How Much Do Accounting Services Cost in South Africa?
Short answer: small business accounting in South Africa is usually billed in one of four ways: by the hour, as a fixed monthly retainer, per service, or as a percentage of business turnover. What you pay depends mostly on how many transactions you have, whether you are VAT registered, how many people are on payroll and whether year-end work is included. At One Percent Accounting the monthly fee is 1% of business turnover, from R79 a month excluding VAT, with bookkeeping, VAT, payroll for up to 10 employees, tax returns and annual financial statements included.
Many business owners never look at their accounting fee again once they have signed up. This guide explains how accounting fees in South Africa are worked out, what a monthly fee should cover and how to read a quote, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
The four ways accounting fees are charged
How you are billed | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
By the hour | Every hour of work is billed, including queries and meetings | An estimate for the year, and how small queries are billed |
Fixed monthly retainer | The same fee every month for an agreed list of work | What is in scope, and whether year-end is billed on top |
Per service | A set price for each task, such as a tax return or a registration | Suits once-off needs; add up the year if you need several |
Percentage of business turnover | The fee rises and falls with your sales | The minimum fee, and whether turnover is measured with or without VAT |
What drives the cost of accounting
Transactions. More invoices, bills and bank lines mean more bookkeeping. So do extra bank accounts and credit cards.
VAT. A VAT vendor needs a VAT201 return every VAT period and a VAT reconciliation each year.
Payroll. Each employee adds payslips, a monthly EMP201 to SARS, the EMP501 reconciliations and IRP5 certificates.
Type of business. A company, close corporation or trust needs annual financial statements and an ITR14 company tax return. A sole proprietor files an ITR12 and provisional tax.
The state of your books. Catching up months or years of missing records is extra work, usually quoted separately.
Extras. CIPC annual returns, COIDA, registrations and the accounting software subscription are often billed on their own.
What a monthly accounting fee should include
When you compare quotes, check each of these is covered, and ask for a price for anything that is not:
Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
VAT201 returns and the annual VAT reconciliation
Monthly EMP201 returns and the EMP501 reconciliations
Payroll, payslips and IRP5 certificates
Provisional tax returns (IRP6), twice a year
The annual income tax return (ITR14 for a company)
Annual financial statements
Monthly management accounts, so you can see how the business is doing
How the 1% fee works
One Percent Accounting charges one monthly fee of 1% of your monthly business turnover, excluding VAT, with a minimum of R79 a month excluding VAT. The fee moves with your business: in a quieter month the fee is lower too.
Monthly business turnover (excl. VAT) | Monthly fee (excl. VAT) | Monthly fee (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
Up to R7,900 | R79 (minimum) | R90.85 |
R100,000 | R1,000 | R1,150 |
R250,000 | R2,500 | R2,875 |
R500,000 | R5,000 | R5,750 |
R1,000,000 | R10,000 | R11,500 |
The fee includes monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation on Xero, VAT201 submissions and the annual VAT reconciliation, monthly EMP201 submissions and the annual EMP501 reconciliation, payroll for up to 10 employees with payslips and IRP5s, provisional tax returns twice a year, the annual company income tax return and annual financial statements. It excludes the Xero subscription (the partner-only Xero Ledger plan is included), COIDA, and CIPC annual return fees and submissions; payroll for more than 10 employees is billed per extra employee. Use the calculator on our Pricing page to see your fee.
Once-off services at fixed prices
Not every business needs a monthly package. These services are sold at fixed prices in our Tax store, with VAT and, where it applies, the CIPC fee included:
Service | Price (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
Personal income tax return (ITR12) | R396.75 |
Personal income tax membership, 12 months | R454.25 |
Tax compliance PIN | R517.50 |
Provisional tax return (IRP6) | R747.50 |
Company registration (Pty) Ltd | R920.00 |
CIPC annual return and beneficial ownership | From R974.63 |
PAYE, UIF and SDL registration | R1,897.50 |
VAT registration | R3,208.50 |
How to read an accounting quote
Work out the full year. Add 12 monthly fees, year-end work, tax returns and any extras, then divide by 12.
Check a quiet month. Ask whether the fee stays the same when sales drop.
Ask who does the work. Find out who your Accountant is and how queries reach you.
Check who owns the software. Your Xero file should be in your name, so your history stays with you.
Ask about setup, catch-up and notice periods before you sign.
If your accounting fee does not move with your business turnover, it is worth knowing what you pay in your quietest month. See also our 10 ways to improve cash flow.
Frequently asked questions
How much does monthly accounting cost for a small business?
It depends on how you are billed and what is included. At One Percent Accounting it is 1% of monthly business turnover, from R79 a month excluding VAT, with bookkeeping, VAT, payroll for up to 10 employees, tax returns and annual financial statements included.
Is the 1% worked out on turnover including VAT?
No. The fee is 1% of business turnover excluding VAT.
What is not included in the 1% fee?
The Xero subscription (the partner-only Xero Ledger plan is included), COIDA, CIPC annual return fees and submissions, and payroll for more than 10 employees.
Are accounting fees tax deductible for a business?
Generally yes. Accounting fees a business pays to run its affairs are normally a deductible expense. Your Accountant can confirm this for your situation.
Can I pay for a once-off service without a monthly package?
Yes. Tax returns, registrations, tax compliance PINs and CIPC annual returns are sold at fixed prices in our Tax store.
Related guides
See what you would pay
Enter your monthly business turnover on our Pricing page to see your fee in rand, excluding and including VAT. Everything a small business needs each month, from bookkeeping on Xero to VAT, payroll and annual financial statements, is in one fee: 1% of business turnover, from R79 a month excluding VAT. See Accounting & Bookkeeping or book a free meeting.
Sources: One Percent Accounting: Pricing; One Percent Accounting: Tax store.
Prices are current at October 2026. This article is general information, not advice for your specific situation.
