"How much should I pay for accounting?" is the question every Sandton and Johannesburg business owner asks, and the one most accounting firms are strangely reluctant to answer. So here's a realistic breakdown of what accounting actually costs in the Johannesburg market, what drives the price up or down, and how to tell whether you're getting value or just paying for a brand name.
Typical Accounting Fees in Johannesburg
Market rates vary widely by firm size and service level, but for SMEs these are the ranges you'll typically encounter:
| Service | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic monthly bookkeeping | R1,500 to R5,000/m | Driven by transaction volume |
| Full-service accounting (SME) | R3,000 to R12,000/m | Bookkeeping + VAT + management accounts |
| Payroll | R150 to R500/employee/m | Includes EMP201, IRP5s, UIF |
| Annual financial statements | R5,000 to R25,000 | Complexity and entity type dependent |
| VAT201 submission (standalone) | R500 to R1,500/return | Usually bundled in monthly plans |
| Individual tax return | R850 to R3,500 | Higher for provisional taxpayers |
Large audit-firm brands typically sit at the top of these ranges or well above them; boutique firms and dedicated SME practices sit lower, often with better response times, because your account isn't handed to a junior.
What Actually Drives Your Fee
- Transaction volume. 40 bank transactions a month is a different job to 900. This is the biggest single price driver.
- VAT registration. VAT-registered entities carry bi-monthly submission work and stricter invoice record-keeping.
- Payroll headcount. Each employee adds statutory work, payslips, PAYE, UIF, IRP5s.
- State of your books. Clean, current books cost less to maintain. Months of backlog means a once-off catch-up fee before normal rates apply.
- Entity structure. Multiple companies, trusts or property portfolios multiply the compliance calendar.
Signs You're Overpaying (or Underserved)
- You're billed hourly and the invoice is a surprise every month.
- You only hear from your accountant at year-end, no monthly reporting, no deadline reminders.
- Junior staff handle your account and every query gets "escalated."
- SARS penalties keep appearing even though you're paying a professional to prevent exactly that.
A good SME accounting relationship looks different: a fixed monthly fee agreed upfront, one senior person who knows your business, submissions filed before deadline (not on it), and management accounts you actually understand.
The PayStream Approach
PayStream was built around that model. We scope a scalable fixed monthly plan around your transaction volume, VAT status and headcount, covering bookkeeping, VAT, CIPC and annual financials, plus payroll if you need it. Director-level accountability, WhatsApp access to your accountant, and a quote within 48 hours. No hourly billing. No surprises.