Reviewed by Anil Rajput, CPA · Last reviewed July 2026
Quick answer: Trucking bookkeeping costs anywhere from about $10 a month to several hundred, depending on how much you do yourself. Trucking-specific software runs roughly $10 to $80 a month if you keep your own books. A done-for-you monthly bookkeeping service typically costs around $100 to $400 a month for a single truck, depending on scope. Full-service options that bundle bookkeeping with quarterly tax estimates and year-end filing sit at the higher end. The real question is not the sticker price but the return: clean books routinely save owner-operators thousands a year in captured deductions and avoided penalties, which usually dwarfs the monthly fee.
This guide uses general market pricing for comparison, not a quote. Actual costs vary by provider, fleet size, and scope of work, and figures change over time. Confirm current pricing directly with any provider before deciding.
What does trucking bookkeeping actually cost per month?
There is no single price, because "bookkeeping" covers everything from a $19 app you run yourself to a full-service firm that handles your books, your quarterly taxes, and your year-end return. Broadly there are three tiers, and what you pay tracks how much of the work you hand off:
- DIY software: roughly $10 to $80 a month. You do the data entry.
- Done-for-you bookkeeping: roughly $100 to $400 a month for one truck. Someone else keeps the books.
- Full-service (books plus tax): higher, often bundled. One provider owns bookkeeping, quarterly estimates, and your return.
The rest of this guide breaks down what each tier gets you, what drives the price up or down, and how to decide which one actually pays for itself.
What are you actually paying for?
Trucking bookkeeping is not generic bookkeeping. Done properly for an owner-operator, it means:
- Recording income from your settlement statements, not just deposits
- Categorizing expenses so every deduction is captured
- Tracking fuel and per-state miles that feed your IFTA returns
- Treating your truck and major equipment as depreciable assets, not generic expenses
- Reconciling your accounts every month so the numbers are trustworthy
- Calculating your cost per mile so you know which loads actually make money
- Preparing the figures your CPA needs for quarterly estimates and year-end
Those trucking-specific pieces, per diem, IFTA, Form 2290, and settlement statements, are exactly why generic bookkeeping is not enough, and why trucking bookkeeping is priced the way it is. For how those numbers flow into what you owe, see how much owner-operators pay in taxes.
Option 1: Doing your own books with software
Cost: roughly $10 to $80 a month. Trucking-specific tools like Rigbooks start around $19 a month, ATBS software and fleet-oriented tools run about $30 to $80, and general tools like QuickBooks land in a similar range.
What you get: the software organizes what you enter. You still do the entering. Pros: it is the cheapest option and you keep full control. Cons: it is only as good as your consistency, and most owner-operators fall behind within a few months, and you still need a CPA at tax time. Best for a disciplined operator with a simple, single-truck operation who will sit down with it every week.
Option 2: A done-for-you monthly bookkeeping service
Cost: roughly $100 to $400 a month for a single truck, depending on transaction volume and scope. What you get: someone else categorizes your transactions, reconciles your accounts monthly, and hands you and your CPA clean statements. Pros: it is off your plate, there are fewer errors, and you get real monthly financials instead of a shoebox of receipts. Cons: it costs more than software, and quality varies between providers. Best for operators who would rather drive than reconcile.
Option 3: Full-service (bookkeeping plus tax)
Cost: the higher end, usually bundled. What you get: bookkeeping plus quarterly estimated taxes, your year-end return, and often business consulting, all from one provider. ATBS is the best-known example of this model. Pros: one provider owns your whole financial picture and knows trucking-specific deductions cold. Cons: it is the highest monthly cost, and some providers are less flexible than others. Best for operators who want it fully handled and off their mind. If you like this model but not that provider, see our guide to ATBS and its alternatives.
Trucking bookkeeping cost comparison
- DIY software; Cost: about $10 to $80 per month; Includes: you enter data, software organizes it; Note: still need a CPA at year-end
- Done-for-you bookkeeping; Cost: about $100 to $400 per month; Includes: provider categorizes and reconciles, monthly statements; Note: tax filing often separate
- Full-service (books plus tax); Cost: higher, usually bundled; Includes: bookkeeping, quarterly estimates, year-end return, consulting; Note: one provider owns everything
- CPA tax prep (if separate); Cost: about $800 to $1,500 per year; Includes: year-end return only; Note: added on top of software or basic bookkeeping
Is a bookkeeper worth it for an owner-operator?
