Accounting Cost in Montreal (2026)
Quick Answer
Estimated rangeIn Montreal, small-business accounting usually costs from about CAD 60 to CAD 250+ per hour, or roughly CAD 150 to CAD 600 per month for basic bookkeeping, with year-end accounts and tax work often priced separately. Exact public pricing is uncommon, so many Montreal figures are best treated as estimates unless a provider or official body publishes them directly.
Overview
Accounting costs in Montreal vary mainly by the type of work: basic bookkeeping, payroll, GST/QST filings, corporate year-end work, personal tax returns, and advisory support are often priced differently. For many sole proprietors and small companies, the cheapest option is a monthly bookkeeping package covering transaction entry, reconciliations and basic sales-tax filings. Businesses needing payroll, frequent reporting, bilingual support, or more complex tax planning usually pay more. Quebec adds some local complexity compared with other Canadian cities because businesses may deal with both federal and provincial taxes, including GST and QST, and may need filings with Revenu Québec as well as the CRA. That can increase the time required versus a similar engagement elsewhere in Canada. In practice, Montreal firms often use one of three fee models: hourly billing, fixed monthly bookkeeping packages, or annual project fees for year-end compilation and tax filings. Chartered Professional Accountants are regulated provincially through the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec, while bookkeeping itself may also be offered by non-CPA providers. Because many firms require a custom quote, the most realistic way to budget is to separate routine monthly accounting from one-off compliance work. A very small business with low transaction volume may stay near the lower end of the ranges below; a corporation with payroll, inventory or multiple tax filings will often land higher.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping for a very small business(per month) Estimated range based on typical market rates for small-business bookkeeping in Montreal and comparable Canadian urban markets, assuming low-to-moderate transaction volume and excluding complex clean-up work. | ~C$150 – C$600 | Estimated range |
| Accountant or bookkeeper hourly rate(per hour) Estimated range based on typical hourly market rates in Montreal for bookkeeping, accounting and small-business compliance support; junior bookkeeping tends to sit at the low end and CPA advisory/tax work at the high end. | ~C$60 – C$250 | Estimated range |
| Personal income tax return (simple T1)(per return) Estimated range for a straightforward personal return in Montreal; fees rise for self-employment, rental income, investments or prior-year adjustments. | ~C$80 – C$250 | Estimated range |
| Corporate year-end accounts and T2 tax filing(per year) Estimated range for a small incorporated business needing year-end financial statements on a compilation basis plus a corporate tax return; complexity, bookkeeping quality and Quebec tax requirements can push this higher. | ~C$1,200 – C$3,500 | Estimated range |
| Payroll processing(per payroll run) Estimated range for outsourced small-business payroll processing in Montreal, usually excluding government remittances, year-end slips, or employee onboarding extras. | ~C$30 – C$120 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Transaction categorisation and bank reconciliation
- GST/QST filing support
- Payroll processing or remittance support
- Year-end financial statements or compilation engagement
- Corporate or personal tax return preparation
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec
Variants & Configurations
Duration
Simple bookkeeping may be ongoing monthly; a straightforward personal tax return can often be completed in days once documents are ready; year-end corporate work commonly takes several weeks depending on record quality and tax season demand.
How Fees Work
In Montreal, accounting is usually charged as hourly billing, a fixed monthly bookkeeping package, or an annual/project fee for year-end accounts and tax filings. Extra charges commonly apply for catch-up bookkeeping, payroll, sales-tax amendments, and complex tax advice.
Factors Affecting Price
- Whether you need bookkeeping only or a CPA for tax planning, year-end accounts and advice
- Transaction volume, number of bank accounts, apps used, and whether records are clean or need catch-up work
- Quebec-specific filing needs such as GST/QST, Revenu Québec administration and bilingual reporting
- Business structure: sole proprietor, incorporated company, employer with payroll, or inventory-based operation
- Fee model used: hourly billing, fixed monthly package, or annual project fee
Local Context
Montreal businesses often need support for both federal and Quebec tax administration, which can make accounting slightly more involved than in provinces with only one retail sales-tax system. Professional services are generally quoted before GST and QST unless stated otherwise. Tipping is not expected for accounting services. Rates also vary by district and firm type: solo bookkeepers may be cheaper than downtown CPA firms, while bilingual service and specialist tax expertise can raise costs.
These are data-informed estimate ranges, not confirmed prices.
Costs like this vary widely by job, location, timing and provider, so there is no single fixed price. The ranges here are based on typical market rates to give you a realistic ballpark. For an exact figure for your situation, get a quote or check the official source below.
All figures are in Canadian dollars (CAD) and usually exclude applicable taxes unless a provider states otherwise.
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec · official
Provincial regulatory and professional body for CPAs in Quebec; supports the statement about accountant regulation in Montreal/Quebec.
- Canada Revenue Agency - GST/HST · government
Federal sales-tax compliance context relevant to Montreal businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is accounting in Montreal usually charged hourly or as a package?+
Both are common. Routine bookkeeping is often sold as a monthly package, while advisory, clean-up work and complex tax matters are frequently billed by the hour.
Why can Montreal accounting cost more than basic bookkeeping elsewhere?+
Quebec businesses may have added compliance work, especially around GST/QST and Revenu Québec requirements. Bilingual communication, payroll and year-end corporate tax work can also increase fees.
Do I need a CPA for my business?+
Not always for day-to-day bookkeeping. However, many businesses prefer a CPA for year-end financial statements, tax planning, corporate returns and higher-stakes compliance work.
What is usually included in a monthly bookkeeping package?+
Typically transaction entry, bank reconciliation, basic monthly reports and sometimes GST/QST filings. Payroll, catch-up bookkeeping, app integrations and year-end tax filings are often extra.
How can I keep accounting costs down?+
Use cloud bookkeeping software, keep receipts organised, reconcile accounts regularly and separate personal from business spending. Clean records reduce billable time at year-end.
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Check current prices at the official source
Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec
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