# How much does it cost to start a bookkeeping business?

ProfitDrawer's bookkeeping business guide gives an example budget of about $750 to $5,200 for a home-based bookkeeper, where the low end assumes you already own a computer. The biggest lines are a laptop or computer upgrade ($0 to $1,200), a training or certificate course ($200 to $1,000) and professional liability insurance for the first year ($300 to $1,000), plus software, a website and a secure document portal. These are example ranges; your costs will differ.

**Example budget (your costs will differ):**

| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop or computer upgrade | $0 | $1,200 |
| Second monitor and scanner | $100 | $400 |
| Bookkeeping software and practice tools (first year) | $0 | $600 |
| Training or certificate course | $200 | $1,000 |
| Business registration and license | $50 | $400 |
| Professional liability insurance (first year) | $300 | $1,000 |
| Website, domain and email (first year) | $50 | $300 |
| Secure document portal and password manager | $50 | $300 |
| **Total** | **$750** | **$5,200** |

Overhead stays low because you mostly need a computer, software, insurance and registration.

Many bookkeepers price by monthly package rather than by the hour. In the guide's worked example, a small client takes 4 hours a month: $220 at $55 an hour plus a $20 overhead share is $240, and a 25% buffer gives $300 a month. Twelve clients at that price is $3,600 a month in revenue, before your own expenses and taxes. Put your own numbers into the free startup cost calculator.

- Source: [How to Start a Bookkeeping Business (ProfitDrawer guide)](https://profitdrawer.com/guides/how-to-start-a-bookkeeping-business.html)
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Published: 2026-10-29
- Category: Start a business
- Canonical: https://profitdrawer.com/answers/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-a-bookkeeping-business.html
- Publisher: ProfitDrawer (https://profitdrawer.com)