Hire an accountant or do your own bookkeeping? Comparison for self-employed and SME
Should you hire an accountant or can you do your own bookkeeping? Compare the costs, advantages and disadvantages. With practical tips for making the right choice.
Hire an accountant or do it yourself?
Doing your own bookkeeping with software costs on average € 15–30 per month and 2–4 hours per week in time investment. Hiring an accountant costs € 75–150 per hour, or € 150–500 per month at a fixed rate for self-employed persons. Fully outsourcing to an accountant can amount to € 1,000–3,000 per year for SME businesses. The right choice depends on the complexity of your bookkeeping, your available time and your budget. With modern accounting software like Giroo you automate the largest part of your bookkeeping: bank transactions are automatically imported and recognised, purchase invoices are processed via OCR, and the VAT return is automatically calculated. Many entrepreneurs therefore opt for a hybrid model: do the bookkeeping yourself with software and have the accountant review the annual report.
Comparing costs
Hiring an accountant
| Type of accountant | Costs per year (indication) |
|---|---|
| Online accountant (basic) | € 500 – € 1,200 |
| Traditional accountant (self-employed) | € 800 – € 2,000 |
| Accountant (SME/BV) | € 1,500 – € 5,000+ |
| Preparing the annual report (BV) | € 500 – € 2,000 extra |
| VAT return per quarter | € 50 – € 150 per return |
Doing it yourself with software
| Accounting software | Costs per year |
|---|---|
| Basic package | € 0 – € 300 |
| Complete package (invoicing + bank + VAT) | € 150 – € 500 |
The difference: doing it yourself with software saves easily € 500 – € 2,000 per year.
When can you do your own bookkeeping?
Doing your own bookkeeping is very feasible if:
- You are a sole trader or self-employed with relatively straightforward transactions
- You have no employees (payroll administration is complex)
- You work with Dutch customers (no international VAT structures)
- You are willing to learn the basic rules of bookkeeping
What must you be able to do?
- Create and send invoices
- Post purchase invoices with the correct VAT rate
- Process and reconcile bank statements
- File VAT returns and submit them
- Retain your records (7 years)
Most entrepreneurs with a sole tradership or self-employed status can easily do this themselves with modern accounting software.
When do you actually need an accountant?
An accountant or bookkeeper is advisable when:
- You have a BV (annual report required, corporate income tax)
- You have employees (payroll administration, payroll taxes)
- You do international business (VAT reverse charge, EC Sales List)
- You deal with complex VAT regimes (margin scheme, reverse charge)
- You don't have the time or interest to do it yourself
- You need tax advice (optimisation, investment deductions)
Pros and cons
Doing it yourself
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Lower costs | Takes time (1-2 hours per week) |
| Direct insight into your finances | You need to learn the basic rules |
| You are not dependent on third parties | Risk of errors if you are not careful |
| Flexible: post when you want | No tax advice |
Hiring an accountant
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Professional knowledge | Higher costs |
| Tax advice and optimisation | Less direct insight |
| Less time investment | Dependent on accountant's schedule |
| Lower risk of errors | Communication also takes time |
The golden middle ground: hybrid approach
Most self-employed persons and small SMEs opt for a hybrid model:
- Do the daily bookkeeping yourself in software (invoices, purchases, bank)
- Have an accountant review and prepare the annual return and annual report
This gives you the best of both worlds: low costs, direct insight, and professional verification.
Tips for choosing an accountant
- Ask about experience in your sector
- Compare prices — request at least 3 quotes
- Check that they work digitally — an accountant who still works with paper is not a good match
- Ask about availability — can you ask a question in between?
- Watch for hidden costs — some accountants charge extra for every phone call
Do your own bookkeeping with Giroo
Giroo is developed so that you as an entrepreneur can do your own bookkeeping, without accounting knowledge. With automatic bank connections, smart recognition, direct VAT returns via Digipoort and professional invoicing. Want to involve your accountant anyway? You can give an accountant access to your books.