Bookkeeping prices for Cape Town small businesses
Fixed monthly fees, based on how many transactions go through your bank account each month. No hourly surprises, no lock-in contracts, and every month is reconciled to the bank and checked by a second bookkeeper.
Monthly bookkeeping packages
Starter
Small businesses that aren't VAT registered. No accounting software needed.
From- Up to 40 transactions a month
- 1 bank account
- Bank reconciliation
- Second-bookkeeper review
- Monthly dashboard and notes
- Who owes you and who you owe (running balances)
Essentials
VAT-registered businesses, in Xero or QuickBooks.
From- Up to 100 transactions a month
- Up to 2 bank accounts
- Everything in Starter
- Customer invoices and supplier bills captured
- Aged debtors and creditors reports
- VAT201 figures prepared for you to submit
- CIPC annual return and BO filing
Growth
Busier businesses that want a monthly review call.
From- Up to 200 transactions a month
- Up to 3 bank accounts
- Everything in Essentials
- Monthly debtor follow-up list
- Supplier payment schedule for you to approve
- Management pack
- Monthly review call
More than 200 transactions or more than one company? We'll put together a custom quote, from R5,500 a month.
Compare packages
| Starter | Essentials | Growth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | R1,200/month | R2,200/month | R3,800/month |
| Transactions a month | Up to 40 | Up to 100 | Up to 200 |
| Bank accounts | 1 | Up to 2 | Up to 3 |
| VAT registered | No | Yes | Yes |
| Software | None needed: kept in your own Artha workbook | Xero or QuickBooks | Xero or QuickBooks |
| Bank reconciliation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Second-bookkeeper review | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly dashboard and notes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Who owes you / who you owe (running balances) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customer invoices and supplier bills captured in your software | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aged debtors and creditors reports | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly debtor follow-up list | — | — | ✓ |
| Supplier payment schedule for you to approve | — | — | ✓ |
| VAT201 figures prepared (you or your accountant submit) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| CIPC annual return and BO filing | Add-on | Included | Included |
| Management pack and monthly call | — | — | ✓ |
Add-ons
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Catch-up and clean-up of old books | Fixed quote (from R450 an hour) |
| Payroll | From R150 per payslip |
| Invoicing your customers on your behalf | Quoted on volume |
| Debtor follow-ups (we remind your customers to pay) | Quoted on volume |
| Extra transactions above your package | R12–R15 each |
| Once-off onboarding | Equal to one month's fee |
Company registrations and CIPC updates
Fixed fees for each filing, so you know the cost upfront.
| Service | Our fee |
|---|---|
| Name reservation | R250 |
| Company registration (Pty) Ltd | R850 |
| Company name change | R500 |
| Director appointment or resignation | R350 |
| Registered address change | R250 |
| Financial year-end change | R350 |
| Annual return | R350 |
| Beneficial ownership declaration | R350 |
| Annual compliance bundle (annual return + BO) | R550 a year |
Any official CIPC filing fees are payable separately.
Accounting software
Essentials and Growth clients use Xero or QuickBooks Online, paid in your own name so you always own your data. We'll help you choose the right plan and set it up. Starter clients don't need any software.
Common questions
What counts as a transaction?
One line on your bank or card statement.
Do I need to sign a long contract?
No. Packages run month to month, paid in advance by debit order.
What if I'm behind on my books?
We'll quote a fixed fee to catch up, then move you onto a monthly package so it doesn't happen again.
Do you work with businesses outside Cape Town?
Yes. We work remotely with businesses across the Western Cape and South Africa.
Do you submit my tax returns?
Not at the moment. We're bringing a registered tax practitioner on board as a partner, and we'll announce it in our newsletter and on this website when that service is available. Until then, we give you reports with the figures you need to file on your own SARS eFiling profile, or for your accountant to use if you have one.
Are your prices VAT inclusive?
We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to our fees.
Not sure which package fits?
Book a free 30-minute books health check and we'll tell you honestly.