How Much Does an Accountant Cost in 2026? Detailed Fees by Profile and Jurisdiction

Calculating the cost of a certified public accountant over a one-year period

How Much Does an Accountant Cost in 2026? Detailed Fees by Profile and Jurisdiction

An accountant's fees can vary threefold depending on your legal form, your activity volume, your jurisdiction and the tax complexity that comes with it.

The problem: few firms publish their rate cards openly and the first conversations often revolve around a fog of "it depends, we'll need to look at your file." The result: it's hard to compare three quotes without losing half a day deciphering what each one includes or excludes.

This article does the opposite. It sets out the ranges observed on the market in 2025–2026 across the four jurisdictions where CryviTis operates, along with the variables that push a quote up or down and the three mistakes that end up costing dearly when comparing several proposals.

30-second version: in France, budget €600 to €15,000 per year depending on profile. Belgium sits slightly higher, Switzerland charges 1.5 to 2× French rates and the United Arab Emirates range from AED 12,000 to 80,000 per year depending on tax complexity (VAT, corporate income tax since 2023, mainland or free-zone status). No scale is imposed: fees are unregulated in all four jurisdictions.

How is an accountant's fee built up?

Three billing models coexist in 2026, and a serious firm will clearly tell you which one applies to your situation.

The annual or monthly retainer

By far the dominant model for very small businesses and SMEs. A retainer covers a defined scope (bookkeeping, VAT returns, year-end accounts, the annual tax return, sometimes payroll) for a given volume. Advantage: complete predictability of the annual cost. Limitation: anything outside the scope is billed on top, sometimes at a steep hourly rate. Read the "excluded services" clause of the engagement letter carefully.

The hourly rate

Rarer for recurring engagements, common for one-off work: company formation, targeted audit, tax audit, support with a disposal. The hourly rate varies by jurisdiction (see tables below), by the staff member's profile (junior, qualified accountant, partner) and by specialisation.

The "all-inclusive" package of online firms

A model developed by digital players (Pennylane, Indy, Dougs in France; Accountable in Belgium; Bexio in Switzerland). A fixed monthly fee based on the company's status, with a subscription that can sometimes be cancelled monthly. Advantage: pricing simplicity. Limitation: little flexibility for complex or multi-jurisdiction situations.

📖 Going further: [ Independent, firm or online platform — which model for which profile ]

Fees in France

Fees are unregulated in France (article 158 of the OEC's code of conduct). In practice, the observed ranges are as follows for a complete engagement (bookkeeping + accounts + filings):

Hourly rate: €50 to €150 (excl. VAT) per hour depending on the firm's profile (online, independent, traditional) and the level of expertise. Monthly retainer for very small businesses and SMEs: €70 to €250 (excl. VAT) per month.

Business profile	Annual fees (excl. VAT)
Sole trader (simplified regime)	€800 – 1,800
Sole proprietorship / single-member SARL, standard regime	€1,200 – 3,000
SAS/SARL without employees	€1,800 – 3,500
SAS/SARL with 1–3 employees	€2,500 – 5,500
SME, 5–20 employees	€5,000 – 15,000
Multi-site mid-cap	€15,000 and up

For a SASU with €100K in turnover and no employees, the median fee in 2025 stood at around €2,100 (excl. VAT) per year. At €200K with one employee, around €3,800. Online firms position themselves at the bottom of the range; traditional firms at the top with a more personalised service.

Fees in Belgium

Fees are likewise unregulated in Belgium. The market is slightly more expensive than France for an equivalent profile, mainly because of the complexity of social-security filings (ONSS, double holiday pay, automatic indexation) and the handling of intra-EU VAT.

Hourly rate: €80 to €150 (excl. VAT) per hour for an accountant, up to €250/hour for one-off engagements (company formation, targeted audit).

