How law firm bookkeeping is priced

Updated October 16, 2026

Law firm bookkeeping is most often quoted as a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope, sometimes hourly, and occasionally as tiered packages. Because pricing varies widely by provider, firm size, and scope, the practical approach is to understand the factors that drive a quote and then ask each provider to price the same written scope so proposals are comparable. Line those quotes up against the checklist on the law firm bookkeeping services page.

Who this is for

Firms collecting quotes that are impossible to compare, attorneys surprised by out-of-scope invoices, practices weighing part-time staff against an outside provider, and owners budgeting for cleanup.

What drives the quote

Transaction volume across accounts and cards, trust complexity measured by active matters rather than balance, advanced client costs, payroll and contractors, the systems in use, cleanup of prior periods quoted separately, and how deep the monthly reporting goes.

Questions before hiring

Is the fee fixed, hourly, or tiered, and what changes it? What is included each month in writing? What is out of scope? How is cleanup priced? Is trust reconciliation part of the base fee? Is there a minimum term?

Jurisdiction note

Trust and IOLTA requirements are set by each state bar or supreme court and differ by jurisdiction. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or accounting advice.

Use the hiring checklist on law firm bookkeeping services before you request quotes.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does law firm bookkeeping cost per month?

There is no reliable single figure — quotes vary by transaction volume, trust complexity, payroll, cleanup needs, and reporting depth. Ask two or three providers to price an identical written scope and compare those numbers.

Is a fixed monthly fee better than hourly?

Fixed fees make budgeting predictable when scope is stable; hourly can cost less for very small or irregular workloads. Either way, the deciding factor is how clearly the scope is written.

Why is cleanup quoted separately?

Cleanup is a finite project with unknown depth until records are reviewed. Most providers scope it after seeing the current state of the books and trust ledgers.

Is hiring in-house cheaper?

Compare total cost — salary, payroll taxes, benefits, software, and supervision — against an outside quote for the same scope, and consider coverage when that person is unavailable.