Before you hire a bookkeeper, you want to know what you're actually signing up for: how much does a bookkeeper cost in the Netherlands, and why do the numbers you find online vary so much? Most of that gap comes down to what's actually included, one-off hourly advice, a fixed monthly package, or just help with the annual filing. Here are the current rates, what typically comes with each, and a worked example so you can estimate a realistic number for your situation.
Rates at a glance
| How it's structured | What you pay | What's usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate, one-off help | €50 - €125 per hour | One-off questions, reviewing a return you prepared yourself |
| Per-quarter VAT filing only | €75 - €200 per filing | Just the VAT return itself, no ongoing bookkeeping |
| Fixed monthly fee | €30 - €150 per month, averaging around €85 | Processing invoices, VAT filing, ongoing contact |
| All-in annual package | €600 - €2,500 per year | Full bookkeeping, VAT returns, annual accounts, and income tax return |
These are exclusive of VAT and reflect what Dutch bookkeeping firms and online providers were charging founders in early 2026. What you'll actually pay depends on a few factors below.
What determines your price
Number of invoices and transactions. A founder with five invoices a month costs a bookkeeper less time than one with fifty. Most fixed packages are tiered by transaction volume.
What's actually included. VAT filing alone is cheaper than a package that also covers annual accounts, your income tax return, and ongoing advice. Compare what's delivered, not just the headline number.
How complex your sector is. International clients, multiple VAT rates, or inventory all take more time to sort out than a straightforward services business with a handful of regular clients.
How you communicate. A bookkeeper reachable only through a ticket system is usually cheaper than one you can call or message directly. That difference shows up both in price and in how much of your own time goes into waiting for a reply.
DIY, one-off help, or a fixed package?
There are, in practice, three routes, and which one actually saves you money depends on how much time you have and how confident you are with the rules.
- DIY with bookkeeping software. Cheap in money, not in time: budget 8 to 10 hours a month for an average founder's bookkeeping, and the risk of missing a deduction or applying the wrong VAT rate stays on you.
- One-off help by the hour or per filing. Useful if you keep your own books and just want someone to check or file the return. You only pay for what you use, but the bill adds up fast if questions come up in between.
- Fixed monthly fee. You know your cost upfront, the full bookkeeping and filings are included, and ongoing contact is usually part of the deal, not billed separately.
A worked example
Take a service-based founder with 15 invoices a month, quarterly VAT filing, and annual accounts at year-end.
- DIY: no direct cost, but roughly 9 hours a month of your own time, plus a separate line item if you outsource just the annual accounts (easily €400 to €600).
- One-off hourly help: 3 hours of bookkeeper time a month at €75 is €225 a month, with the annual accounts still on top of that.
- Fixed package: at Sophy &Co. that starts from €49 a month, no setup or cancellation fees, with VAT filing, bookkeeping, and annual accounts all included.
The real difference isn't just the monthly number, it's what you still have to arrange separately on top of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bookkeeper more expensive than doing it yourself with software? On paper, software is cheaper, but count the time you put in yourself. At 8 to 10 hours a month against a realistic rate for your own time, a fixed package is often not more expensive, and sometimes cheaper.
Why does one bookkeeper charge €30 a month and another €150? Usually it's the number of invoices included, whether annual accounts and your income tax return are part of the package, and how reachable the bookkeeper is for questions.
Can I switch if I already have a bookkeeper? Yes, usually at the end of a quarter or financial year. Your current bookkeeper is required to hand over your records, ask about this before you cancel.
Is the cheapest option always the best choice? Not necessarily. A low price that only covers the filing can end up costing more once questions in between get billed separately.
New to the Netherlands? You don't have to figure this out alone
At Sophy &Co. we help expat founders long before there's even paperwork to file. Book a call and we'll walk you through what running a company in the Netherlands actually costs, no Dutch required. We can also connect you with our network of trusted partners, banks, lawyers, notaries, and other expats who've been through the same process, so you're not building your local network from scratch.
We're a woman-led, diverse team, both women and men, and proudly LGBTQIA-friendly. Between us we speak English, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Papiamento, German, and some French and Polish.
How Sophy &Co. does it
At Sophy &Co. you pay a fixed monthly fee starting from €49, no setup or cancellation fees, cancel anytime. That covers your full bookkeeping, VAT filing, and annual accounts, with one dedicated bookkeeper you can actually reach. Our clients save up to 10 hours a month on admin, time that goes back into the business instead of the books. We can offer that rate partly because our own systems handle the routine work, which lets us price sharper than a traditional firm without cutting attention to your account.
Want to know more?
Check our pricing for the current overview, read how it works, or meet the team and our services. Still wondering exactly what a bookkeeper does day to day? Read what does a bookkeeper do in the Netherlands.
For the legal record-keeping requirement, check the Belastingdienst, for registering and managing your company the KVK, and for rules around statutory audits the NBA.