Comparison
Quick answer
A bookkeeper records day-to-day financial transactions — invoices, receipts, payroll entries, and bank reconciliations — ensuring the books are accurate and current. A controller oversees the entire accounting function, produces financial statements, implements internal controls, manages the accounting team, and ensures compliance with GAAP or other standards. Bookkeepers maintain the records; controllers manage the system, the team, and the reporting.
Most businesses start with bookkeeping and add controller-level oversight as they grow. A bookkeeper keeps the records accurate and current — critical for any business. A controller transforms those records into insights, enforces financial discipline, and ensures the accounting function is scalable. Consider a fractional controller as a cost-effective intermediate step before a full-time hire.
Hourly rate
$75–$300/hr
CPA and EA rates are higher than bookkeeper rates; specialization and credentials matter
Per session
$150–$500
Typical for a 60–90 minute tax strategy, financial review, or advisory consultation
Monthly retainer
$500–$3,000/month
For ongoing bookkeeping, monthly close, or fractional Controller-level support