The virtual accountant cost in India generally ranges from around ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 or more per month, depending on the services included. A sole proprietor with five GST invoices a month will usually pay less than a private limited company with 200 transactions, 15 employees, and quarterly TDS obligations.
The fee mainly depends on monthly transaction volume, the scope of compliance services required, and the complexity of the books. Annual turnover alone does not determine the fee.
This guide covers pricing for virtual accounting services, including monthly retainer bands by business stage, additional fees outside the retainer, the cost of hiring a virtual CA versus a virtual CFO, and the comparison with an in-house accountant. Unless stated otherwise, the figures exclude 18% GST on professional fees.
What Does a Virtual Accountant Do and How Much They Cost in a Month?
A virtual accountant or online accountant provides bookkeeping and compliance services remotely through cloud accounting software such as Tally on Cloud or Zoho Books. The monthly scope for most small businesses includes:
- Daily bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
- Monthly GST return filing, including GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B
- Quarterly TDS return filing through Form 24Q and Form 26Q
- Monthly payroll processing
- Management information system (MIS) reports
Annual services may include company ITR filing, ITR-6 filing for private limited companies, statutory audit coordination, and ROC annual compliance, including AOC-4 and MGT-7 filing. Most virtual accounting firms include recurring bookkeeping and compliance in the virtual accountant monthly retainer but charge separately for annual, project-based, or one-time services.
Virtual Accountant Monthly Retainer – Pricing by Business Stage
The monthly retainer is a common pricing model for virtual accounting services in India. Fees depend on transaction volume, recurring compliance requirements, and the level of accounting support needed. The following bands show typical 2026 pricing:
| Business Stage | Monthly Retainer Range (excl. GST) | What It Typically Covers |
| Sole proprietor/freelancer (low volume) | ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 | Bookkeeping, monthly GST returns, basic P&L |
| Startup / early-stage Pvt Ltd (under ₹5 Cr) | ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 | Bookkeeping, GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, TDS returns, basic payroll |
| Growing Pvt Ltd or LLP (₹5–25 Cr) | ₹20,000 to ₹50,000 | Full bookkeeping, all GST, TDS, payroll, MIS, advisory |
| Mid-size company (₹25 Cr+) | ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000+ | Multi-state GST, complex TDS, payroll, IND-AS accounting |
For a private limited company with turnover below ₹5 crore, the median monthly retainer in 2026 is ₹15,000 to ₹35,000. Startups with limited transactions may pay ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 during the incorporation year. Location also affects pricing, with metro cities such as Mumbai and Bangalore generally charging 20% to 30% more than Tier-2 cities for similar services.
What the Monthly Retainer Does Not Include
The monthly retainer generally covers recurring bookkeeping and compliance services. Several annual or specialized services may carry separate fees, so confirm the scope before choosing a provider:
1. Annual ROC Compliance
ROC annual compliance, including AOC-4 and MGT-7/MGT-7A filing, is commonly priced separately from the monthly retainer. Professional fees for small companies generally range from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, excluding applicable government filing fees. DIR-3 KYC may also carry a separate professional fee when applicable. The actual amount depends on the company’s records and filing requirements.
2. Statutory Audit
A statutory audit is a separate engagement from routine bookkeeping and compliance. The audit fee depends on the company’s size, records, and audit scope.
For a small private limited company, statutory audit fees generally range from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000, although larger or more complex companies may pay considerably more. This fee is normally billed separately from the monthly retainer.
3. GST Annual Return
GSTR-9 annual return filing may also carry a separate professional fee. Taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to ₹2 crore are exempt from filing GSTR-9 for FY 2024-25 onwards under the applicable GST notification. Where filing applies, professional charges commonly start at around ₹2,000 and may increase with transaction volume and reconciliation requirements.
4. Tax Audit and ITR Filing
The tax audit requirement under Section 44AB depends on the nature and turnover of the business. For most businesses, the threshold is ₹1 crore, but it increases to ₹10 crore where cash receipts and cash payments each do not exceed 5% of the relevant amounts.
The company ITR filing cost for ITR-6 generally starts at ₹10,000 and can exceed ₹25,000, depending on the records, turnover, transaction volume, and filing complexity. A tax audit may add a separate professional fee, generally ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 or more for complex cases.
