Accountant fees simulator
Accountancy fees in France follow no official scale, because none exists. They are built from the time a file actually takes. This tool estimates that time, then the fee range it corresponds to, using the price list the firm publishes.
Estimate the real monthly workload of your file, in hours.
Get a fee range derived from that workload, never below the published starting price.
See what, in your situation, is quoted separately rather than bundled.
Why a range, and not a price
Accountancy fees have been freely set since article 24 of ordinance no. 45-2138 of 19 September 1945: no official scale, no cap. A single figure shown without knowing your activity would be a misleading convenience. This tool does the opposite: it shows the estimated workload, the range that follows from it, and it names what it cannot price.
Time spent, not turnover
Fees are not a percentage of turnover. They are built from hours of work, which is why two companies with the same turnover can pay very different amounts.
- The number of documents to process each month is the first driver.
- The VAT regime sets how many returns are filed each year.
- Interim accounts add a recurring workload.
What the sector changes, and averages hide
This is the honest limit of any fee simulator. Every activity carries its own specific procedures, and the gap between two sectors often exceeds the gap between two company sizes.
- Restaurants: till systems, tips, multiple VAT rates, perishables.
- E-commerce: marketplace reconciliation, OSS and IOSS VAT.
- Property companies and furnished rentals: depreciation, optional regimes.
What is a published price, and what is an assumption
The tool separates the two on screen, line by line. Payroll and annual filing lines are prices published on our pricing page. The bookkeeping and annual accounts part is derived from a workload model.
- Published starting price: from €258 excl. VAT per month.
- Payslip: €30 excl. VAT each.
- Annual accounts filing and AGM: €25 excl. VAT per month.
Before comparing two quotes
A price gap between two firms almost always hides a scope gap. These points are what make the difference by year end.
- Are the annual accounts and tax return included, or billed at year end?
- How many VAT returns does the fee actually cover?
- Are payslips bundled or billed per unit?
- Are the accounts filing and the annual meeting included?
- What happens if your document volume rises during the year?
- Does the engagement letter set out the scope item by item?
Our reading
The instinct is to compare monthly figures. That is the worst angle: two identical fees can cover entirely different scopes, and the gap is paid at year end, on the annual accounts or on returns you assumed were included. The right question is not "how much per month" but "what is covered, and what happens when my volume changes". A quote that answers those two points precisely is worth more than a cheaper one that leaves them open.
The limit of this tool
The model reasons on volumes and regimes, not on your file. It sees neither the state of your books at takeover, nor the quality of the documents, nor the adjustments to be made, nor your sector specifics. Those can move the figure either way.
Frequently asked questions about accountant fees
Is there an official scale for accountancy fees in France?
No. Article 24 of ordinance no. 45-2138 of 19 September 1945 establishes free pricing. No scale, no regulated rate, no cap. It is the engagement letter, framed by decree no. 2012-432, that sets the agreed scope and price.
Why does this tool show a range rather than a price?
Because a firm price requires knowing your real activity, your flows and your sector specifics. The range measures genuine uncertainty, and it narrows as soon as the file is reviewed.
Is the result a quote?
No. It is an indicative estimate built on a theoretical workload model. It does not bind the firm. A firm quote follows a review of your situation.
Why is the sector not priced?
Because no average would represent it fairly. The procedures for a restaurant, a multi-channel e-commerce business and a property company have little in common. The tool flags that your sector weighs on the figure rather than inventing a coefficient.
What does the monthly base cover?
Bookkeeping, routine tax returns, the annual accounts and the tax return. The item-by-item detail is on our pricing page, together with the services billed separately.
Is a €49 per month offer comparable?
Measured in working time, such an offer amounts to a few dozen minutes a month. The point to check is not the headline price but what the engagement letter covers, and what will be billed at year end.
Sources
Indicative estimate built on a theoretical workload model, using the price list published by the firm. It is not a quote.
Read next
From estimate to firm quote
Describe your activity and your real volumes: we issue a firm quote, with the scope written item by item.