How much does bookkeeping cost a Malaysian company each month? How 2026 prices work

This happens a lot. There is no standard price list for bookkeeping, and each provider calculates differently. But the logic behind it is much the same. Once you know which factors push the price up, you can read any quotation.

How are bookkeeping fees in Malaysia calculated?

Bookkeeping fees are mainly based on your monthly transaction volume. The bookkeeper has to check each bank movement, match invoices and receipts, classify and record them, and finally reconcile to the bank balance. The more transactions, the more work.

One transaction: one line of money in or out on the bank statement, or one document that needs to be recorded.

Five factors that affect the price

• Monthly transaction volume: 30 transactions a month and 300 a month are very different workloads, so the price differs too.
• Whether you have employees: once you hire, there are salaries, EPF, SOCSO, EIS and PCB (monthly tax deduction) to calculate and pay before the 15th of each month. This is usually charged separately per employee.
• Whether you are SST-registered: an SST-registered company must file SST-02 every two months, which is extra work.
• How tidy your documents are: a company with complete receipts and separate business and personal bank accounts is quick to process. If business and personal money run through one account, the bookkeeper spends a lot of time asking questions.
• Reporting needs: basic financial statements only, versus monthly management reports and meetings with the accountant, are two different services.

What is the typical price range for bookkeeping in the market?

Outsourced bookkeeping in the market is quoted roughly from a few hundred ringgit to over RM1,000 a month. New companies with few transactions are mostly at the lower end. Companies with many transactions, more staff and SST tend to pay more.

This is only a general observation, and every provider calculates differently. If you hear a particularly low price, first ask how many transactions it covers and how extra transactions are charged.

What are BookKeeper's starting prices for bookkeeping plans?

BookKeeper has four plans, starting from RM280 a month. The final fee follows the quotation we give after reviewing your details.

Basic financial statements: profit and loss statement plus balance sheet. Management reports: the basic financial statements, plus receivables and payables ageing, a cash flow summary and a one-page summary of key points, available from the Growth plan.

Add-on services, starting prices: catch-up bookkeeping from RM150 per month of records; payroll from RM15 per employee per month (minimum RM100 a month); e-Invoice / MyInvois setup from RM500 (one-off); SST-02 filing from RM150 per period; dormant company annual accounts from RM800 a year. These prices exclude service tax; if the service provider is SST-registered, 8% is added. See the pricing page for full details, or read about our monthly bookkeeping service first.

What does the monthly bookkeeping fee include, and what does it not?

All BookKeeper plans include recording documents, bank reconciliation, basic monthly financial statements, deadline reminders, and year-end closing with the accounts organised and handed over to your auditor or tax agent. The items below are not in the monthly fee. Before signing, it is best to ask about each one.

You have several bookkeeping quotes. How do you compare them fairly?

To compare fairly, give every provider the same information, then check what each one includes line by line. Back to the air-conditioner parts company in Butterworth: when you put the three quotes side by side, you find that the RM200 provider covers only 20 transactions a month, while you have about 90.

1. Count your own transactions first

   Open your last three months of bank statements, work out the average number of lines in and out per month, then add any cash documents that did not go through the bank.

2. Give every provider the same information

   Tell each one the same transaction count, number of employees, whether you have SST and whether you need catch-up bookkeeping. Only with the same information can quotes be compared side by side.

3. Ask what is included and what is not

   Confirm each item: bank reconciliation, basic financial statements or management reports, payroll, SST, e-Invoice and year-end closing.

4. Ask about delivery dates and communication

   On what date are reports delivered? Who do you contact with questions? WhatsApp or email?

5. Work out the yearly total

   Multiply the monthly fee by 12, then add all year-end fees and service tax. That is what you will really pay.

What is the difference between cheap and expensive bookkeeping plans?

The difference is in what is included and whether it fits. If your company has very few transactions, tidy documents and you know a little about accounting software, an entry-level plan is enough.

The problem is a poor fit. Your business has grown, but you are still on the lowest plan and paying extra charges every month. Or the plan only records transactions without reconciling the bank, and at year end you find the books do not balance. Fixing that costs more than you saved.

Is there any way to bring your bookkeeping fee down?

The most effective way is to cut down the bookkeeper's wasted effort. Time spent chasing documents and asking "what is this payment?" ends up in the price.

• Open a dedicated company bank account and keep business and personal money separate. Do not receive company money in a personal account.
• Upload receipts and invoices once a week, instead of dumping everything at month end.
• Write a clear reference on bank transfers, such as the invoice number or supplier name.
• Use less cash, and make large payments through the bank where possible.
• Issue invoices from accounting software, such as SQL Account, AutoCount, Bukku, Xero, QuickBooks Online or Financio.

If your books are already several months behind, catch up on them first, then discuss the monthly fee. The price will be more accurate. See what to do when your books are years behind.

Sources: LHDN (Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia), SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia)

Apart from fees, what else should you consider when choosing a service?

Also consider how quickly they reply, whether you understand each other, and whether they are willing to explain. In the end, choosing a bookkeeping service means choosing someone you are comfortable reporting your business to every month.

If you are still deciding between hiring someone and outsourcing, read hire an accountant, a bookkeeper or outsource. Every company is different, so ask your accountant to confirm the arrangement based on your company's details.

Sources: LHDN (Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia), SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia), MySST (Royal Malaysian Customs Department), KWSP