5. Payroll Processing Charges
Payroll outsourcing cost varies with employee count, payroll structure, and the services included. Providers may charge per employee or include payroll within a broader accounting package. TDS return filing charges for salary and non-salary payments commonly range from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per quarter, depending on the number of entries and filing requirements. From April 2026, Form 24Q is Form 138, while Form 26Q is Form 140 under the Income Tax Act, 2025.
In-House Accountant vs. Virtual Accountant Cost
The in-house accountant vs. virtual accountant cost comparison should consider the full employment cost, not just the monthly salary. The following table uses indicative 2026 market ranges:
| Cost Component | In-House Accountant (Junior) | Virtual Accountant |
| Monthly salary/retainer | ₹20,000 to ₹40,000 | ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 (scope-based) |
| PF contribution (employer share) | ₹2,400 to ₹4,800/month | None |
| ESIC (if applicable) | ₹750 to ₹1,500/month | None |
| Gratuity accrual | ~4.81% of basic per month | None |
| Office infrastructure cost | ₹3,000 to ₹10,000/month | None |
| Sick leave, notice period risk | Yes, full month payable | None |
| Tax audit and statutory audit | Cannot do: must hire CA anyway | CA-led firms include or refer |
| Annual all-in cost (typical SME) | ₹3.2 to ₹7 lakh | ₹1.8 lakh annually |
The virtual accounting services cost can range from about ₹2,000 to ₹75,000 per month, depending on transaction volume and the services included. For businesses that need recurring bookkeeping and compliance rather than a full-time accountant, this can be lower than the total cost of an in-house employee. An in-house accountant may still require separate CA Consultant support for services such as statutory and tax audits where applicable.
Virtual CFO Cost in India vs Virtual Accountant
A virtual accountant and a virtual CFO serve different purposes and operate at different pricing levels. A virtual accountant mainly handles bookkeeping, return filing, and routine compliance, while a virtual CFO provides financial planning, cash flow forecasting, management reporting, fundraising support, and investor or board reporting.
| Service Level | Typical Monthly Cost in India | Key Services |
| Virtual Accountant | ₹15,000 | Bookkeeping, GST, TDS, payroll, ITR and ROC compliance |
| Early-stage Virtual CFO | ₹25,000 to ₹75,000 | MIS, cash flow forecasting, budgeting, financial review |
| Growth-stage Virtual CFO | ₹75,000 to ₹1,50,000 | FP&A, investor reporting, financial modelling, fundraising support |
| Senior / Strategic Virtual CFO | ₹1,50,000 to ₹2,50,000+ | Board reporting, multi-entity finance, M&A and strategic planning |
The virtual CFO cost in India varies mainly with the company’s stage, transaction complexity, scope, and level of CFO involvement. Current 2026 market benchmarks place substantive Virtual CFO retainers broadly between ₹50,000 and ₹2,50,000+ per month, while some providers publish lower entry-level packages.
A full-time CFO can cost substantially more. Senior CFO compensation in India can range from around ₹60 lakh to ₹2 crore or more annually, depending on experience, company size, and responsibilities.
The in-house employment cost also reflects applicable requirements under India’s four Labour Codes, which came into force on 21 November 2025.
Hidden Charges to Check Before Signing a Virtual Accounting Agreement
Some services fall outside the monthly retainer and may create additional costs. Check these charges before signing the agreement:
- Catch-up bookkeeping: Cleaning up previous months or years is usually billed separately. Current market pricing can start around ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 per month of backlog, depending on transaction volume and the condition of the records.
- Registration and setup fees: Professional fees for GST registration, company incorporation, or other registrations may be charged separately. Government charges vary by registration. Udyam registration has no government filing fee, while private limited company incorporation fees depend on factors such as authorized capital and applicable state stamp duty.
- Notice and scrutiny support: GST scrutiny, GST notices, or income tax notice replies are generally separate engagements. Providers may charge per notice based on the records, issue, and level of professional support required.
- GST on professional fees: Legal and accounting services generally attract 18% GST. A registered business may claim an eligible input tax credit subject to the applicable GST conditions and restrictions.
- Multi-state GST compliance: Ask whether the retainer covers all GSTINs. Providers may charge an additional fee when the business requires separate bookkeeping, reconciliation, or return filing for registrations in multiple states.
