rush work are quoted separately, upfront.
"How much does a bookkeeper cost?" is usually the first question an owner asks, and the one most bookkeeping websites dodge. The honest answer is that bookkeeper cost in Edmonton depends on what your business needs. But that doesn't mean you should have to book three calls to get a ballpark.
This guide explains how bookkeepers price their work, what makes one business cost more than another, and exactly what Plum charges. Whether you're a realtor downtown, a trainer in Terwillegar or a contractor in Spruce Grove, you'll know what to expect.
1Flat fee vs hourly: how bookkeepers charge
There are two main ways bookkeepers bill, and they feel very different from the client side.
| Hourly | Flat monthly fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Price known upfront? | No, you see it on the invoice | Yes, agreed before work starts |
| Asking a quick question | Often billed | Included |
| Busy months | Cost more | Same price |
| Budgeting | Harder | Easy |
| Good for | One-off or very irregular jobs | Ongoing monthly bookkeeping |
Hourly isn't wrong. It can suit a one-time project or a business that only needs help a few times a year. But for monthly bookkeeping, it creates an odd incentive: the slower the work goes, the more it costs you. It also makes people hesitate before asking questions, which is exactly when a bookkeeper is most useful.
2What drives bookkeeper cost in Edmonton
Whatever the billing model, the same factors decide the price:
- Transaction volume. A consultant with 40 transactions a month and a busy salon with hundreds of card sales are very different workloads.
- Number of accounts. Each bank account, credit card, loan and payment app (Square, Stripe, PayPal, Shopify) needs reconciling every month.
- Payroll. Running pay, source deductions, CRA remittances, T4s and ROEs adds real work, especially with several staff.
- GST. Whether you're registered, how often you file, and how mixed your taxable and exempt sales are.
- Inventory or job costing. Product sellers and contractors tracking costs by job need more detailed setups.
- How organized things are. Clean, connected bank feeds cost less to maintain than paper and guesswork.
- How far behind you are. Catching up is a separate project from staying current.
3What Plum charges
Our pricing is flat, month to month, with no contract. You can leave with 30 days' notice. Each plan below is a typical starting point; we confirm your exact price on a short call before we begin, so you never get a surprise invoice.
Starter: $125 a month
Monthly bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, financial statements, custom monthly reports and real-time reporting in QuickBooks Online or Xero. A good fit for sole proprietors and freelancers with a manageable number of transactions and no staff. Think a mortgage broker in St. Albert or a handmade seller working from home.
Growth: $299 a month
Everything in Starter, plus payroll processing, CRA remittances and source deductions, team coverage and phone and email support. Quarterly deep dives on your numbers are included. This suits businesses with a few employees, like a salon with stylists on payroll or a contractor with a small crew.
Scale: $599 a month
Everything in Growth, plus high-volume transactions, cash flow forecasting, multi-entity support, priority support and advisory services. Built for busier operations, or owners running more than one company.
Custom
For higher transaction volumes, many bank accounts and cards, year-end prep and CRA support, or a dedicated bookkeeper. We build these around your business.
The full breakdown is on our pricing section.
4Costs that aren't on the price sheet
When you compare quotes, look past the monthly number. The real cost of bookkeeping includes a few things that don't always come up on the first call:
- Software. QuickBooks Online and Xero subscriptions are a separate cost. Ask whether the bookkeeper's price includes it or whether you pay the software company directly.
- Year-end cleanup. If your books aren't tidy, your accountant may charge extra at year end to fix them. Clean monthly books usually mean a smoother, simpler year end.
- Extras billed hourly. Some "flat" plans still bill separately for GST filings, payroll runs or questions. Ask exactly what's in and what's out.
- Penalties and interest. Late GST or payroll filings can cost more than good bookkeeping does.
- Your own time. Every hour you spend reconciling accounts is an hour you're not serving clients or growing the business.
The cheapest quote isn't always the least expensive option once all of this is counted.
5Is a bookkeeper worth the cost?
A fair way to judge it: add up what doing it yourself really costs. Count the hours you spend each month on bookkeeping, the deductions you might be missing, the stress of GST deadlines, and the extra your accountant charges to clean up messy books at year end. For many owners, a few hours back each month is worth the fee on its own.
It's also worth knowing what a bookkeeper isn't. Bookkeeping covers your monthly records, reconciliations, reports, GST and payroll. Year-end tax returns are typically done by a CPA. At Plum, we work alongside a partner CPA so your year end flows straight from clean books.
Price also isn't the only thing worth comparing. Responsiveness matters. So does whether you'll work with the same person each month and whether they explain your numbers in plain English. At Plum, you work directly with Joey and Steph, the brother-and-sister team behind the firm. You can read more about us on our team page.
6Questions to ask any bookkeeper about price
- Is the price flat, and what exactly is included?
- What happens to my price if I have a busy month?
- Are GST filings and payroll included or extra?
- Is there a contract or minimum term?
- Who will actually do my books, and can I reach them directly?
- How is catch-up work priced?
- Which software do you use, and who owns the file if we part ways?
- How quickly do you usually reply to questions?
A good bookkeeper will answer all of these without hesitation. If the answers are vague, that tells you something too.
We'd rather give you a real number than a sales pitch. Book a quick call and we'll quote your exact needs, whether you're in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Leduc or Beaumont.
7Questions people ask
How much does a bookkeeper cost per month in Edmonton?
It depends on your transaction volume, number of accounts, payroll and how organized your records are. At Plum, flat monthly plans start at $125 for Starter, $299 for Growth and $599 for Scale, with custom pricing for larger operations.
Is it better to pay a bookkeeper hourly or a flat fee?
Hourly can work for very small or irregular jobs. For ongoing monthly bookkeeping, a flat fee usually wins because you know your cost upfront and you're never billed for an extra email or question.
Is a bookkeeper worth it for a small business?
Often, yes. A good bookkeeper saves you hours each month, helps you claim deductions you'd miss, keeps GST and payroll on time, and gives your accountant clean books at year end, which can lower that bill too.
Does bookkeeping include filing my taxes?
Not usually. Bookkeeping covers your monthly records, reconciliations, reports and often GST and payroll. Year-end tax returns are typically done by an accountant. Plum works with a partner CPA for year-end tax work.
How much does catch-up bookkeeping cost?
Catch-up is usually priced as a separate project based on how many months are behind and how many transactions there are. We quote it before we start so there are no surprises.
Want this off your plate?
Flat-fee bookkeeping for Edmonton small businesses. Month to month, no surprises.
Book a free 15-min callThis article is general information for Alberta businesses and isn't tax or legal advice. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm your situation with your accountant or CRA.