How much does an accountant cost in Estonia: in-house or outsourced?

Employing an in-house accountant costs a company thousands of euros a month, while the services of an accounting firm may cost just a few dozen or a few hundred euros. But price is not the only difference. Each arrangement has its advantages, and the cost of outsourcing depends on the company’s needs.

Here is how much an accountant costs in Estonia, what expenses arise when hiring an employee and what to consider when choosing an accounting firm.

What determines the cost of accounting?

The cost of accounting services is influenced by:

• Documents and transactions. The number of invoices, payments and other documents that need to be processed.
• Value added tax (VAT). A VAT-registered company keeps separate VAT records and files a return every month.
• Employees. Calculating salaries, holiday pay, sick pay and the related taxes.
• International transactions. Dealings with customers and suppliers abroad that may require specialist knowledge.
• Bank accounts and currencies. Reconciling payments and accounting for foreign currency transactions and exchange differences.
• Company assets. Accounting for equipment, vehicles and other fixed assets.
• Additional tasks. The annual report, advice and restoring accounting records for previous periods.

A company’s revenue alone says little about its accounting costs. A business with large but infrequent transactions may generate less work for an accountant than a small online shop with hundreds of transactions.

How much does an in-house accountant cost in Estonia?

When hiring an accountant, the company takes on the cost of their salary, employer taxes and setting up a workplace.

According to the palgad.ee salary survey, an accountant in Estonia earns between EUR 1,207 and EUR 3,276 gross per month. Let us look at the employer’s costs for a specialist with a salary of EUR 2,000.

In 2026, the employer also pays social tax of 33% and an unemployment insurance contribution of 0.8%.

This calculation does not include accounting software, equipment or a workplace. The company will also have to arrange cover for the accountant during holidays or illness and additional checks of complex transactions.

When outsourcing, these tasks can be covered by the agreement with the accounting firm. Instead of maintaining an in-house position, the company receives an agreed scope of services and a clear process for their delivery.

How much does an outsourced accountant cost?

Accounting firms calculate their fees in different ways. Some offer a fixed monthly fee, while others charge by the number of transactions or the time spent.

When there is little accounting work, outsourcing avoids the cost of an in-house employee. However, the terms of service may differ significantly: one offer includes the annual report and advice, while another charges for them separately.

Why cheap accounting can end up costing more

Suppose a business owner receives two offers. The first accounting firm charges EUR 60 a month and the second EUR 100. At first glance, the first offer saves EUR 480 a year. But the first firm charges another EUR 600 to prepare the annual report, while the second includes it in the monthly fee.

The offer with the lower monthly fee therefore costs EUR 120 more. This is a hypothetical example. The amounts exclude VAT and are not Finance PRO rates.

Additional services are not the only source of unexpected costs. Accounting errors can also cost money.

Before signing an agreement, find out:

• Is the annual report included in the monthly fee?
• Is there a limit on the number of documents, and what does exceeding it cost?
• How are advice and non-standard transactions charged?
• Who checks the reports before they are submitted?
• Who covers for the accountant during holidays or illness?

Good accounting is not just about processing documents on time. It is also a system that helps identify mistakes before they become an expense for the company.

Our article “How to check an accountant in Estonia in 10 minutes” explains how to assess an accountant’s reliability before signing an agreement.

How to find out the cost of accounting for your company

To find out how much an accountant will cost for your company, it is usually enough to provide the number of documents and bank transactions per month, the number of employees, your VAT registration status and whether you have international transactions.

If you need to restore accounting records, prepare reports for previous periods or receive tax advice, it is best to mention this from the start.

How much does an accountant cost at Finance PRO?

Since 1998, Finance PRO has helped companies in Estonia keep accounting records, calculate salaries, submit reports and deal with tax matters.

The service fee is calculated individually, taking the workload into account. Accounting does not depend on one specialist: each accountant’s work is checked by a colleague, and a coordinator monitors reporting deadlines. The company bears full financial liability for its employees’ actions.

Would you like to know how much an accountant will cost for your company? Use the calculator on the accounting services page or contact us for an individual offer. The initial cost estimate is free.

Phone: +372 5366 6674

Email: info@fpro.ee

Read also

• The ideal accountant in Estonia: how to choose a professional you can trust with your accounts
• What kind of accountant does your company in Estonia need?
• How to check an accountant in Estonia in 10 minutes

Information current as of 27 October 2026. This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If your circumstances differ, email us at info@fpro.ee.