Pricing Models for AR & AP Assistance: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Business
Managing Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) is the heartbeat of your business’s cash flow. When these crucial tasks become overwhelming, bringing in professional assistance is a necessity—not a luxury.
But here’s the million-dollar question: How should you pay for it?
At Rocket bookkeeper, we believe in transparency and flexibility. We understand that one size never fits all. That’s why we’ve compiled this essential guide to the most common (and most effective) AR/AP pricing models available today, helping you align your budget with the exact level of support you need.
Subscription vs. Per-Invoice Pricing
This is often the first fork in the road. Which offers the most value?
- Subscription Pricing: Think of this as your “all-you-can-eat” buffet for a set monthly fee. It provides budget predictability and encourages clients to fully utilize the service without worrying about nickel-and-diming. This model is ideal for businesses with high, predictable transaction volumes.
- Per-Invoice Pricing: This is purely transactional. You pay a set rate for every invoice processed (either AR or AP). This model is excellent for startups or seasonal businesses with low or highly variable volumes, as costs perfectly scale with activity.
Fixed Fee AR/AP Support
The fixed fee model offers immense peace of mind. After an initial assessment of your historical transaction volume, complexity, and specific needs (such as collections efforts or vendor management), Rocket bookkeeper provides one predictable, unchanging monthly price.
Why clients love it: No surprises. It moves the conversation away from tracking hours or transactions and focuses entirely on the results delivered—consistent cash flow and organized books.
Tiered Support Packages
Tiered pricing is the gold standard for catering to a diverse clientele. We structure packages to align with business size and complexity:
| Tier | Ideal For | Typical Services Included |
| Launchpad | Small businesses/Startups | Basic AP entry, weekly AR follow-ups, reconciliation. |
| Orbit | Growing Mid-sized firms | All of Launchpad, plus detailed AR aging analysis, expense management, dedicated AP approval workflows. |
| Galaxy | High-growth/Complex Ops | All of Orbit, plus custom reporting, collections support, integration with advanced ERP systems. |
This model ensures you only pay for the features your business actually needs.
Hourly Rate Billing
While less common for ongoing AR/AP management, hourly billing remains crucial for specific scenarios:
- Cleanup Projects: When your books are a mess and require an intensive, finite effort to bring them current.
- Ad-Hoc Consulting: For deep-dive strategic advice on optimizing your cash conversion cycle or setting up new AP automation software.
Rocket bookkeeper provides clear estimates for hourly work to prevent “runaway” bills, ensuring transparency even in these specialized projects.
Value-Based Pricing (VBP)
VBP is the pinnacle of partnership. Instead of billing for time or quantity, the fee is based on the tangible value generated for your business. For AR/AP, this could mean:
- Reducing your average Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) by 20%.
- Capturing an additional 5% in early-payment vendor discounts.
- Eliminating 100% of late fees.
The price reflects the increased cash flow and reduced risk we provide, making the service an investment rather than an expense.
Bundled vs. A-la-Carte Services
- Bundled: Combining AR, AP, payroll, and monthly reporting into one fixed package. This offers a significant discount over purchasing services individually and simplifies vendor management (one bill, one provider).
- A-la-Carte: Choosing only the specific AR or AP support you need. This is perfect for businesses with strong in-house staff who only need help in one area (e.g., only need Accounts Receivable assistance).
Free Trial or Pilot Offering
Trust is earned, not given. Before committing to a long-term partnership, a Free Trial or Pilot Offering (e.g., managing 10 AP invoices or a one-week AR follow-up cycle) allows you to experience the quality and efficiency of Rocket bookkeeper firsthand—risk-free. It’s the ultimate way to test the fit before a financial commitment.
Contract vs. Month-to-Month
Flexibility is key for dynamic businesses.
- Month-to-Month: Ideal for maximum flexibility, new partnerships, or businesses in a state of flux. It allows you to cancel anytime, placing the onus on Rocket bookkeeper to consistently deliver excellence.
- Contract (e.g., 6 or 12 months): Provides maximum cost savings (often a 10-20% discount) and guarantees service continuity. This is best for established businesses seeking to lock in stable support and pricing.
Value Calculators for Clients
Want to know the true ROI of professional AR/AP assistance? A Value Calculator is a powerful tool. Rocket bookkeeper uses a simple formula:
$$\text{Potential Savings} = (\text{Current Late Fees} + \text{Lost Vendor Discounts}) + (\text{Staff Time on Admin} \times \text{Hourly Wage}) – \text{Rocket bookkeeper Fee}$$
By showing clients the cost of not outsourcing (or the cost of doing it poorly), the value proposition becomes instantly clear.
Ready to Launch Your Cash Flow?
Choosing the right AR/AP pricing model is about finding predictability, flexibility, and tangible value. Whether you prefer the simplicity of a fixed fee or the accountability of value-based pricing, Rocket bookkeeper has a customizable solution designed to optimize your cash flow and keep your business moving forward.
