Accounting and bookkeeping are essential components of any business, helping manage financials and track overall financial health and cash flow for projects, overheads, and other commitments. External service providers can be a big help, especially for small businesses starting out, but how much would it cost to contract their expertise?
What is Commonly Included in Accounting Services?
Accounting services typically provide several packages to choose from, each tailored to different business accounting needs. The more accounting services your business requires, the higher the costs incurred.
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping focuses on recording and organising your business’s financial transactions, ensuring you have a clear, accurate picture of your company’s financial records.
Financial Reporting
Financial reporting provides companies with a comprehensive overview of their current financial position. It also includes aspects of legal compliance, in which businesses are required to comply with various financial standards, such as the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS), to maintain sound corporate and financial governance.
Accounting Software
Accounting software helps streamline and optimise financial management through dedicated tools that make accounting and bookkeeping tasks more accessible and efficient.
Tax & GST Filing
This service handles the complex aspects of taxation and GST-related filings, including GST returns, annual tax filings, and unaudited financial statements.
Payroll Management
Some services can also manage employee payroll processing, including payslips, Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) calculations, and IR8A returns.
Financial Advisory
Expert services can help businesses improve their accounting and bookkeeping capabilities through live chat support, accounting reviews, or even a dedicated accountant.
What is the Price for Accounting Services?
The price for accounting services is largely based on the business’s growing needs. In general, smaller businesses may pay less than larger companies.
Here is a quick overview of general pricing estimates:
Small-scale Businesses
If your business has low transaction volume, is not GST-registered, and has few or no employees (or a small payroll), you will mostly require basic bookkeeping, including annual tax filing and record-keeping. At most, you would spend around SGD 48-98 per month for accounting support.
Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
A fairly active SME may have a higher price range for your invoicing needs, expense tracking, and consistent bookkeeping results. Your business may need to spend SGD 120-300 per month for monthly bookkeeping and additional services.
Growing Companies
A GST-registered business with a larger workforce and additional financial compliance requirements can spend around SGD 300-600 per month on more comprehensive accounting services. This may also include accounting software for efficient and accurate financial management, as well as on-call accounting support.
Large-scale Enterprises
Multinational corporations and other large companies may opt for tailored enterprise accounting solutions that incur higher overall costs.
What Factors Influence the Cost for Accounting Services?
How exactly do a business’s features contribute to how much they need to pay for accounting services?
Business Size & Complexity
The larger a company’s size, the more complex its accounting requirements can be. This complexity stems not only from transaction volumes, but also from the nature of the business itself. As such, sole proprietorships tend to be simpler to manage due to their fairly smaller operational scale. Conversely, private limited companies require more substantial insights and support, as they demand more time, checks, and expertise to maintain data accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Transaction Volume
Smaller companies with lower transaction volumes tend to pay less than larger companies with higher transaction volumes. Accounting services need to be thorough to ensure all financial data is accurate and compliant with regulations, so greater activity will typically demand a higher price point for comprehensive checks and balances. In fact, some accounting firms may charge based on the number of transactions, while others may have more flexible options.
Scope of Accounting Services
Additional accounting services, such as corporate tax filing and payroll management, may be included in preset packages or offered as add-ons for companies that need them. Other firms may also offer scalable solutions priced according to your current requirements, giving you even more flexibility in the services your business will need now or in the future.
Reporting Frequency
Businesses that only require annual reporting tend to pay less than those that prefer a monthly or quarterly frequency for better oversight and financial decision-making. More frequent reporting gives a clearer picture of financial performance, but requires additional fees for the extra work.
Pricing Model
Accounting firms use different pricing models based on a business’s accounting needs. Hourly rates are still in demand for one-off projects, but most companies may opt for monthly, quarterly, or annual subscriptions that offer more in-depth reporting. Some models may include additional fees or hidden expenses, so it is vital to check the terms and conditions before registering for a package.
Regulatory Requirements
Certain specialised industries may require additional regulatory requirements, thereby increasing a business’s accounting costs to bring in industry-relevant expertise. Lacking this expertise could lead to penalties for non-compliance.
Technology Integrations
Whether through accounting software or other systems, technology is a crucial driver of accurate and efficient financial reporting, thanks to innovative platforms that automate and simplify tasks. These integrations help your employees focus on more critical business processes, while the new integrations handle repetitive tasks.
Tips to Save Your Accounting Costs
Planning to look for an accounting solution that can support your business’s financial reporting needs? Here are some handy tips to get you started:
Scrutinise Options
It always helps to do your research beforehand. Find out an accounting firm’s available packages, what each one offers, and whether it is the right fit for your needs. Evaluate online reviews and testimonials to determine if the firm delivers transparent, accountable, and accurate results, as well as how much support they provide. If need be, give them a call and ask questions about your business’s many requirements to see whether their expertise is precisely what you need.
Scalability
Scalable solutions help you do more at a fair price, with costs scaling appropriately as your business expands. Identify accounting services that can scale with you without needing to switch providers or pay additional fees.
Organise Processes
Sometimes, housekeeping before engaging accounting services can cut down on costs, as the firm needs less time to work through your financial data. Simple steps, such as carefully recording and sorting financial transactions and submitting documents on time, can make the firm’s work much easier, allowing them to quickly finalise your accounting support with minimal delays (or additional charges).
Efficiency
Modern accounting solutions provide significant cost savings by improving overall financial visibility and reporting through automated compliance alerts, digital document management, and other capabilities that traditional services lack.
In need of comprehensive accounting services? Contact My Office today to learn more about how we can support your business’s financial compliance!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I estimate the cost of accounting services for my business?
If your business only handles a few transactions (30-50 or fewer) per month, is not GST-registered, and does not run payroll, you would only need a basic accounting service plan that covers your general financial needs. For businesses with higher monthly transaction volumes, running payroll, and seeking greater financial visibility to make informed decisions, a mid-range plan with the relevant add-ons may be sufficient. Lastly, large-scale companies should opt for premium or enterprise plans tailored to their complex corporate governance needs.
Are accounting services tax-deductible?
Yes, accounting services fees are generally tax-deductible if said services are related to your business’s operations.
Do I need to pay more as my company grows?
In most cases, the answer is yes. Some accounting firms do offer flexible, scalable solutions that cater to your growing needs and are priced accordingly, but these do gradually become more expensive as your business’s complexity increases. It helps to discuss a package’s terms and conditions in detail to understand its overall value proposition.
