How a bookkeeping practice makes money

Sources

• Nonemployer Statistics 2024, U.S. file: businesses with no paid employees by industry and receipts size (NAICS 541211 Offices of CPAs, 541213 Tax Preparation Services, 541219 Other Accounting Services) · U.S. Census Bureau, 2024
• About Nonemployer Statistics: coverage (no paid employees, subject to federal income tax, receipts of $1,000 or more) · U.S. Census Bureau, 2024
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (jobs in 2025, pay in May 2025, projections 2025-35) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
• Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022: firms, employment (mid-March), annual payroll and receipts by industry and enterprise receipts size (NAICS 541211 Offices of CPAs, 541213 Tax Preparation Services, 541219 Other Accounting Services) · U.S. Census Bureau, 2022
• PTIN requirements for tax return preparers · Internal Revenue Service, 2026
• H&R Block, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 · H&R Block, Inc. (filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), 2025

Every number

• 258,557census.gov ·2024 · US businesses with no paid employees in other accounting services (bookkeeping and accounting firms that aren't CPA offices, tax-only or payroll-only), 2024.
• $31,326census.gov ·2024 · Worked out: what those businesses took in during 2024, divided by how many there were.
• 68.3%census.gov ·2024 · Worked out: the share of those businesses that took in less than the next number in 2024.
• $25,000census.gov ·2024 · One of the Census's lines for grouping businesses by what they took in.
• $1,000census.gov ·2024 · The least a business with no employees must take in a year for the Census to count it.
• 106,403census.gov ·2024 · US tax preparation businesses with no paid employees, 2024.
• $34,333census.gov ·2024 · Worked out: what those businesses took in during 2024, divided by how many there were.
• 66.9%census.gov ·2024 · Worked out: the share of those businesses that took in less than twenty-five thousand dollars in 2024.
• $50,670/yearbls.gov ·2025 · Median yearly pay for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, May 2025. Doesn't count the self-employed.
• 80.1%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out: the share of US CPA firms with employees that took in less than the next number in 2022.
• $1Mcensus.gov ·2022 · One of the Census's lines for grouping firms by what they took in.
• $705,292census.gov ·2022 · Worked out: what US CPA firms taking in half a million to a million dollars a year took in during 2022, divided by how many there were.
• 4.9 employeescensus.gov ·2022 · Worked out: employees of US CPA firms taking in half a million to a million dollars a year, divided by how many firms there were, 2022. Counted in mid-March, in tax season.
• 40.2%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out: those CPA firms' yearly payroll as a share of what they took in, 2022.
• $57,891/yearcensus.gov ·2022 · Worked out: those CPA firms' yearly payroll divided by their mid-March employees, 2022.
• $232,606census.gov ·2022 · Worked out: what US bookkeeping and accounting firms with employees (not CPA offices, tax-only or payroll-only) taking in a hundred thousand to half a million dollars a year took in during 2022, divided by how many there were.
• $450/monthexample (example number: Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's monthly fee for a café's books. Real fees vary a lot by city and by how much work a client has.) · Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's monthly fee for a café's books. Real fees vary a lot by city and by how much work a client has.
• 150 transactionsexample (example number: Simplified example: the most bank and card transactions a month the café's fee covers.) · Simplified example: the most bank and card transactions a month the café's fee covers.
• 30 daysexample (example number: Simplified example: the notice either side gives to end the agreement.) · Simplified example: the notice either side gives to end the agreement.
• $350example (example number: Simplified example: a tax preparer's set fee for a couple's federal and state returns with a small side business (Schedule C).) · Simplified example: a tax preparer's set fee for a couple's federal and state returns with a small side business (Schedule C).
• $1,400/monthexample (example number: Simplified example: a small firm's monthly package for a business: the books, a quarterly meeting and the year's tax returns.) · Simplified example: a small firm's monthly package for a business: the books, a quarterly meeting and the year's tax returns.
• 120 hours a monthexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a solo bookkeeper can give clients each month, after finding clients, invoicing and learning.) · Simplified example: the hours a solo bookkeeper can give clients each month, after finding clients, invoicing and learning.
• 5 hours a monthexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a café's books take each month.) · Simplified example: the hours a café's books take each month.
• 24 clientsexample (example number: Worked out from the examples: the hours you have for clients divided by the hours one café-size client takes.) · Worked out from the examples: the hours you have for clients divided by the hours one café-size client takes.
• $10,800/monthexample (example number: Worked out from the examples: twenty-four clients at the café's monthly fee.) · Worked out from the examples: twenty-four clients at the café's monthly fee.
• 12 weeksexample (example number: Simplified example: a tax season from late January to mid-April.) · Simplified example: a tax season from late January to mid-April.
• 40 hours a weekexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a week you can spend on returns in the season.) · Simplified example: the hours a week you can spend on returns in the season.
• 3 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a return with a small side business takes.) · Simplified example: the hours a return with a small side business takes.
• 160 returnsexample (example number: Worked out from the examples: the season's weeks times your hours a week, divided by the hours one return takes.) · Worked out from the examples: the season's weeks times your hours a week, divided by the hours one return takes.
• $56,000example (example number: Worked out from the examples: a hundred and sixty returns at the set fee.) · Worked out from the examples: a hundred and sixty returns at the set fee.
• 480 hours a monthexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a firm of a CPA and four staff can give clients each month.) · Simplified example: the hours a firm of a CPA and four staff can give clients each month.
• 12 hours a monthexample (example number: Simplified example: the team's hours one package client takes each month.) · Simplified example: the team's hours one package client takes each month.
• 40 clientsexample (example number: Worked out from the examples: the team's hours for clients divided by the hours one package client takes.) · Worked out from the examples: the team's hours for clients divided by the hours one package client takes.
• $56,000/monthexample (example number: Worked out from the examples: forty package clients at the monthly package fee.) · Worked out from the examples: forty package clients at the monthly package fee.
