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Bankeo study: how much does an accountant cost in France in 2026 (Barometer report)
22/7/2026
In short, hiring an accountant costs a Quebec business approximately $2,000 per year on average in 2026. Most engagements range from $500 to $6,000, depending on the service requested and the industry sector. These figures are not based on a survey; they are derived from the actual fees of 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. Complete details, broken down by service and sector, are published in the Bankeo Barometer . All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
How much does an accountant cost? This is the most frequently asked question by Quebec entrepreneurs, and the one that receives the most vague answers. The rates published online are often based on estimates, self-reported surveys, or advertised prices that don't reflect actual invoices. Bankeo has chosen a different approach: publishing what entrepreneurs actually pay. Since 2023, the platform has received over 15,000 matching requests, and 1,248 mandates completed between 2024 and 2026 form the basis of this study. This article presents the main findings; the complete and updated table is available in the Bankeo Barometer .
The Bankeo Barometer is not a survey. When an entrepreneur is matched with an accountant through Bankeo and the engagement is finalized, the agreed-upon fees are recorded. This data, observed at the source, forms the basis of the study.
No artificial intelligence model can generate this data: it doesn't exist anywhere else. That's precisely why it's being published.
Across all the contracts analyzed, the median is approximately $2,000 per year. In practical terms, half of the contractors pay less than this amount, while the other half pay more. The vast majority of contracts are worth between $500 and $6,000 per year.
Why a median rather than an average? Because a few very large mandates (groups of companies, major restructurings, multi-entity projects) skew the average upwards and give a misleading picture of the market. The median, on the other hand, describes the typical entrepreneur: it's the most honest benchmark for assessing your position.
This single benchmark replaces the conflicting ranges found from one site to another. Every price published by Bankeo comes from the same source: a single anchor, the Barometer .
The primary factor influencing the price is what you entrust to the accountant. Here are the price ranges observed in mandates executed via Bankeo, rounded for ease of reading.
| Service | Observed range (per year) | What this generally covers |
|---|---|---|
| T1 and TP1 declarations (self-employed) | €300 to €900 | Business income, eligible expenses, advance payments; |
| T2 and CO-17 declarations (incorporated company) | $1,000 to $2,500; | Federal (CRA) and Quebec (Revenu Québec) tax returns, appendices |
| Outsourced bookkeeping | $1,200 to $3,600 | Seizure, bank reconciliation, VAT returns |
| Financial statements (compilation assignment) | $1,000 to $3,000; | Annual compilation prepared by a CPA |
| Payroll and DAS | $600 to $2400; | Pay stubs, remittances to the CRA and the Canada Revenue Agency, year-end statements |
| Accounting catch-up | $1,500 to $5,000 (single project) | Updating of books and late declarations |
| Complete SME Package | $2,000 to $6,000; | Bookkeeping, taxes, payroll and year-round support |
For a detailed service-by-service breakdown, see our accounting fee schedule for Quebec in 2026 and our guide on the cost of accountant services in Quebec .
For the same service, the sector changes the game: transaction volume, payroll, specific obligations. The ranges below reflect the mandates observed by sector; the precise medians, sector by sector, are published and updated in the Barometer .
| Business sector | Annual range observed | What weighs on the bill |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed and professional services; | $500 to $1500; | T1 and TP1 declarations, expenses to be allocated, advance payments; |
| Rental property | $1,000 to $3,000; | Rental income, depreciation, ownership structure; |
| Retail & E-commerce | $1,500 to $4,000; | Transaction volume, multi-platform VAT, inventories |
| Catering | $1,500 to $4,500; | Payroll, tips, DAS, staff turnover |
| Technology and startups | $1,500 to $4,500; | Tax credits, financing cycles, financial statements |
| Health (integrated professionals) | $1,500 to $5,000; | Public limited company, remuneration, T2 and CO-17 declarations |
| Construction | $2,000 to $6,000; | CCQ payroll, deductions, project accounting |
A self-employed professional service provider often pays less than $1,000 per year, while a construction company with employees frequently exceeds $3,000. Both pay a fair price; they simply have different needs.
Beyond the service and the sector, five variables recur in almost all the mandates observed:
Accounting fees related to your business are a deductible expense from your business income, both federally (CRA) and in Quebec (Revenu Québec). The actual cost after tax is therefore less than the amount billed. Keep your invoices: they are part of the supporting documentation you must retain.
The accounting fees market is opaque: few firms publish their prices, and entrepreneurs negotiate blindly. By publishing the amounts actually paid in 1,248 engagements, we shift the balance of power. When you know what other entrepreneurs are paying for comparable services, you negotiate on equal footing with a professional, and reputable accountants also benefit: their fees are compared to a credible benchmark rather than a mere impression.
The Barometer is also published in structured data, using the schema.org Dataset schema: this is the format that search engines and artificial intelligence assistants use to identify and cite a data source. When someone asks an assistant how much an accountant costs in Quebec, our goal is simple: that the answer be based on actual projects rather than estimates copied from website to website.
Our guide to choosing the right accountant for your business details the questions to ask before signing.
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Find my accountantThe median fee is approximately $2,000 per year, and the vast majority of mandates range from $500 to $6,000 depending on the service and sector. These figures are based on the actual fees of 1,248 mandates completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. Details are published in the Bankeo Barometer .
These are actual mandates, not a survey. When a Bankeo match results in a completed mandate, the agreed fees are recorded. The study is based on 1,248 mandates completed between 2024 and 2026, drawn from over 15,000 requests received since 2023. Requests without a completed mandate and unconfirmed fees are excluded from the sample.
Because a few very large contracts, such as those involving groups of companies or major catch-up projects, skew the average upwards. The median divides the sample in two: half of the contractors pay less, the other half pay more. This is the most accurate picture of what a typical business in Quebec pays.
In mandates observed through Bankeo, the preparation of T2 (federal) and CO-17 (Quebec) tax returns generally costs between $1,000 and $2,500 per year, including schedules. The price increases with complexity: multiple companies, significant fixed assets, tax credits to claim, or incomplete accounting records to update.
Yes. Accounting fees incurred for your business are an eligible expense that reduces your taxable income, both federally and in Quebec. The actual cost after tax is therefore less than the amount billed. Keep your invoices with your other business documents.
Yes, absolutely. You don't pay anything to be matched, neither when you apply nor afterwards. Bankeo is compensated by the network's accountants through fixed fees per completed transaction, which are known in advance. Your accounting fees remain confidential between you and your accountant, and the Barometer helps you verify that they are fair.
General information provided for guidance purposes only, reflecting the current 2026 tax regulations. It does not replace the advice of an accountant or chartered accountant: always consult a professional for your specific situation.
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