Bookkeepers in and around Reading typically charge £25 to £45 an hour, or roughly £150 to £300 a month for a small business with up to 50 transactions a month, according to bizhub365's indicative Reading prices. VAT returns, payroll and catch-up work are usually priced on top. What you actually pay depends less on the size of your business than on how many transactions you have, how up to date your records are, and which deadlines the bookkeeper takes on.
Typical prices in Reading
| Service | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Hourly bookkeeping | £25 to £45 an hour |
| Monthly bookkeeping, up to 50 transactions | £150 to £300 a month |
| Monthly bookkeeping, 50 to 200 transactions | £300 to £600 a month |
| VAT return preparation | £100 to £250 a quarter |
| Payroll, up to 10 employees | £150 to £350 a month |
| One-off catch-up | £500 to £1,500 a project |
Indicative averages for Reading from bizhub365, not EBA's fees. Quotes vary with the work involved.
What changes the price
- Transaction volume. The biggest single factor. 30 transactions a month is a very different job from 300.
- State of the records. Reconciled, current books cost less to maintain than records that need fixing first.
- Number of accounts. Each bank account, card and payment platform adds reconciliation work.
- VAT. Registered businesses need quarterly VAT returns, and some schemes take more work than others.
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Quarterly updates add a fixed rhythm of work for sole traders and landlords in MTD.
- Payroll. Priced per employee or per pay run.
- Software. Most bookkeepers expect you to pay for your own software subscription, typically £10 to £60 a month.
- Communication. Regular review calls and reporting add time, and value.
Hourly or fixed fee?
Hourly billing suits irregular or one-off work, but makes the monthly bill hard to predict. A fixed monthly fee suits regular bookkeeping. It only works if the scope is clear, otherwise a low headline price grows through extras. Ask what happens if your transaction volume rises, and how out-of-scope work is charged.
What a fair quote should state
- The services and periods included
- What you need to provide, and by when each month
- Software and any third-party costs
- What is out of scope and how it is priced
- The fee, how often you are billed and when it is reviewed
- Who submits which returns, and by which deadline
How EBA prices
EBA doesn't publish a headline price, because the same business can cost very different amounts depending on the state of its records. Larissa starts with a free 30-minute call, reviews the records where needed, and then sends a fixed written proposal with the scope, timetable, responsibilities and fee. You know the cost before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bookkeeper cost for a sole trader?
Using bizhub365's indicative Reading prices, a sole trader with up to 50 transactions a month would typically pay £150 to £300 a month for monthly bookkeeping, or £25 to £45 an hour for occasional help.
Is a bookkeeper cheaper than an accountant?
Usually, for day-to-day record-keeping. Many small businesses use a bookkeeper for monthly records and an accountant for year-end accounts and tax advice.
Do I pay VAT on bookkeeping fees?
Only if your bookkeeper is VAT registered. Check whether a quote includes or excludes VAT.
What does catch-up bookkeeping cost?
Indicative Reading prices run from £500 to £1,500 a project, but it depends on how many months and transactions are involved. See our catch-up bookkeeping guide.
Sources (reviewed 15 October 2026)
- bizhub365: Bookkeeper prices in Reading
- Software prices: our bookkeeping software comparison
Want a fixed price for your own records? Book a free 30-minute call with Larissa.
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