How much does a bookkeeper cost for a small business in Ontario?
Monthly bookkeeping here starts at $200 for simple sole-proprietor books and runs to $2,000+ for multi-entity, advisory-level work. The fee is flat and set from your actual transaction volume and complexity, quoted in writing before any work starts.
Do you file corporate tax returns (T2) as well as keeping the books?
Yes. Corporate returns are prepared from books that are already reconciled, so nothing is passed between a bookkeeper who doesn't know tax and an accountant who sees the file once a year. T2 filing is priced separately, starting at $400.
Can you clean up books that are months or years behind?
Catch-up and cleanup work is welcome and very common. It's quoted separately from the monthly fee so a one-time backlog doesn't distort your ongoing number.
Do you work with businesses outside Kitchener–Waterloo?
Yes — the practice serves incorporated small businesses across Ontario, including Toronto, Windsor, London, Hamilton, Ottawa and smaller communities, working remotely with read-only bank access or statements.
Should I pay myself a salary or dividends?
It depends on your corporation's income, your personal situation, RRSP room, and CPP considerations. That analysis is part of tax advisory and is included in ongoing engagements rather than billed by the hour.
Is the monthly fee hourly or fixed?
Fixed. Hourly billing punishes you for asking questions. The flat fee covers the monthly close, reconciliations, statements, HST tracking, and email or phone questions during the engagement.