Working with us
How We Quote Tax Preparation and Bookkeeping
There is no flat figure, because returns vary too much. There is a clear list of what a quote is based on, and you get the figure for your situation before work begins.
Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated
What a tax preparation quote is based on
A straightforward individual return costs less than a business filing with several states, and the reasons in between are mostly predictable:
- Which forms and schedules the return needs: Schedule C for self-employment, Schedule E for rentals, Form 8949 for investment sales, and so on
- Whether there is a business return as well, such as an S corporation or partnership return
- How many state returns are involved, including part-year returns after a move
- Whether prior years are unfiled or need amending
- Whether there are IRS or SCDOR letters to deal with alongside the return
- How organized the records are
That last one matters most for business owners. If the books cannot produce a profit and loss statement, that is a bookkeeping job before it is a tax job, and it is quoted as such.
What a bookkeeping quote is based on
- The volume of transactions each month
- The number of bank, card and loan accounts
- Whether payroll, sales tax or inventory are involved
- Whether the books are current, or need catch-up work first
- Monthly or quarterly, depending on what the business actually needs
You can request a bookkeeping quote directly.
When you get the figure
You get a transparent quote after we review your situation, and before any work begins. Pricing comes with no hidden fees. If something changes the scope partway through, such as a schedule nobody mentioned or an account that turns up later, you hear about it before the extra work is done, not on the invoice.
Where a matter needs representation by the independent licensed CPA we work with, that part is explained in the quote too, so nothing about it is a surprise.
The Best Rate Guarantee
The offer reads: "We beat competitors’ prices by at least 10%, based on your previous year’s tax return. Bring last year’s return and the invoice you paid for it, and we will quote against it."
- The comparison needs last year’s invoice. Without it there is nothing to beat, and we quote normally
- It is for the same scope of work. If last year’s return missed a schedule that should have been there, this year’s is a different job, and we tell you before we start
Bring both to a free consultation, or upload them through get started. The service finder can help if you are not sure which services to ask about.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have my taxes done?
It depends on what the return contains: which schedules it needs, whether there is a business return, how many states are involved, and how organized the records are. Rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most people, we give you a transparent quote for your situation after reviewing it, before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Why do tax preparers charge different amounts for the same return?
Often it is not actually the same return. One preparer may include a schedule another left out, or spend time on records the other took at face value. Pricing models also differ. That is why our Best Rate Guarantee compares against last year’s invoice for the same scope of work, so the comparison is like for like.
What do I need for the Best Rate Guarantee?
The Best Rate Guarantee needs two things: your previous year’s tax return and the invoice you paid for it. We quote at least 10% below that figure for the same scope of work. Without the prior invoice, there is nothing to compare against and we quote normally. If last year’s return was missing something it should have included, we explain the difference before starting.
Will the price change after I agree to it?
Not without you hearing about it first. If the scope changes partway through, for example an extra state return, a business form nobody mentioned, or records that need rebuilding, we tell you before the additional work is done. The quote you agree to reflects the work as it was described when you agreed.
Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.
Related pages
Switching tax preparers
What to bring, what carries over, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.
Learn moreFree prior-year review
What we look for, what happens if we find something, and what to send.
Learn moreUs vs. national tax chains
What chains do well, what an independent firm does differently, and how to choose.
Learn moreOnboarding for business clients
The first conversation, what to gather, taking over books, and the routine after.
Learn morePart of Working With Us. Not sure which service fits? Answer a few questions.
Tell us what you need
Send a short note about your situation and we’ll come back to you with a straight answer — whether that’s a quote, a next step, or a referral if it isn’t something we handle.
Prefer to talk it through first? Book a consultation and we’ll find a time, in the Easley office or virtually.
Ready when you are. In the office or virtually.
Call (864) 781-4035 or book a consultation, in the Easley office or virtually.