This isn't "QuickBooks vs a bookkeeper." Most bookkeeping services work in QuickBooks too. The real question is who runs it: you, or someone whose job it is. Both are reasonable answers. This page helps you work out which one is right for you right now, with numbers you fill in yourself rather than numbers we made up.
What DIY actually involves
Doing your own books well means, every month:
- Categorizing every bank and card transaction (with bank rules doing some of the work)
- Entering bills and invoices, and matching payments
- Reconciling every bank and card account
- Recording payroll, loans and anything unusual correctly
- Closing the month and reviewing the reports. Our month-end close checklist lists every step
- Sending your CPA a clean file at year end
If you do all six, DIY can work well. If you do step 1 and hope, that's not DIY bookkeeping; it's a future catch-up project. (No judgment. It's very common.)
The worksheet: your real cost of DIY
Fill in your own numbers. Be honest; nobody's watching.
| Line | How to work it out | Your number |
|---|---|---|
| A. Hours a month on the books | Include categorizing, reconciling, chasing receipts, fixing things | ___ hours |
| B. Your hourly value | What an hour of your time earns the business, or what you'd pay someone to do your main job | $___ |
| C. Monthly time cost | A × B | $___ |
| D. QuickBooks subscription | Your current plan (check Intuit's pricing page) | $___ |
| E. Catch-up and cleanup, spread monthly | What you paid (or expect to pay) to fix the books, ÷ 12 | $___ |
| F. Cost of errors | Late fees, missed invoices, duplicate payments, a delayed loan | $___ (estimate) |
| Total monthly DIY cost | C + D + E + F | $___ |
Now compare it with quotes from a couple of services for the same scope. For typical ranges, see how much a bookkeeper costs. For ABFI's starting points, the pricing estimator shows a range in four questions.
A worked example (illustrative numbers only): an owner spends 8 hours a month on the books (A), and values an hour at $150 (B). That's $1,200 a month in time (C) before software, catch-ups or errors. Your numbers will differ. The point is to put a price on the hours.
DIY vs a service, side by side
| DIY in QuickBooks | Bookkeeping service | Outsourced accounting department | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Your time plus software | Monthly fee plus software | Higher monthly fee plus software |
| Who reconciles | You | The service | The team |
| Who reviews | Nobody, usually | Depends on the service | A controller or reviewer |
| Timeliness | When you have time | Monthly | Monthly, locked close |
| Advice | Your CPA, once a year | Some services | Built in |
| Best for | Very small, simple businesses with a disciplined owner | Small businesses wanting the basics done | Growing businesses where decisions depend on the numbers |
Signs DIY is still the right call
- Fewer than a hundred or so transactions a month
- One bank account and one card
- No employees, inventory or multiple entities
- You reconcile monthly and your CPA has no complaints
- You genuinely don't mind doing it
If that's you, invest in a good setup instead: QuickBooks Online setup for small business and Plus vs Advanced.
Signs it's time to hand it off
- You're more than a month behind, or you've caught up more than once
- A lender, investor or buyer is asking for financial statements
- You hired employees, added inventory, or opened a second entity
- You don't trust the numbers enough to make decisions with them
- Your CPA sends the books back with questions every year
The full list is in do I need a bookkeeper?. If you're already behind, read catch-up bookkeeping vs cleanup first.
If you hire, what kind?
- Freelancer: flexible and often affordable; check capacity and review. See freelance bookkeeper vs accounting firm.
- App-style service: basics at a known price. See QuickBooks Live alternatives.
- Outsourced accounting department: for businesses that need ownership, review and advice. That's what ABFI does, through bookkeeping and payroll and up.
Compare options: best outsourced bookkeeping services.
Keep reading
Sources
- Intuit, QuickBooks Online plans and pricing, quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing. Checked November 6, 2026.
- ABFI Accounting, Pricing, www.abfiaccounting.com/pricing. Checked November 6, 2026.
Questions owners ask
Can I do my own bookkeeping in QuickBooks?
Yes, if you categorize, reconcile and close every month. Many small businesses do it well at the start.
How many hours a month does DIY bookkeeping take?
It depends on volume and how organized you are. Track your own hours for one month; that number is the most useful input to the decision.
Is hiring a bookkeeper worth it for a small business?
When your time is worth more than the fee, or the books are falling behind or being used for decisions, usually yes.
Will I still need QuickBooks if I hire a service?
Usually yes. Most services work inside your QuickBooks Online file, so the books stay yours.
What's the biggest DIY mistake?
Categorizing without reconciling. The books look finished but don't match the bank.
Want to see what your books would look like done for you?
ABFI's complimentary Business Accounting Diagnostic reviews your QuickBooks file and shows what's working and what isn't.