As a business grows, a question arises: hire an accountant on staff or outsource the accounting. At first glance an in-house employee seems cheaper, but once you count the full cost and risks, the picture changes. Let's break it down point by point.
The real cost of an in-house accountant
Salary is only part of the expense. On top of it come:
- taxes and mandatory payments on the salary;
- the workplace: hardware, software, 1C, licenses;
- training and professional development;
- vacations and sick leave — during that time accounting either stops or you need a second person;
- the risk of error: the company pays the fines and penalties, not the accountant.
One person also means one point of view and one set of experience. A complex import or marketplace operation may be something an in-house specialist sees for the first time.
What outsourcing gives you
- a team instead of one person: vacation or illness doesn't stop the accounting;
- experience across different industries — imports, construction, marketplaces, services;
- a transparent fixed cost in the contract, without hidden workplace expenses;
- liability spelled out in the contract and insured;
- confidentiality under an NDA and controlled access to data.
How to choose
In-house is justified when there are very many operations, they are of the same type, and you need someone "on hand" every day. Outsourcing is more worthwhile when reliability, expertise in complex areas and a predictable budget matter. Many companies arrive at a hybrid: they hand the routine and liability outside, while keeping control in-house.
Let's work out what's more worthwhile in your case — with concrete numbers.
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