What an Offshore Bookkeeper Actually Costs

The short answer: hourly rates by experience

Market rates for dedicated offshore bookkeepers in the Philippines, full-time and working your hours: general virtual-assistant marketplaces run $4 to $8 per hour, but those are generalists rather than career bookkeepers, and vetting is minimal. Experienced offshore bookkeepers with 5+ years run $8.50 to $12 per hour, the honest market band. Senior offshore bookkeepers with 10+ years run $10.75 to $15 per hour. At 40 hours a week, that works out to roughly $1,470 to $1,870 per month, all-in: no benefits to administer, no payroll taxes, no recruiting cycle. Our own rates sit at the bottom of each band by design: see the published pricing.

The monthly math, worked out

A full-time offshore bookkeeper at $8.50 per hour works about 173 hours a month, roughly $1,470. At $10.75 per hour, roughly $1,860. Compare that to the fully-loaded cost of a U.S. hire: $55,000 to $75,000 a year in salary alone, plus employer taxes, benefits, software seats, and office space, which pushes the real number past $80,000. The offshore seat delivers the same 40 hours a week at roughly 70% less. That gap is why offshore bookkeeping has moved from experiment to standard practice at U.S. accounting firms. For the full local-vs-offshore breakdown, read our true cost comparison.

The fees that don't show up in the headline rate

The hourly or monthly rate is only part of what some providers charge. Before signing, ask specifically about recruitment or kick-start fees, one-time charges that can reach $2,000 per hire at some providers; security deposits, sometimes a full month held upfront; placement fees, a percentage of annual salary or a flat charge for making the introduction; exit terms, including 90-day notice periods that lock you into thousands of dollars of salary after you decide to leave; and minimum commitments that force full-time seats when you might want part-time. Ultimate Bookkeeper charges none of these. The published hourly rate is the entire cost.

What drives the price up or down

Experience is the biggest factor: a 10-year bookkeeper who has closed books for U.S. clients costs more than a 5-year bookkeeper, and is worth it for complex accrual work. Software specialization matters, since certified QuickBooks Online and Xero professionals command the top of each band. Working hours matter too: a bookkeeper who works your time zone is a different product from an overnight handoff vendor, and prices accordingly. Finally, dedicated beats shared. A "bookkeeper" who is actually a pool of anonymous workers is cheaper for a reason.

Offshore vs. local hiring vs. done-for-you services

Hiring locally gives you control at the highest cost. Done-for-you services give you convenience at the cost of control, since you never know who does the work. Offshore staffing sits between the two: dedicated team members at offshore rates, under your management. For a firm that wants capacity without a six-figure payroll commitment or a black-box vendor, it is the model that has won the last five years of this market. Our offshore accounting services page explains how the staffing model works in practice.

How to evaluate a quote

Ask three questions of any provider. First: is this rate the total cost, or are there fees, deposits, or minimums attached? Second: who exactly will do the work, a named professional you interview, or a pool? Third: what happens when it does not work out, and what do you owe if you leave? A provider that answers all three cleanly, in writing, on a public pricing page, is telling you something about how the relationship will go. More on vetting providers in our guide on what to look for in an offshore staffing partner.

Frequently asked questions