How much does a French CPA cost in 2026? Real pricing guide

This guide is written for expats and foreign founders by a French CPA, an English-speaking accountant in Paris, with practical focus on accounting in France, French corporate tax, business setup in France and French payroll.

It's the most asked question by foreign founders setting up in France: "How much will my accountant cost me this year?" The honest answer is: between €60 and €600 per month excl. VAT, depending on your legal form, turnover, payroll obligations, level of autonomy on data preparation, and how digitalised the firm is.

This guide gives you real, verified 2026 figures for:

• Pricing brackets by company type (SASU, SARL, SCI, micro-entrepreneur, association, regulated profession)
• Traditional firm vs digital firm (Pennylane, Tiime, Cegid Loop, Dext)
• What's always included in a standard package, and what isn't
• Negotiation levers and red flags

Companion read: How to choose your CPA in Paris in 2026

Legal form and accounting duties#

Activity volume#

For equivalent setup, cost grows with:

• Number of issued and received invoices (drives data entry / OCR cost)
• Bank movements
• VAT frequency (monthly vs quarterly vs annual)
• Headcount (payroll billed per slip)
• Tax complexity (international, holding, stock options…)

Founder autonomy#

The most underestimated factor. A founder who uploads invoices within 8 days, properly named, on a shared drive can divide their budget by 1.5x to 2x compared with a founder who hands over a shoebox of receipts in March for a 31 December close.

Geography#

Île-de-France average runs 10-25% above the national average; Paris intra-muros 20-35% above. Lowest brackets: Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

Traditional vs digital firms#

The 2020-2026 revolution: firms running on Pennylane, Tiime, Cegid Loop or Dext automate 70-85% of bookkeeping via OCR + bank API and price 20-35% lower at equivalent service.

Micro-entrepreneur#

A micro-entrepreneur rarely needs a full CPA — software typically suffices unless you're approaching threshold transitions or considering a tax election.

SASU or EURL — small revenue (< €80k turnover)#

SASU or SAS — mid revenue (€150k–€500k turnover)#

SARL / SAS — SME (€500k – €2M turnover, 3-15 employees)#

SCI — patrimonial real estate#

Regulated liberal profession (BNC)#

Fully digital firm (Pennylane / Tiime stack)#

Pros: transparent monthly subscription from €79/month, automatic invoice OCR, bank API, real-time dashboard, fully async relationship.

Cons: less human proximity, lighter strategic advisory, à-la-carte billing for advisory beyond bookkeeping.

Tech-friendly traditional firm (Hayot Expertise model)#

Pros: dedicated single point of contact, integrated wealth/tax/social advisory, fast response (24-48h), audit and tax dispute representation, mastery of complex setups (holding, BSPCE, M&A).

Cons: 20-35% premium at equivalent core services.

Our recommendation: beyond €200k turnover or when planning a structuring operation (fundraise, holding, exit), a traditional firm pays back its premium quickly through avoided tax errors and strategic counsel.

Always included#

• Bookkeeping or review of entries
• Balance sheet, income statement, annex
• Tax bundle (2065, 2031 or 2035 + 2050 and following)
• VAT returns (monthly or quarterly)
• CFE/CVAE business tax filings
• Filing of accounts at the commercial court registry (with confidentiality option for SMEs)
• 1-2 annual reviews (year-end + budget N+1)
• Unlimited email support

Often optional (check line by line)#

Never included#

• Statutory audit (Commissaire aux Comptes) — incompatible with CPA work for the same entity
• Legal drafting (commercial contracts, leases)
• AMF-regulated investment advice

Always ask for 3 quotes#

Compare like for like, including digital firms. Watch for "all-in" packages that exclude monthly VAT or the year-end balance.

Prepare a "competitive" file#

• Invoice volume issued/received
• Stack used (Qonto, Stripe, Shopify…)
• Your autonomy on pre-entry
• Punctuality of document handover

A well-organised client routinely earns 10-25% off standard packages.

Negotiate length of engagement#

A 24-36 month commitment unlocks 5-15% off — but avoid it during your launch phase; prefer annual reconducting.

Ask for an addendum on pivots#

If your activity or volume changes drastically (IS election, hiring, VAT regime), request an addendum to avoid mid-year renegotiation.

• Vague "all-inclusive" packages that don't list scope — fly. The Code of Ethics requires a written engagement letter.
• Success-based fees ("we take X% of your tax savings") — strictly regulated and largely banned.
• Pure SaaS marketed as a CPA replacement — Indy, Freebe and similar are excellent tools but cannot certify your tax bundle or represent you in an audit.
• Firms not registered with the Ordre des Experts-Comptables — verify on annuaire.experts-comptables.fr.

Based in Paris 8th, we offer 3 transparent packages for entities below €1M turnover:

All packages include: Pennylane, Dext OCR, mobile app, annual review, unlimited email support, audit representation.

Request a tailored quote — answer within 24 hours, no commitment.

• Ordre des Experts-Comptables
• OEC directory
• Code of ethics — articles 158, 21, 165
• Bpifrance — Choosing your CPA

Want a free benchmark of your current fees? Contact Hayot Expertise — we send a comparative analysis within 48 hours.

See also: How to choose your CPA in Paris | Setting up a SASU step by step