The monthly fee is the wrong number to fixate on. Look at the return instead. Operators who do not track well routinely miss thousands a year in deductions (industry estimates commonly put this at $3,000 to $8,000), pay penalties for missed quarterly or IFTA deadlines, and do not learn their true cost per mile until a bad month makes it obvious. Against losses like that, even a $200 to $400 monthly service usually pays for itself several times over.
The honest answer still depends on you. A disciplined operator with a simple single-truck operation who reliably tracks their own numbers may do fine with software. A busy operator, a growing fleet, or anyone who dreads paperwork almost always comes out ahead handing it off. The break-even is low, so the question is less "can I afford a bookkeeper" and more "can I afford the deductions and penalties I miss without one."
What makes trucking bookkeeping cost more or less?
- Fleet size: more trucks means more transactions and a higher monthly price.
- Scope: books only is cheaper than books plus tax, which is cheaper than books plus tax plus payroll.
- Cleanup or catch-up: if you are months behind, expect a one-time catch-up bookkeeping fee on top of the monthly rate.
- Volume: more loads and settlements means more to process each month.
- Whether tax filing is included: bundling books with quarterly estimates and year-end usually costs more per month, but less than buying each piece separately.
Frequently asked questions
For a single truck, a done-for-you monthly bookkeeping service typically runs about $100 to $400 a month depending on scope, while trucking-specific software you run yourself is roughly $10 to $80 a month. Full-service options that also handle your taxes sit higher. Fleet size and whether tax filing is included are the biggest cost drivers.
Yes. With trucking-specific software (roughly $10 to $80 a month) and about 15 to 20 minutes a week, many owner-operators keep their own books. The catch is consistency: most who start fall behind within a few months, and you still need a CPA at tax time. If you will not keep up with it weekly, a service is usually cheaper than the deductions you miss.
Usually, yes. Clean books routinely save thousands a year in captured deductions and avoided penalties, which typically exceeds the monthly fee. The exception is a disciplined operator with a simple single-truck operation who reliably tracks their own numbers. If paperwork is not your strength, handing it off almost always pays for itself.
Beyond generic bookkeeping, it means recording settlement income, categorizing expenses, tracking fuel and per-state miles for IFTA, treating your truck as a depreciable asset, reconciling monthly, calculating cost per mile, and preparing the figures your CPA needs for quarterly estimates and year-end. The trucking-specific pieces, per diem, IFTA, and Form 2290, are why generic bookkeeping falls short.
ATBS, the best-known full-service trucking provider, is often cited around $30 a month for its base software tier, with higher-priced plans for full bookkeeping and tax service. Pricing changes, so confirm current rates directly. If you want the full-service model without ATBS, see our guide to ATBS alternatives.
Not always. Basic software and many bookkeeping services keep your books clean but do not file your return, so you add a CPA (roughly $800 to $1,500 a year) for that. Full-service and bundled options fold quarterly estimates and year-end filing into one price. Check what is included before comparing monthly fees, because bookkeeping and bookkeeping-plus-tax are different products.
Clean books without the monthly guesswork
Ace Global gives owner-operators and small fleets a dedicated bookkeeper backed by CPAs, built for trucking: your settlements, fuel, IFTA miles, per diem, and cost per mile tracked every month, your 2290, IFTA, and quarterly estimates on one calendar, and clean, audit-ready statements you and your tax pro can rely on. Flat pricing, no long-term contracts, answers on WhatsApp or iMessage. Flat pricing, no long-term contracts, answers on WhatsApp or iMessage. Get started with Ace Global today.
Related reading
- How much do owner-operators pay in taxes?
- How to start a trucking company
- Is ATBS worth it, and what are the alternatives?
Sources
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or accounting advice. Pricing figures are general market ranges that vary by provider and change over time. Confirm current pricing and services directly with any provider, and consult a qualified professional about your situation.