Free tool · Canada

What does doing your own bookkeeping cost you?

You can absolutely do your own books. The real question is what it costs you — in hours and in cash. Enter a few numbers for an honest estimate. It's private to your browser: nothing is saved to our servers or sent anywhere.

Hours you spend on bookkeeping each month

Extra time spent dealing with bookkeeping each month (optional)

Chasing receipts, fixing errors, finding missing transactions, organising records, or following up on invoices.

What is one hour of your time worth to your business? (CAD)

A rough estimate is fine. Think about what you could earn, bill, or reasonably pay someone else to handle this work.

What accounting software do you use?

Choose your software and we'll fill in an indicative monthly cost where we can. You can always change it to your actual amount.

Accounting software cost per month (CAD)

Prices are indicative and can change — check your current subscription for the exact amount. Keep this to bookkeeping/accounting software only (not payroll add-ons).

How confident are you that your books are up to date? (optional)

Your bookkeeping time — —

Estimated monthly DIY cost

Value of your time—

Out-of-pocket software cost—

Estimated DIY cost—

Estimated DIY cost / year —

What this number means

This is an estimate of the value of your bookkeeping time plus the cash software costs you entered. It is not a bookkeeping bill, and it is not a comparison to Avora — your actual cost depends on how much bookkeeping your business needs each month.

Doing your own books may still be the right choice for your business. This calculator is simply a way to understand what that choice is costing you in time and cash. For planning only — not accounting or tax advice.

What could you do with that time?

Doing your own bookkeeping can make sense if you have the time, don't mind the work, and feel confident your records are accurate. But if bookkeeping is taking you away from customers, sales and operations — or simply keeps getting pushed back — professional support can give that time back.

Doing it yourself

You spend the time each month
You manage the software
You categorise transactions
You chase receipts and fix errors
You reconcile your accounts
You keep records ready for year-end

What Avora can take off your plate

Recording and organising your transactions
Bank and credit-card reconciliations
Keeping your books current each month
GST/HST bookkeeping support
Payroll bookkeeping & remittance support
Catch-up & cleanup when books are behind
Organised records for year-end / your accountant

DIY means you keep the work. Avora means you can hand off the bookkeeping within an agreed scope. Avora provides bookkeeping support — not tax filing or advice; we work alongside your accountant.

A low-risk next step

Not sure whether your books need professional help?

Start with a free Bookkeeping Health Check — we'll help you see what's in good shape, what may need attention, and what your next step could be. About three minutes, no email required.

Check my books — free Get a right-sized quote

The question isn't only what bookkeeping costs — it's what your time is worth. Read DIY bookkeeping vs hiring a bookkeeper or how much bookkeeping costs in Canada.

Avora provides right-sized bookkeeping support

Based on your business and the work you actually need — no padded packages, no big-firm overhead. Tell us where things stand and we'll suggest a sensible next step.

Talk to Avora