Profile	Annual fees (excl. VAT)
Self-employed (individual)	€1,200 – 2,500
SRL/BV without employees	€1,800 – 4,000
SRL with 1–5 employees	€3,500 – 8,000
SME, 5–20 employees	€7,000 – 18,000

A Belgian quirk: incorporating an SRL (formerly SPRL) is billed separately, generally between €800 and €2,000, on top of the mandatory notary fees (~€1,500).

Fees in Switzerland

Fees are markedly higher owing to the Swiss cost of living, staff hourly rates, and the cantonal tax fragmentation that complicates every year-end close.

Hourly rate: CHF 150 to 250 per hour (junior to senior expert). Monthly retainer: CHF 150 to 800 per month depending on complexity.

Profile	Annual fees
Sole proprietorship (turnover < CHF 500K)	CHF 1,500 – 3,500
Simple Sàrl (2 employees, all-in)	CHF 2,500 – 6,000
SA or Sàrl, multi-cantonal	CHF 6,000 – 15,000
SME under ordinary audit	CHF 15,000 and up

Worth remembering: the same firm will often apply different rates depending on the company's main tax canton, owing to the time needed to keep up with cantonal tax bases.

Fees in the United Arab Emirates

A market in upheaval since the introduction of corporate income tax in June 2023. Before then, the UAE had a small accounting market (VAT alone since 2018). Today, demand is surging and fees reflect that pressure.

Indicative monthly rate: AED 1,000 – 3,000/month for basic bookkeeping with VAT; AED 1,500 – 5,000/month for a full package (reporting + payroll + compliance).

Profile	Annual fees
Simple freelance bookkeeping	AED 12,000 – 24,000
FZE/FZCO with quarterly VAT returns	AED 18,000 – 36,000
Full package (payroll + reporting + compliance)	AED 18,000 – 60,000
Mainland LLC, full-scope corporate tax	AED 25,000 – 80,000
Multi-entity holdings	AED 60,000 and up

Annual audit: AED 1,200 to 10,000 depending on the size of the entity.

Note: for tax filings with the Federal Tax Authority, the use of a registered Tax Agent is required for many procedures. The FTA Tax Agent number can be checked at tax.gov.ae before any engagement.

The 7 variables that can double your quote

1. Multi-jurisdiction / international invoicing: intra-EU VAT, tax treaties, transfer pricing. Typical surcharge: +20 to 50%.

   
   

2. Crypto-assets and non-standard transactions: crypto portfolio, NFTs, multiple wallets, foreign exchanges. Surcharge: +30 to 100% depending on volume.
   

3. Volume of bank transactions: above 200 entries/month, the retainer tier frequently moves up a level. Check the threshold in the engagement letter.
   

4. Number of employees: payroll is billed per payslip (typically €15–25/payslip in France), plus the annual social-security filings. Don't forget it in the calculation.
   

5. Special VAT regime: the margin scheme (real estate, antiques), cash-basis VAT, OSS/IOSS transactions. Surcharge: +10 to 25%.
   

6. Tight deadlines or catch-up bookkeeping: picking up an unclosed financial year, a file to bring back into order, an urgent tax audit. A marked-up rate, sometimes doubled.
   

7. Bespoke financial reporting: IFRS, consolidation, monthly investor reporting. Outside the standard retainer, to be negotiated separately.

3 mistakes to avoid when comparing quotes

1. Comparing retainers that don't cover the same scope

Three firms quote you €2,400, €2,800 and €3,600 for "the same engagement"?

Check the detail:

• Does the first include monthly or quarterly VAT returns?

• Does the second cover the director's remuneration via a shareholder current account?

• Does the third include an annual tax review?

Without this line-by-line comparison grid, you're comparing apples and oranges.

2. Forgetting the "excluded services"

Read the appendices of the engagement letters. The common services billed on top are: handling a tax audit, setting up a shareholder current account, the wealth-tax return (IFI), support with an external audit, ad-hoc telephone advice beyond a monthly quota.

A "complete" engagement at €2,800 can easily climb to €4,500 with a few options switched on during the year.

