Outsourcing Costs
Outsourced Accounting Costs in Dubai: The Numbers Behind the Quotes
Outsourced accounting quotes in Dubai range from suspiciously cheap to consultancy-priced — and the spread mostly reflects scope games, not quality tiers. Here is how the pricing actually works, and how to compare offers on the same axis.
- Transparent scope-based fixed fees
- True in-house comparison run on your numbers
- No surprise 'out of scope' invoices
- Right-sized model: remote, part-time or dedicated
Dubai-based accountants working at your office, on your schedule.
Quick Answer
Dubai market reality: basic remote bookkeeping for micro businesses runs roughly AED 1,000-2,500/month; SME packages with VAT filings and monthly reporting AED 2,500-7,000; part-time on-site arrangements price by day; dedicated full-time models track the all-in cost of employment minus your risk. Compare quotes on transaction volume covered, filings included, reporting deliverables and who answers FTA queries — the cheap quote usually excludes three of the four.
The Pricing Models Explained
Three structures dominate: fixed monthly packages scoped by transaction volume and deliverables; day-rate models for on-site presence; and dedicated-resource pricing for embedded staff. Hourly billing exists but rewards slowness — fixed scope aligns incentives better for routine work.
- Fixed monthly: volume-banded, deliverables listed
- Day rate: on-site presence, 1-3 days weekly
- Dedicated: full-time embedded, flat monthly
- Hourly: fine for projects, poor for routine books
The In-House Comparison, Done Honestly
The fair comparison is against a hire's true cost: salary plus visa and permits, medical insurance, gratuity accruing at roughly a month's basic pay per year served, annual leave and its cover, software seats, workspace and the management time nobody invoices. For most SMEs the outsourced equivalent of their actual workload undercuts that total substantially — while removing the key-person risk entirely.
- Salary is 70-80% of the real employment cost
- Gratuity: ~1 month basic per year, accruing silently
- Vacancy and turnover: months of disruption per event
- Outsourced: flat fee, zero vacancies, instant scale
Reading Quotes Like a Buyer
Quote games are predictable: 'from AED 999' covering fifty transactions and nothing else; VAT 'supported' but filings billed separately; reports meaning a trial balance PDF. The defence is a scope checklist — make every bidder answer the same ten questions and the real price order usually reverses.
- 1Fix your volumes: transactions, banks, entities
- 2List deliverables: filings, reports, close dates
- 3Ask who answers FTA queries and at what cost
- 4Compare total annual cost, not headline monthly
How Outsourced Accounting Is Priced
Outsourced accounting is usually priced one of a few ways: a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope, a tiered package by transaction volume, or hourly for ad-hoc work. Fixed and tiered pricing give budget certainty and suit steady businesses; hourly fits variable or project needs. The key is that the fee tracks the actual work — volume, complexity, number of returns — so understanding your own profile is the first step to a fair quote.
- Fixed monthly fee for a defined scope
- Tiered packages by transaction volume
- Hourly for ad-hoc or project work
- The fee should track actual work
The Honest In-House Comparison
Comparing outsourcing to hiring means comparing total cost, not salary to fee. An in-house accountant carries salary, visa, air ticket, gratuity, software, training and the cost of cover during leave — and a single hire rarely spans bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and corporate tax. Outsourcing bundles that range into one predictable fee with continuity built in. For many SMEs the outsourced option is both cheaper and broader once the full in-house cost is counted.
- Count salary, visa, gratuity, software and cover
- One hire rarely spans the whole finance range
- Outsourcing bundles the range into one fee
- Compare total cost, not salary to fee
Reading a Quote Like a Buyer
Two quotes at the same price can mean very different things. Read the scope: how many transactions and returns are included, whether VAT and payroll are in or extra, whether year-end and audit liaison are covered, and what triggers additional fees. A low headline with everything as an add-on can cost more than a fuller quote. Comparing scope, not just price, is how you avoid a fee that grows every month.
- Check transactions and returns included
- Confirm VAT, payroll and year-end scope
- Identify what triggers extra fees
- Compare scope, not just headline price
Related Exiloz Services & Guides
How much does outsourced accounting cost in Dubai?
Roughly AED 1,000-2,500/month for micro remote bookkeeping, AED 2,500-7,000 for SME packages with VAT and reporting, with on-site and dedicated models priced by days or embedded resource.
Why do quotes vary so much for the same business?
Scope — transaction caps, excluded filings, thin reporting. Normalise the scope and the spread collapses.
Is outsourcing really cheaper than hiring?
For workloads under a genuine full-time week, almost always — the hire's true cost runs 25-40% above salary, and idle capacity is pure waste.
What hidden costs should we watch for?
Per-filing charges, 'setup fees', software passthroughs, FTA-query hourly billing, and volume-cap overage rates — ask about each explicitly.
Does Exiloz quote fixed fees?
Yes — scoped on your real volumes and deliverables, with the scope written down so the invoice never surprises you.
How much does outsourced accounting cost in Dubai?
It depends on transaction volume, complexity and scope — commonly a fixed monthly fee or tiered package. A quote matched to your actual profile is more meaningful than a flat figure.
Is outsourcing cheaper than hiring an accountant?
Often, once the full in-house cost — salary, visa, gratuity, software, training and cover — is counted, and given one hire rarely spans bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and corporate tax.
What should I check in an outsourcing quote?
The scope: transactions and returns included, whether VAT, payroll, year-end and audit liaison are covered, and what triggers extra fees — compare scope, not just price.
What pricing models are common?
A fixed monthly fee for a defined scope, tiered packages by volume, or hourly for ad-hoc work — fixed and tiered give budget certainty for steady businesses.
Is outsourced accounting cheaper than in-house?
Often, once the full in-house cost — salary, visa, gratuity, software, training and cover — is counted, and given one hire rarely spans bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and corporate tax.
How is outsourced accounting priced?
Commonly a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope, a tiered package by volume, or hourly for ad-hoc work — the fee should track the actual work involved.
What should I compare between quotes?
Scope, not just price — transactions and returns included, whether VAT, payroll, year-end and audit liaison are covered, and what triggers extra fees.
Are there hidden costs in outsourced accounting?
There can be if scope is vague — check whether VAT, payroll, year-end and audit liaison are included or extra, so add-ons do not inflate a low headline fee.
Can I outsource only part of my accounting?
Yes — many businesses outsource bookkeeping and VAT while keeping some tasks in-house, or add payroll and management reporting as needed, scoped to what they require.
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Want a Quote You Can Actually Compare?
Send your volumes and we will return a fixed, itemised quote — plus the honest in-house comparison run on your own numbers.
