How we price.

No template fees, and no off-the-shelf packages. Every quote is sized to the business in front of us. Here's how we get to a number — and what most engagements look like at each tier.

What shapes the quote

The four inputs.

We price against the work, not your revenue. The same four inputs apply at every tier.

Volume.

How many transactions, invoices, expense claims, payroll entries — the actual operational load that runs through the books each month.

Complexity.

Multi-currency exposure, intercompany flows, deferred revenue, inventory layers, multi-outlet operations, regulated-sector requirements — anything that adds judgement to the work.

Scope.

Bookkeeping only, or also payroll, GST, corporate tax, corporate secretarial, monthly reporting, advisory work. The breadth of what you want covered under one roof.

Cadence.

Monthly close vs. quarterly catch-up vs. one-off project. The rhythm of the work changes the cost — and how predictable your bill is.

Examples

What engagements look like in practice.

Three illustrative profiles. Click any to see the example, scope, and pricing approach.

Anonymised composites of common Steadbook engagements. Your business won't fit any of these exactly — but the shape of the work usually rhymes.

Tier 01 · Foundations — Early-stage trading company
Example

Two directors, a small team, one currency. About eighty invoices a month.

What we cover

Bookkeeping, GST, corporate tax, corporate secretarial, and payroll.

How it's priced

Modest monthly retainer plus a fixed annual fee for tax and secretarial work.

Tier 02 · Operating Backbone — Scaling software business
Example

Around thirty staff, two currencies, monthly and annual contracts. Investors want clean monthly numbers.

What we cover

Monthly close, deferred revenue, ARR and MRR reporting, controls, audit-ready files — plus payroll, tax, and an investor-ready board pack.

How it's priced

Higher retainer reflecting the reporting depth, with a one-off setup fee for the accrual transition.

Tier 03 · Advisory — Established firm preparing for a deal
Example

Owner-managed, multi-entity, regulated sector. A deal is on the horizon — investment, sale, or succession.

What we cover

Ongoing finance operations plus advisory: governance, board pack, three-year forecast, due diligence support, data-room preparation.

How it's priced

Retainer for the ongoing work, plus a fixed-fee advisory engagement sized to the deal timetable.

Illustrative only. Your actual quote reflects your business — and is set out in a clear engagement letter before any work begins.

From enquiry to quote

How it works in practice.

STEP 01

Tell us what you need.

A short message describing your business, headcount, and what you'd like covered.

STEP 02

We look at the books.

Recent months in your accounting system, payroll volume, transaction count, sector specifics. NDAs available on request.

STEP 03

You receive a clear quote.

Priced against the four inputs, with the scope written out plainly. Most quotes go out within five working days.

STEP 04

Engagement letter and start.

Signed engagement letter, secure file handover, first month's work scheduled. No setup fees for standard onboarding.

Common questions

About the way we price.

Why don't you publish set prices?

Two businesses with similar revenue can be five times apart in finance work. Volume, complexity, scope, and cadence vary too much. A flat-rate price either overcharges simple businesses or quietly under-resources complex ones. Both are bad outcomes.

Will my fee change over time?

Yes — but not silently. Engagements are reviewed at six and twelve months. If volume, headcount, or scope have moved materially, we propose a revised fee in writing before applying it. You see the change before it shows up on an invoice.

Do you charge by the hour?

For ongoing work, no. Monthly retainers are easier for both sides to plan against. For one-off projects — a transaction, a clean-up, an accrual transition — we use a fixed fee based on a written scope, with hourly billing only for genuinely undefined work.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. Out-of-pocket disbursements (ACRA filing fees, courier, certified true copies) are passed through at cost, listed separately on the invoice. Anything that is not in your engagement letter is not billable without a written change.

Ready for a quote?

Send us a short message about your business. We'll come back with the questions we need answered, and a quote within five working days of seeing your books.

Request a quote