Other Accounting Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average other accounting services business in the United States generates $558K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 44,726 other accounting services businesses in the U.S., employing 237,275 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $74K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Other Accounting Business Actually Do?
Non-CPA accounting services — bookkeepers, payroll bureaus, tax preparers (non-CPA), specialty accounting like R&D tax credit consultants. Compete on price and specialization.
Who buys: Small businesses outsourcing back-office finance, individuals with simple tax situations.
Average Revenue
$558K
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$105K
per year
Total Businesses
44,726
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$123K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$74K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
13.5
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Other Accounting Services Charge?
Non-CPA accounting (bookkeeping, payroll, tax prep) is priced hourly, per return, or monthly retainer.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Bookkeeping (hourly) | $45–150/hour |
Monthly bookkeeping (small business) | $300–1,500/month |
Payroll processing | $25–75 base + $4–10/employee |
1099/W-2 preparation | $5–25 per form |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete other accounting business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a other accounting services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the other accounting services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Client-related expenses | $4 | $23K | Software licenses, subscriptions, printing, filing fees, travel billed to clients. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $279K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $31K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $23K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $14 | $78K | Professional liability insurance, continuing education, tech, admin support. |
Net profit | $22 | $123K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
9.66%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.23%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.24%
annual
Businesses Closed
8,967
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Other Accounting Business?
Startup Cost
$10K – $75K
Break-Even
4 months
5-Year Survival Rate
60.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a other accounting services business do?
- Non-CPA accounting services — bookkeepers, payroll bureaus, tax preparers (non-CPA), specialty accounting like R&D tax credit consultants. Compete on price and specialization. Small businesses outsourcing back-office finance, individuals with simple tax situations.
- How much do other accounting services charge?
- Non-CPA accounting (bookkeeping, payroll, tax prep) is priced hourly, per return, or monthly retainer. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average other accounting services make per year?
- The average other accounting services business generates $558K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $123K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many other accounting services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 44,726 other accounting services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 237,275 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a other accounting services business?
- Startup costs for a other accounting services business typically range from $10K to $75K, with a 5-year survival rate of 60.0%.
- What is the average salary in the other accounting services industry?
- The average employee in the other accounting services industry earns $74K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The other accounting services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (9.7% entry vs 9.2% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 62% of other accounting services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 8,967 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the other accounting services industry earns $74,147/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 68,075 establishments employing 283,877 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The other accounting services industry has grown 22% since 2000 (from 85,299 to 104,020 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Other Accounting Services revenue with other industries: