How much does a bookkeeper cost per month in the Netherlands?

What do bookkeepers charge in the Netherlands?

Bookkeepers set their own rates. Price overviews from 2026 arrive at these figures (excluding VAT, where the source says so):

For a partnership (vof) we found no reliable separate figures. A vof is usually a little more expensive than a sole proprietorship, because each partner files their own income tax return. Online subscriptions where you do the bookkeeping yourself are cheaper (Qonto mentions €30 to €150 a month), but then you do much of the work yourself.

What drives the price?

• Number of transactions: invoices, receipts and bank transactions per month. Many packages have a maximum.
• VAT: if you charge VAT, you add four VAT returns a year. Under the small business scheme (KOR) you do not.
• Your legal form: a BV has annual accounts, which are filed with the KVK, and a corporate tax return. See Sole proprietorship, partnership or BV?
• Staff: payroll is almost always charged separately.
• The annual return: is it included in the monthly fee, or do you pay for it separately?
• Advice: with an hourly rate you usually also pay for questions in between.
• How tidy your records are: missing receipts cost the bookkeeper extra hours, and you pay for them. Rates are also often higher in the Randstad.

Fixed monthly price or hourly rate?

According to the ExpertsInBedrijf comparison, a subscription is on average cheaper than working on an hourly basis.

Our prices

At Royal Support you pay a fixed amount per month. Every subscription includes processing your bookkeeping and unlimited advice sessions. All prices exclude VAT.

The annual return is not included in the monthly fee; with a subscription you pay a fixed, reduced rate for it. In addition:

• ICP statement: €25 per return.
• Payroll: €325 one-off for set-up, then €25 per employee per month.
• Without a subscription: a consultation costs €60 per half hour or €110 per hour; an annual return is charged at an hourly rate.

Per year that comes to 12 × €115 + €145 = €1,525 for a sole proprietorship, €1,045 under the KOR and from €2,290 for a BV. If you work out the usual amounts from the table above (12 times the monthly fee plus a separate income tax return), you get roughly €1,100 to €2,300 a year. We sit in the middle of that range, with the VAT returns, unlimited advice and explanations in Dutch, Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian or English included. If you want the lowest price and are happy to do your own bookkeeping, an online package is cheaper.

What does unlimited advice mean?

You can call, message or email us with questions about your own bookkeeping and taxes as often as you need. There is no extra charge. Larger new projects, such as a restructuring or financing application, are agreed separately and always in advance. If you are comparing firms, ask each one what “advice included” actually means. It varies a lot.

Ask this before you choose

The lowest monthly price means little if the annual return, VAT or your questions cost extra. So compare the price per year. Ask every bookkeeper:

• Is the annual return included in the monthly fee, or does it come on top?
• How many transactions does the package include, and what does it cost if you go over?
• Are the VAT return and, for a BV, the annual accounts and filing included?
• Do you pay for questions in between, or for help with a letter from the tax authority?
• Are there set-up costs, and who pays for the bookkeeping software?
• What are the contract term and notice period?
• Are the prices including or excluding VAT?

Our answers are on the pricing page; the term and notice period are agreed in the proposal.

Do it yourself or outsource?

You are not required to hire a bookkeeper. You may keep your own records and file your own returns. According to Onderneming.nl, bookkeeping software costs roughly €10 to €60 a month. That works well if you have few transactions, no staff and know the rules on VAT and costs.

Outsourcing pays off mainly if you are short of time, the Dutch rules are new to you, or you have a BV or staff. A bookkeeper cannot promise you lower taxes. What you do get is time saved, a smaller chance of mistakes (and so of additional assessments and fines) and someone who checks for deductions you might overlook. A middle way: keep your own invoices and receipts and only have the returns done.

Your bookkeeper is deductible

Business costs are costs you incur to earn revenue and keep your business running. Your bookkeeper is one of them. With a sole proprietorship or partnership you deduct them from your profit; with a BV they are costs of the BV. How much you save depends on your profit and your tax rate. See also Which costs can you deduct?

If you charge VAT, you deduct the VAT on the invoice as input tax. Under the KOR you cannot: the KOR subscription then costs you €75 plus 21% VAT, so €90.75 a month.

Which subscription suits you?

Answer three questions in the tool on our pricing page and see your monthly price straight away. Still unsure, for example about your legal form or the KOR? In a free introduction we help you choose. After that you receive a proposal with a fixed price.

This article gives general information and is not personal advice. Rules and amounts change; to find out what applies to your situation, get in touch with us.