• 5 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours this client's books take a month.) · Simplified example: the hours this client's books take a month.
• $65/hourexample (example number: Simplified example: your hourly rate if you billed by the hour.) · Simplified example: your hourly rate if you billed by the hour.
• $450/monthexample (example number: Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's monthly fee for a café's books. Real fees vary a lot by city and by how much work a client has.) · Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's monthly fee for a café's books. Real fees vary a lot by city and by how much work a client has.
• 9 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a messy client's month: missing receipts, a dozen questions.) · Simplified example: a messy client's month: missing receipts, a dozen questions.
• 3 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the same client once bank feeds and rules sort most transactions for you.) · Simplified example: the same client once bank feeds and rules sort most transactions for you.
• 3 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a return with a small side business takes.) · Simplified example: the hours a return with a small side business takes.
• $90/hourexample (example number: Simplified example: a tax preparer's hourly rate.) · Simplified example: a tax preparer's hourly rate.
• 6 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a return with a shoebox of receipts.) · Simplified example: a return with a shoebox of receipts.
• 1.5 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the same return when the client sends everything sorted.) · Simplified example: the same return when the client sends everything sorted.
• 12 hours a monthexample (example number: Simplified example: the team's hours one package client takes each month.) · Simplified example: the team's hours one package client takes each month.
• $110/hourexample (example number: Simplified example: the firm's blended hourly rate for its team.) · Simplified example: the firm's blended hourly rate for its team.
• 20 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a package client who sends everything late and in pieces.) · Simplified example: a package client who sends everything late and in pieces.
• 8 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the same client once their bank feeds and rules are set up.) · Simplified example: the same client once their bank feeds and rules are set up.
• 6%bls.gov ·2025 · How much BLS projects employment of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks to fall from 2025 to 2035.
• $18.75irs.gov ·2026 · The IRS's fee for a PTIN (preparer tax identification number) for 2027, which isn't refunded.
• 6 clientsexample (example number: Simplified example: small clients, like a cleaner or a one-person shop.) · Simplified example: small clients, like a cleaner or a one-person shop.
• $250example (example number: Simplified example: a small client's monthly fee.) · Simplified example: a small client's monthly fee.
• 3 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a small client's hours a month.) · Simplified example: a small client's hours a month.
• 3 clientsexample (example number: Simplified example: café-size clients.) · Simplified example: café-size clients.
• $450/monthexample (example number: Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's monthly fee for a café's books. Real fees vary a lot by city and by how much work a client has.) · Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's monthly fee for a café's books. Real fees vary a lot by city and by how much work a client has.
• 5 hours a monthexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours a café's books take each month.) · Simplified example: the hours a café's books take each month.
• 1 clientexample (example number: Simplified example: a larger client with two locations and staff.) · Simplified example: a larger client with two locations and staff.
• $900example (example number: Simplified example: a larger client's monthly fee.) · Simplified example: a larger client's monthly fee.
• 10 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a larger client's hours a month.) · Simplified example: a larger client's hours a month.
• $450example (example number: Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's software, insurance and phone a month.) · Simplified example: a solo bookkeeper's software, insurance and phone a month.
• 120 returnsexample (example number: Simplified example: simple returns, wages only.) · Simplified example: simple returns, wages only.
• $150example (example number: Simplified example: the set fee for a simple return.) · Simplified example: the set fee for a simple return.
• 1 hourexample (example number: Simplified example: a simple return's hours.) · Simplified example: a simple return's hours.
• 40 returnsexample (example number: Simplified example: returns with a small side business.) · Simplified example: returns with a small side business.
• 6 returnsexample (example number: Simplified example: business returns for partnerships and S corporations.) · Simplified example: business returns for partnerships and S corporations.
• $900example (example number: Simplified example: the set fee for a business return.) · Simplified example: the set fee for a business return.
• 8 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a business return's hours.) · Simplified example: a business return's hours.
• 480 hoursexample (example number: Worked out from the examples: twelve weeks at forty hours a week on returns.) · Worked out from the examples: twelve weeks at forty hours a week on returns.
• $5,000example (example number: Simplified example: a tax preparer's tax software, insurance and office for the season.) · Simplified example: a tax preparer's tax software, insurance and office for the season.
• 30 clientsexample (example number: Simplified example: clients who get monthly books only.) · Simplified example: clients who get monthly books only.
• $600example (example number: Simplified example: the firm's monthly fee for books only.) · Simplified example: the firm's monthly fee for books only.
• 6 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a books-only client's team hours a month.) · Simplified example: a books-only client's team hours a month.
• 15 clientsexample (example number: Simplified example: package clients: books, a quarterly meeting and the year's returns.) · Simplified example: package clients: books, a quarterly meeting and the year's returns.
• 4 clientsexample (example number: Simplified example: larger clients with several locations or a lot of payroll.) · Simplified example: larger clients with several locations or a lot of payroll.
• $3,000example (example number: Simplified example: a larger client's monthly fee.) · Simplified example: a larger client's monthly fee.
• 25 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a larger client's team hours a month.) · Simplified example: a larger client's team hours a month.
• $19,300example (example number: Worked out and rounded: four staff at the Census's yearly payroll per employee for small CPA firms, divided by twelve.) · Worked out and rounded: four staff at the Census's yearly payroll per employee for small CPA firms, divided by twelve.
• $12,000example (example number: Simplified example: the firm's payroll taxes, rent, software and insurance a month.) · Simplified example: the firm's payroll taxes, rent, software and insurance a month.