Compare your options
DIY, a bookkeeper, or a partner who walks the numbers with you?
Software and a cheaper bookkeeper can keep the books tidy. They rarely tell you if you made money this month, where the cash went, or what SARS will want next.
CA(SA)-led team · SARS Registered Tax Practitioners · 12+ years in business
What you actually get for the money
Typical South African market ranges for 2026. Bookkeeper fees look lower because they usually stop at capturing and reconciling. Your own quote will move with transaction volume, VAT, payroll and how much review you want.
| Doing it yourself | A freelance bookkeeper | Us | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical monthly cost | Xero or Sage from about R270 to R1,095, plus your evenings | Typically R2,500 to R7,500 for books on a growing SME | A tailored GrowthPath retainer. Get Pricing estimate here. |
| What actually gets done | Whatever you have time for after running the business | Bank recs, capturing, sometimes VAT | Monthly books, SARS and CIPC when in scope, management accounts |
| Management accounts you can use | Only if you build them | A P&L you may never discuss | Included, on a rhythm you can act on |
| Who explains the numbers | Nobody | Rarely | Walked through every month on Deluxe and Premium. Named contact on Basic. |
| Tax planned ahead | None | Usually not included | Tax planning rhythm on Deluxe and Premium. Filings when in scope. |
| Cash visibility | Spreadsheet guesswork | After the fact, if at all | 12-month forecast on Deluxe and Premium |
| CIPC and company standing | Easy to miss | Often an extra fee | Annual returns and beneficial ownership when in scope |
| Best for | Very simple books, few transactions | Basic recon while you still fly blind | Owner-managed businesses that need a partner, not a dump-and-run |
Bookkeeper figures are typical 2026 South African outsourced rates, not a quote from us. Software figures are published Xero and Sage Business Cloud list prices in rand.
What is at stake
Tidy books are not the same as guidance
A dump-and-run bookkeeper can keep SARS off your back for a while. The gap shows up when you hire, buy equipment, or get a provisional tax bill you did not plan cash for. Past survival, that guessing is expensive.
What a cheaper bookkeeper usually skips
- A monthly conversation about what the numbers mean
- Management accounts you can steer by, not a year-end pack
- Cash and provisional tax planned before SARS is due
- VAT, PAYE and CIPC handled as one rhythm, not add-ons
What GrowthPath is built to include
- Monthly books, bank recs and usable management reports
- SARS and CIPC work when those are in the engagement
- Cloud accounting software for 12 months
- On Deluxe, the most common seat: a monthly review, full transaction review, 12-month forecast and tax planning rhythm
Is this a fit?
A partner for growing owner-managed businesses, not a dump-and-run.
When we are not the right fit
- If you are pre-revenue, have only a handful of monthly transactions, or enjoy managing your own spreadsheet, DIY tools may be enough for now.
- GrowthPath seats are currently open for owner-managed businesses between R2.3m and R20m. Outside that band, book a call and we will point you to the right next step.
- If you already have numbers and need board-level tax and growth strategy, that is Entrepreneurial CFO.
GrowthPath is a fit if
- You run an owner-managed South African business, typically R2.3m to R20m in revenue
- The books get done, but you still ask whether you actually made money this month
- You are tired of a bookkeeper who files and disappears
- Cash and tax surprises are starting to cost real money
- You want a named person who walks the numbers with you, without hiring a full-time FD
The plan
A simple next step
You do not have to decide from a table. We will look at your numbers, tell you honestly whether GrowthPath is the right seat, and show you what the monthly rhythm looks like.
01
See the gap
Use this page to check whether you are buying books, or buying guidance.
02
Get a tailored estimate
Answer a few questions on the pricing page for Basic, Deluxe and Premium ranges.
03
Book a consultation
30 minutes, no pressure. We confirm fit and what the path forward looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Honest answers about cost, DIY software, and what a bookkeeper does not cover.
Why does a firm cost more than a bookkeeper?
The bookkeeper fee usually buys capturing and reconciling. GrowthPath also covers management accounts, a review cadence, tax planning on Deluxe and Premium, and SARS or CIPC work when it is in scope. You are paying for guidance, not a fancier invoice.
Can I just use Xero or Sage myself?
Yes, if your books are simple and you will actually keep them current. Published list prices run from about R270 a month for Sage Business Cloud Start to about R1,095 a month for Xero Premium. The software does not file your VAT201, walk you through cash, or plan provisional tax.
What do South African bookkeepers typically charge?
Public 2026 guides put micro retainers around R400 to R900 a month, small-business books around R2,000 to R3,500, and SME work with VAT and payroll around R3,000 to R7,500. Freelance hourly rates often sit between R250 and R600. Full accounting packages for businesses over R5m turnover commonly run R7,500 to R15,000. Those ranges are the market, not our fee. Get your GrowthPath estimate on the pricing page.
What about hiring a bookkeeper in-house?
Hiring in-house usually costs more than an outsourced retainer once you add salary, UIF, leave and software. You still need someone to review the numbers and handle tax. GrowthPath is for owners who want the picture and the partner without building a finance team yet.
Do you replace my current bookkeeper?
If someone is already capturing, we can work with that or take the books over. The point of GrowthPath is the monthly picture and the conversation, not another person who only reconciles.
Will you file VAT, PAYE and CIPC?
When that compliance is in the engagement, yes. VAT computation and returns, payroll submissions, CIPC annual returns and beneficial ownership sit in GrowthPath when those switches are on. We confirm scope on the estimate and the call.
What is the difference between Basic, Deluxe and Premium?
Basic is a clean monthly rhythm and usable reports, with lighter review. Deluxe is the most common seat: a monthly account-manager review, full transaction review, a 12-month forecast and a tax planning rhythm. Premium is partner-led, with budgeting and deeper tax support when complexity rises. Compare the three packages.
What if my current bookkeeper feels fine?
If you know whether you made money this month, cash matches the story, and tax is planned ahead, stay put. If the books look tidy and you still fly blind, that is the gap we close.
Ready to see where you actually stand?
30 minutes, no pressure. We will look at your numbers, tell you honestly what is working and what is not, and show you what the path forward looks like for your business.