What does a bookkeeper cost in 2026? Prices and hidden costs

In 2026, a bookkeeper for a freelancer or sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) usually costs between €50 and €150 a month, excluding VAT (btw). For a BV you typically pay €150 to €250 a month, and for a holding company with an operating company €250 to €450 combined. The biggest difference is not the amount, but what is and isn't included in the price.

These ranges are based on our comparison of fourteen online accounting firms in October 2026, using their published starting prices.

Average prices by legal form

• Freelancer and sole proprietorship: €50 to €150 a month, including VAT returns, annual accounts and income tax return
• General partnership (VOF) or professional partnership (maatschap): €100 to €200 a month, often including two partners
• BV or operating company: €150 to €250 a month, including corporate income tax (VPB) and filing of the accounts
• Holding company without activities: €100 to €200 a month
• Traditional firm charging by the hour: €65 to €150 an hour, plus a separate bill for the year-end work

What should the price include?

Always compare bookkeepers on the same package. A good monthly fee should at least include the ongoing processing of your records, the quarterly VAT returns, the annual accounts and the income tax or corporate income tax return.

• Processing of invoices, receipts and bank transactions
• VAT returns and, where applicable, the EC sales list (opgaaf ICP)
• Annual accounts and, for a BV, filing them with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK)
• Income tax or corporate income tax return
• Asking questions without the meter running

The costs you don't see straight away

A low starting price can turn out to be expensive if a lot falls outside the package. Pay particular attention to these five points:

• A limit on the number of invoices or entries, with a surcharge above it
• Start-up or set-up costs in the first year
• The tax return of your fiscal partner, which is sometimes charged separately
• An annual contract instead of being able to cancel monthly
• Advice, forecasts or annual figures for a mortgage at an hourly rate

What you pay at Boekhoudvriend

At Boekhoudvriend you pay a fixed monthly fee per set of books. With Review you do the bookkeeping yourself and we check it, from €100 a month. With Full service we take everything off your hands, from €150. A holding company with an operating company costs €350 a month on Full service. Every package includes 10 entries a month, your VAT returns, the annual accounts, your income tax or corporate income tax return and the tax return of your fiscal partner.

You can cancel your subscription monthly and you get a reply to your questions within 24 hours. For setting up your bookkeeping we charge a one-off €299 per company. With our calculator you see your exact price in two minutes, including for a structure with several BVs.

How to choose the right bookkeeper

• Work out what you pay over a full year, including set-up and surcharges
• Ask who your dedicated contact is and how quickly you get a reply
• Check whether you can cancel monthly
• See whether the bookkeeper has experience with your legal form and sector
• Choose a bookkeeper who gives you up-to-date insight, not only after the year has ended

A bookkeeper is also deductible as a business expense, and you deduct the VAT on the invoice as input tax. The real cost is therefore lower than the monthly fee suggests.