You’ve gotten three quotes for what feels like the same basic bookkeeping and tax work, and they’re not even close — $130 a week from one firm, $300 from another, and a third that won’t quote you anything until they “understand your business better.” None of them are necessarily lying to you.

Here’s what’s actually driving that spread, the 7 questions worth asking any CPA before you sign, and — because we’d rather tell you the truth than close the sale — when the answer to “should I hire this firm” is honestly no.

Why do CPA fees vary so much?

The short answer: price differences mostly come from scope, not skill. A $130/week quote and a $300/week quote can both be fair prices — for different amounts of work. The four things that actually move the number are:

• Scope — compliance only (books, filings) versus compliance plus advisory (cash flow calls, planning, a real relationship with your books)
• Complexity — number of entities, states, revenue streams, and whether payroll runs through the same team
• Cadence — monthly close and check-ins versus a once-a-year scramble every April
• Pricing model — flat weekly or monthly fee versus hourly billing, where the total is genuinely hard to predict up front

What should I ask a CPA before hiring them?

Bring these seven questions to any call, with us or with anyone else. The answers tell you more than the quote does.

1. What exactly is included at this price — and what isn’t? Get the list, not the summary.
2. Is this a flat fee, or does it grow with my transaction volume or headcount?
3. Who actually does the work — the person I’m talking to, or someone on the team I haven’t met yet?
4. How will you reach out if I don’t reach out first? Monthly check-in, or radio silence until tax season?
5. What happens the month I need something extra — is that billed separately, and how much?
6. Can I see the engagement letter before I sign anything, not after?
7. If my business isn’t the right fit for you, will you actually tell me?

What we charge, and why

We publish our own pricing because we’d rather you compare us on the specifics than guess. Here’s the current breakdown:

Package	Price	What’s Included
Core	Starting at $130/Week	Accurate books, taxes filed on time. We handle your compliance so you can focus on running your business.
Core+	Starting at $175/Week	Everything in Core, plus a dedicated advisor who reviews your financials monthly and helps you plan ahead for taxes.
CorePro	Starting at $245/Week	Everything in Core+, plus cash flow forecasting, budget vs. actual reporting, custom KPI dashboard, and annual business performance review.

When the other firm is actually the right choice

If all you need is a clean set of books and a filed return once a year, a lower-cost firm built for exactly that can be the smarter call — you’d be overpaying for advisory work you’re not using. And if your business needs deep specialization we don’t offer, a boutique firm in that niche may be worth the premium. We’d rather say that out loud than let you find out the hard way six months in.

What this means for you

Before your next call with any accounting firm, write down the seven questions above and ask every candidate the same ones. Compare the answers, not just the number at the bottom of the quote — two firms quoting the same price can be selling you very different amounts of work.

Get a real number for your business

Our pricing calculator gives you a real, specific number in about two minutes — no email required. If you’re not sure which tier fits, the Which Package Is Right for You? quiz walks through it in seven questions.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice. Every business situation is different. Before acting on anything you read here, please consult with a qualified advisor — including, we hope, us. Reach out to Accounting Freedom or Payroll Freedom for guidance specific to your situation.

Frank Fiore is a CPA and the President of Accounting Freedom, with offices in Mundelein, Illinois and Grafton, Wisconsin. He’s spent more than 20 years working with small business owners across the Illinois-Wisconsin corridor and believes pricing transparency is the price of admission for trust.