Contractor
Bankeo study: How much will an accountant cost in Quebec in 2026? (Bankeo Fee Barometer report)
July 24, 2026
At a Glance. Hiring an accountant will cost, on average, about $3,000 per year for a business in Quebec in 2026. Most engagements range from $500 to $6,000, depending on the service requested and the industry. These figures are not based on a survey: they are derived from the actual fees for 1,248 assignments completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), drawn from over 15,000 requests received. The complete breakdown, by service and by sector, is published in the Bankeo Fee Barometer. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
How much does an accountant cost? This is the question most frequently asked by Quebec entrepreneurs, and the one that receives the vaguest answers. Price lists published online are often based on estimates, self-reported surveys, or listed prices that don’t match actual invoices. Bankeo has taken a different approach: publishing what entrepreneurs actually pay. Since 2023, the platform has received more than 15,000 matching requests, and 1,248 contracts concluded between 2024 and 2026 form the basis of this study. This article presents the main findings; the complete, up-to-date table can be found at the Bankeo Fee Barometer.
The Bankeo Fee Barometer is not a survey. When a business owner is matched with an accountant through Bankeo and the engagement is completed, the agreed-upon fees are recorded. It is this data, collected directly from the source, that forms the basis of the study.
No artificial intelligence model can generate this data: it doesn’t exist anywhere else. That’s exactly why we’re publishing it.
Across all the engagements analyzed, the median is approximately $3,000 per year. In practical terms: half of business owners pay less than this amount, while the other half pay more. The vast majority of engagements fall between $500 and $6,000 per year.
Why use a median rather than an average? Because a few very demanding projects (corporate groups, major catch-up work, multi-entity cases) skew the average upward and paint a misleading picture of the Market. The median, on the other hand, describes the typical business owner: it’s the most accurate benchmark for gauging your situation.
This unique benchmark replaces the conflicting price ranges found on different websites. Every price published by Bankeo comes from the same source: a single anchor, the Barometer.
The primary factor affecting price is the scope of work you assign to the accountant. Here are the price ranges observed in contracts secured through Bankeo, rounded for ease of reading.
| Service | Observed range (per year) | What It Generally Covers |
|---|---|---|
| T1 and TP1 Returns (Self-Employed) | $300 to $900 | Business income, eligible expenses, tax instalments |
| T2 and CO-17 Returns (Incorporated Companies) | $1,000 to $2,500 | Federal (CRA) and Quebec (Revenu Québec) tax returns, schedules |
| Outsourced Bookkeeping | $1,200 to $3,600 | Data entry, bank reconciliation, GST and QST returns |
| Financial Statements (Compilation Engagement) | $1,000 to $3,000 | Annual compilation prepared by a CPA |
| Payroll and source deductions | $600 to $2,400 | Pay stubs, filings with the CRA and Revenu Québec, year-end statements |
| Catch-up accounting | $1,500 to $5,000 (single project) | Bringing Books and Overdue Tax Returns Up to Date |
| Comprehensive SME Package | $2,000 to $6,000 | Bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, and year-round support |
For a detailed breakdown by service, see our Accounting Fee Schedule in Quebec in 2026 and our guide on The cost of an accountant’s services in Quebec.
For equivalent services, the sector makes all the difference: transaction volume, payroll, and individual requirements. The ranges below reflect the mandates observed by sector; the exact medians, sector by sector, are published and updated in the Barometer.
| Industry | Observed annual range | Factors Affecting the Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Employed Individuals and Professional Services | $500 to $1,500 | Q1 and TP1 returns, expenses to be allocated, estimated tax payments |
| Rental Real Estate | $1,000 to $3,000 | Rental income, depreciation, ownership structure |
| Retail and E-commerce | $1,500 to $4,000 | Transaction volume, multi-platform GST/QST, inventory |
| Foodservice | $1,500 to $4,500 | Payroll, tips, source deductions, employee turnover |
| Technology and Startups | $1,500 to $4,500 | Tax credits, funding rounds, financial statements |
| Health Care (Incorporated Professionals) | $1,500 to $5,000 | Corporation, compensation, T2 and CO-17 filings |
| Construction | $2,000 to $6,000 | CCQ Payroll, Withholdings, Project-Based Accounting |
A self-employed professional therefore often pays less than $1,000 per year, while a construction business with employees frequently pays more than $3,000. Both are paying a fair price: they simply have different needs.
Regardless of the service or industry, five variables recur in nearly all the engagements examined:
Accounting fees related to your business are a deductible expense from your business income, both federally (CRA) and in Quebec (Revenu Québec). The actual after-tax cost is therefore lower than the amount billed. Keep your invoices: they are among the supporting documents you should retain.
The accounting fee market is opaque: few accounting firms publish their prices, and business owners negotiate blindly. By publishing the actual amounts paid across 1,248 engagements, we’re shifting the balance of power. When you know what other business owners are paying for a comparable service, you can negotiate on equal terms with a professional, and reputable accountants benefit as well: their fees are compared to a credible benchmark rather than a vague impression.
The Barometer is also published as structured data using the schema.org Dataset schema: this is the format that search engines and AI 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: to ensure the answer is based on actual client engagements rather than on estimates copied from one website to another.
Our guide to Choosing the Right Accountant for Your Business details the questions to ask before signing.
Bankeo connects you for free with vetted accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners. You compare, you choose, and we’re always there to support you. Free service, no obligation, and matching is often completed within 48 hours. Rated 4.7/5 based on over 180 Google reviews.
Find my accountantThe median is approximately $3,000 per year, and the vast majority of engagements range from $500 to $6,000, depending on the service and industry. These figures are based on the actual fees from 1,248 assignments completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. The details are published in the Bankeo Fee Barometer.
Real engagements, not a survey. When a Bankeo matching process results in a signed engagement, the agreed-upon fees are recorded. The study is based on 1,248 assignments completed between 2024 and 2026, drawn from more than 15,000 requests received since 2023. Requests that did not result in an assignment and unconfirmed fees are excluded from the sample.
This is because a few very demanding projects, such as corporate groups or major catch-up work, drive up the average. The median splits the sample in half: half of business owners pay less, while the other half pay more. This is the most accurate picture of what a typical business in Quebec pays.
Based on the engagements analyzed by Bankeo, the cost of preparing T2 (federal) and CO-17 (Quebec) tax returns generally ranges from $1,000 to $2,500 per year, including schedules. The price increases with complexity: multiple subsidiaries, significant fixed assets, tax credits to claim, or incomplete accounting records that need to be brought up to date.
Yes. Accounting fees incurred by your business are a deductible expense that reduces your taxable income, both federally and in Quebec. The actual after-tax cost is therefore lower than the amount invoiced. Keep your invoices with your other business supporting documents.
Yes, absolutely. You pay nothing to be matched, neither at the time of your request nor afterward. Bankeo is compensated by the accountants in its network through a fixed fee per file, which is known in advance. Your accounting fees are a matter between you and your accountant, and the Barometer helps you verify that they’re fair.
General information provided for informational purposes only, based on known 2026 tax rules. It is not a substitute for the advice of a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA): always consult a professional regarding your specific situation.
The Bankeo matching service is 100% free, always. You only pay your accountant directly.
We’ll connect you with the right accountant from our network to meet your needs, we have as many profiles as you need.
We’ll support you for as long as it takes. We’re here for you every step of the way.
Your request will be processed within 2 business days.
