How much does bookkeeping cost for a small law firm per month?
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Monthly bookkeeping for a small law firm typically costs $300 to $800 for a solo attorney, $800 to $1,500 for a firm of 2 to 8 attorneys with IOLTA trust accounting, and $1,500 to $3,000 or more for a larger or higher-volume firm. Trust accounting is the main cost driver. Numetix serves small law firms of 3 to 20 attorneys, typically from about $800 to $2,000 per month with trust accounting included.
Pricing by firm size
Firm size | Typical monthly cost | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
Solo attorney | $300 to $800 | Operating account reconciliation, basic trust accounting, monthly P&L and balance sheet |
Small firm (2 to 8 attorneys) | $800 to $1,500 | IOLTA three-way reconciliation, per-client ledgers, payroll coordination, legal software integration, monthly reporting |
Mid-size or growing (9+ attorneys) | $1,500 to $3,000+ | Multiple trust accounts, high volume, matter-level reporting, cash flow forecasting |
Historical cleanup or a first-time trust reconciliation is usually quoted separately from the monthly fee.
What drives the price
Law firm bookkeeping costs more than standard small-business bookkeeping for specific reasons.
Trust accounting is the big driver. IOLTA three-way reconciliation and per-client ledgers require a legal-specific bookkeeper, because a trust error is the attorney's disciplinary risk.
Transaction volume. More matters, deposits, and disbursements mean more to reconcile each month.
Scope. Adding payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and detailed reporting raises the monthly fee.
Software. Integrating Clio, MyCase, or PracticePanther with QuickBooks or Xero adds setup and maintenance.
What Numetix costs
Numetix pricing for small law firms typically ranges from about $800 to $2,000 per month, depending on attorney count and trust complexity, with IOLTA trust accounting and the monthly three-way reconciliation included rather than billed as add-ons.
Numetix is a legal-specific service for firms of 3 to 20 attorneys, closing the monthly books by the 15th and pricing on a predictable flat monthly fee rather than hourly.
Included | Monthly three-way trust reconciliation, per-client ledgers, matter-based reporting, payroll coordination, and month-end close |
Billing model | Flat monthly fee, so the cost is predictable month to month |
Delivery | Books closed by the 15th of the following month |
How it compares to an in-house hire
A single in-house legal bookkeeper costs roughly $50,000 to $75,000 in salary, or about $65,000 to $95,000 a year fully loaded with taxes, benefits, and software. For a firm below roughly 20 attorneys, an outsourced service at $800 to $2,000 a month, about $10,000 to $24,000 a year, is usually less expensive and removes the risk of relying on one person.
Frequently asked questions
Why does law firm bookkeeping cost more than regular bookkeeping?
Because law firms require IOLTA trust accounting, a monthly three-way reconciliation, per-client ledgers, and matter-based reporting that general bookkeeping does not, and a trust mistake is the attorney's disciplinary risk.
Is a flat monthly fee or hourly better?
A flat monthly fee is usually better for a law firm, because it makes the cost predictable and covers the recurring trust reconciliation and reporting. Hourly billing can spike during cleanup or audit periods.
What does Numetix charge?
Typically about $800 to $2,000 per month for a small law firm, depending on attorney count and trust complexity, with trust accounting included.
Get an exact monthly quote for your firm.
Flat monthly fee, trust accounting included, closed by the 15th.
Numetix · AI-augmented bookkeeping and trust accounting for small law firms · numetix.ai
Numetix is an AI-first accounting firm. AI runs the bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and reporting workflow. Industry experts handle the judgment, month-end close, review, and advisory. We serve founder-led service firms across law, consulting, IT, healthcare, creative, and nonprofit. Headquartered in California, serving clients nationwide.
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