Published rate ranges by scope, role, and seniority. Real numbers, no "contact us for pricing" evasion. For businesses comparing offshore accounting against US-only providers or in-house hires, this guide gives the data to make an informed decision.
Offshore accounting roles price in consistent ranges based on seniority and scope. Typical monthly pricing for dedicated full-time engagements (160 hours/month) from reputable providers delivering from India or Philippines:
| Role | Monthly (dedicated FT) | Hourly (part-time) | US equivalent loaded cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior bookkeeper (1–3 yrs) | $1,400–$2,000 | $14–$22/hr | $4,500–$6,000/mo |
| Senior bookkeeper (3–7 yrs) | $2,200–$3,200 | $22–$32/hr | $5,800–$7,900/mo |
| Accountant (AP/AR/close/reporting) | $2,400–$3,600 | $24–$36/hr | $6,500–$9,000/mo |
| Senior accountant | $3,000–$4,200 | $30–$42/hr | $7,500–$10,500/mo |
| Controller | $4,400–$6,800 | $44–$68/hr | $11,000–$17,000/mo |
| Fractional CFO / Outsourced CFO | $5,400–$8,400 (full-time equiv) | $55–$110/hr | $18,000–$39,000/mo |
| Tax preparer (seasonal) | $2,200–$3,400 | $22–$34/hr | $6,000–$8,500/mo |
| Senior tax manager / reviewer | $3,800–$5,400 | $38–$54/hr | $10,500–$15,500/mo |
| Audit senior | $3,200–$4,400 | $32–$44/hr | $8,500–$12,000/mo |
The US equivalent loaded cost assumes total cost of employment including benefits, payroll tax, equipment, workspace, training – roughly 30–35% above base salary for most US employers. Base salaries themselves are lower (US senior bookkeeper base is $55k–$72k) but loaded cost is what's comparable.
Offshore pricing is roughly 40–65% less than equivalent US loaded cost. The exact discount depends on role seniority (more senior narrows somewhat but still significant), engagement type (dedicated seat vs hourly), and provider model (dedicated boutique vs mega-pool).
Businesses typically think in terms of engagement scope rather than role. Typical monthly pricing for common scopes:
| Engagement scope | Monthly cost | Business size |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping only (solo / very small) | $700–$1,400 | Under $500k revenue |
| Bookkeeping + month-end close | $1,400–$2,200 | $500k–$2M |
| Full bookkeeping + AP/AR | $2,200–$3,400 | $1M–$5M |
| Full-stack accounting (BK + AP/AR + payroll + close + reporting) | $3,800–$5,800 | $2M–$15M |
| Full-stack + controller oversight | $5,200–$8,200 | $5M–$25M |
| Full-stack + fractional CFO | $6,800–$11,500 | $5M–$30M |
| Tax preparation support (seasonal) | $2,200–$3,800 | Varies; per CPA firm or multi-entity business |
| Audit support (seasonal) | $2,800–$4,400 | Per audit engagement |
| Catch-up bookkeeping (project) | $1,500–$6,500 one-time | 6–24 months of backlog |
Offshore accounting talent is concentrated in a few geographies, with pricing variation across them:
| Geography | Senior accountant (FT dedicated) | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| India (Tier 1 cities: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune) | $2,800–$4,200/mo | Deep technical talent, US GAAP, Big 4 alumni network, audit |
| India (Tier 2 cities: Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai) | $2,200–$3,400/mo | Strong technical, lower cost, same English fluency |
| Philippines (Manila, Cebu) | $2,600–$4,000/mo | Strong English accent-neutrality, client-facing roles, US work culture familiarity |
| Latin America (Mexico City, Medellin, San Jose CR) | $3,200–$5,200/mo | Same time zone, near-native English in tier-1 talent, Spanish bilingual |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Ukraine) | $3,800–$5,800/mo | Strong audit/IFRS, EU regulatory familiarity, GDPR-native |
| South Africa | $2,600–$4,000/mo | English-native, UK-aligned GAAP familiarity, emerging offshore market |
For most US businesses, India and Philippines dominate the offshore accounting market because they combine: meaningful cost savings (larger than Latin America), deep talent pool (larger than South Africa or Eastern Europe), strong English fluency, and established US business familiarity. See our India vs Philippines comparison for the head-to-head.
Monthly rate is the headline cost. Total cost includes several other components that are usually smaller but real:
For our published pricing see pricing page. For provider comparison see alternatives.
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