22 April 2026 · 6 min read

How much does a small business accountant cost in Australia?

Short answer: depending on what you actually need, between $250 and $1,540 a month. Long answer: it depends on entity type, turnover, frequency of reporting, and whether you bundle bookkeeping in. Here's what's reasonable to pay in 2026.

Pricing by service type

Australian accountants generally price three ways: fixed-fee per return, fixed-fee monthly retainers (bundled), and hourly consultation. The lowest-friction comparison is by service line.

Individual tax returns

A standard PAYG return (no schedules) typically runs $150 – $300 at most CPA-registered agents. Add $80 – $150 per schedule for rental property, capital gains, or sole-trader income. Complex returns are usually quoted hourly between $250 – $400/hr.

Business tax returns

Company, trust and partnership returns commonly sit between $500 and $1,500 for a small business with clean books on Xero. If your books need work, expect bookkeeping to be charged hourly on top — usually $90 – $150/hr.

BAS lodgement

$100 – $300 per BAS period (monthly or quarterly), assuming the books are already reconciled. If they're not, the bookkeeping component often costs more than the lodgement itself.

The real cost driver: bookkeeping time

Most small businesses underestimate one thing: the bookkeeping underneath the lodgement. A tax return is a few hours of work; the bookkeeping that feeds it can be 40+ hours a year. Whether your accountant bills that hourly or bundles it into a monthly fee is the single biggest factor in what you'll actually pay.

Monthly bundled packages

The cleanest pricing model for most growing businesses is a monthly retainer that covers tax, BAS, bookkeeping, payroll, ASIC and Xero — with one annual fee, paid monthly. Expect:

• • Turnover under $250k: $350 – $550/month
• • $250k – $800k: $600 – $900/month
• • $800k – $1.5m: $1,100 – $1,800/month

At WeGrow, our equivalent packages start at $450/mo — see the business packages page for the full breakdown.

Questions to ask before signing

• • Is bookkeeping included or billed hourly?
• • Does payroll count separately, and at what frequency?
• • How often will we actually meet to review numbers?
• • Is ASIC agency included? (It's often quietly priced separately.)
• • What happens if turnover crosses the tier threshold mid-year?

Your local advisers

Want local support in Broadmeadows?

Zahid and Inam help small businesses compare accountant pricing and choose the right service mix without overpaying.

Zahid Chowdhury

Founder & Principal Accountant

Zahid helps with structure, strategy, and big tax decisions so you can grow with confidence.

Inam Asiful

Senior Consultant

Inam keeps your BAS, payroll, and tax lodgements clear, accurate, and on time.

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not tax, financial, or legal advice.

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