Small businesses in Utah typically choose from five main bookkeeping options. The right one depends on your transaction volume, how complicated your finances are, and whether your industry requires specialized tracking.

DIY with accounting software works for very small operations with straightforward finances. QuickBooks Online, Wave, or FreshBooks handle invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting. The cost is low but the time investment is real. Most business owners underestimate how many hours they spend on bookkeeping until tax season arrives and they’re scrambling to organize a year of records.

Outsourced bookkeeping is the middle ground that fits most growing businesses. You get professional bookkeeping without hiring an employee. Monthly fees typically run $200 to $800 depending on transaction volume and what’s included. A good full-service bookkeeping arrangement handles categorization, reconciliation, and reporting while you focus on running your business.

Part-time local bookkeepers work if you need someone physically present or prefer face-to-face meetings. Hourly rates in Utah run $20 to $40 depending on experience. The challenges are finding someone reliable, managing their schedule, and covering when they’re unavailable.

Full-time in-house bookkeeping makes sense once transaction volume justifies the salary. In Utah, that means roughly $45,000 to $60,000 annually plus benefits. Most businesses under $2 million in revenue don’t need this level of staffing and end up paying for capacity they won’t use.

CPA firms sometimes offer bookkeeping alongside tax preparation. Keeping everything in one place is convenient. The tradeoff is typically higher rates and less attention to monthly details since their primary focus is taxes.

For construction, trades, and real estate businesses along the Wasatch Front, the bookkeeping option you choose matters less than whether they understand your industry. A real estate bookkeeper in American Fork who knows job costing will set up your books completely differently than someone who mostly works with retail or professional services. Generic QuickBooks setup won’t show you profitability by project, and that’s the information contractors and developers actually need.

If you’re past the DIY stage but not ready for a full-time hire, outsourced bookkeeping from someone familiar with your industry is usually the best fit. You get accurate books and useful reports without the overhead of an employee.