3. Confusing fees incl. VAT with fees excl. VAT

In France, Belgium and Switzerland, accounting fees are subject to VAT. Comparing a French quote excl. VAT (20% VAT) with a Belgian quote incl. VAT (21% VAT) means overlooking 21% of the price gap. In the UAE, 5% VAT has also applied to fees since 2018.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an accountant cost for a sole trader (auto-entreprise)?

For a sole trader (micro-entreprise) in France, an accountant is not mandatory. If you'd still like support, budget €600 to €1,200 (excl. VAT) per year for a simple engagement or €30 to €80 (excl. VAT) per month with an online firm.

For more complex structures, switching to the standard regime becomes relevant from around €60–80K in turnover.

Can you negotiate an accountant's fees?

Yes, up to a point. The main levers are: the length of the engagement (often 12–24 months), the billing of ancillary services and the frequency of included meetings.

Avoid negotiating purely on rate: a firm that accepts a 20% cut with nothing in return will also cut the time it spends on your file.

Why do fees vary so much from one firm to another?

Three reasons: specialisation (a generalist firm costs less than an e-commerce or crypto specialist), structure (online vs traditional firm) and the exact scope of the services included.

Always ask for the detail of the services covered before comparing two quotes.

Are accountant's fees tax-deductible?

Yes, accountant's fees are deductible operating expenses in all four CryviTis jurisdictions.

In concrete terms, at 25% corporate income tax in France, a retainer of €3,000 (excl. VAT) costs you €2,250 after deduction. In the UAE, they are deductible above the AED 375,000 taxable-profit threshold.

What budget should you plan for incorporating a company?

For an "all-inclusive" company formation (articles of association, procedures, registration, sometimes a registered address):

• France: €800 to €1,800 (excl. VAT) (SASU/SAS/SARL), excluding court-registry fees (~€50) and publication (~€150)

• Belgium: €1,200 to €2,500 (excl. VAT) + mandatory notary fees (~€1,500) for an SRL

• Switzerland: CHF 1,500 to 3,500 + cantonal commercial-register fees (~CHF 600)

• UAE: AED 8,000 to 25,000 depending on free zone vs mainland

📖 Going further: Starting your business in 2026: a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction guide

Conclusion

An accountant's fee is never an absolute figure — it's the result of an equation between your profile, your volume, your complexity and your jurisdiction. Before signing, ask for three detailed quotes on the same scope, read the appendices, and check that the "excluded services" don't contain exactly what you'll need in six months. And never forget: an extremely low fee often means a standardised service, poorly suited to particular situations.

Looking for an accountant who is transparent about their fees in France, Belgium, Switzerland or the United Arab Emirates? 👉 Browse verified accountants on CryviTis

Are you an accountant who wants greater visibility on pricing? 👉 Join CryviTis for free, with no subscription

📖 Related articles: [ Choosing an Accountant in 2026: A Complete Guide ] [ Independent or firm: which model for which profile ] [ How to change accountants without losing 6 months of bookkeeping ]

Sources and references

• Companeo France — Accountant fees guide (Nov. 2025): companeo.com

• Cabinet Fidaquitaine — The real cost of an accountant in France (Dec. 2025): fidaquitaine.com

• Kaelis Advisory — Belgian accountant market study 2025 (Jan. 2026): kaelisadvisory.be

• WeCount.swiss — Swiss fiduciary fees 2025-2026: wecount.swiss

• Tally Solutions MENA — Accounting Costs UAE SMEs (Apr. 2026): tallysolutions.com

• UAE Federal Tax Authority — tax.gov.ae

• Ordre des Experts-Comptables France — Code of conduct: experts-comptables.fr CryviTis F.Z.E is a B2B ProfTech platform based in Ajman Free Zone (United Arab Emirates). CryviTis connects clients with verified (KYC) professionals in finance, accounting, audit and advisory. CryviTis acts solely as a technical infrastructure intermediary (Art. 3 DSA, EU Regulation 2022/2065) and provides no personalised advice.