What does a bookkeeper cost?

The Dutch market in 2026

For a sole trader, monthly rates in the market run from roughly EUR 50 to EUR 150, depending on how much you outsource. An all-in package covering the bookkeeping, the VAT and the income tax return averages EUR 150 to EUR 250 a month.

Annually that comes to somewhere between EUR 450 and EUR 1,500 for a straightforward sole trader business. On an hourly basis, a bookkeeper charges between EUR 35 and EUR 90 and an accountant between EUR 60 and EUR 150.

One-off work has its own price. A VAT return averages around EUR 65 where the bookkeeping is already done. Annual accounts for a small BV average EUR 600 to EUR 850, and a stand-alone corporate income tax return around EUR 325.

Where the differences come from

Two firms both selling ‘bookkeeping’ can mean very different things. Check these points before you compare prices:

• Do they process your records, or do you? That is often the gap between the cheapest and the middle package.
• Is the income tax return included? And your partner's?
• Do you pay for the software yourself? An accounting package quickly adds EUR 15 to EUR 41 a month.
• What does a question cost? At some firms every email is billable.
• Is there a top-up bill? A fixed price that turns into an extra invoice is not a fixed price.

What we charge

With us it is EUR 69 a month for a sole trader or partnership. That covers processing your records, every VAT return, the EC Sales List, the balance sheet and profit and loss account, the income tax return for you and your partner, and a reminder before every deadline. For EUR 110 unlimited tax advice comes on top.

For a BV it is EUR 150 a month, including the corporate income tax return, the annual accounts and the Chamber of Commerce filing. With unlimited advice that becomes EUR 250. If you have a holding and an operating company, we charge EUR 60 a month per additional company.

You do not need to buy accounting software: you email your receipts and invoices. That saves you the EUR 15 to EUR 41 a month you would pay elsewhere.

Cheap is not always cheap

With a low monthly rate, look at what is not included. The items most often billed separately:

• The income tax return
• The annual accounts and the Chamber of Commerce filing
• Corrections over earlier years
• Questions along the way
• The software subscription

Always ask for a list of what is in and what is out. A firm that will not put that in writing has answered the question already.