Free Tool

Month-End Close
Time & Cost Estimator

See what closing the books really costs in team hours and dollars each year — and how much you free up by moving the close to a dedicated remote accountant.

Quick Answer

The cost of your month-end close is the team-hours it takes times your team's loaded hourly cost, across 12 months. Moving that work to a dedicated remote accountant through Zedtreeo (from $7/hour) typically cuts the cost 70–85% and hands the hours back to your in-house team. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate.

Total team-hours per month-end close: 60 hrs

Add up the hours everyone spends closing the books each month.

Your team's blended hourly cost

Loaded hourly cost of the staff doing the close (salary + overhead).

Internal cost/yr

$39,600

Remote cost/yr

$5,040

Based on Zedtreeo's actual pricing. Remote accountants from $7/hour.

These figures are estimates for planning only. Your actual rate depends on role, scope, seniority, and engagement; market comparisons use representative benchmarks, not live quotes. Not tax, accounting, or financial advice. Spotted a number that looks off, or have an idea to make this tool better? — we read every note and use it to improve these tools.

FAQs

Month-End Close FAQs

Understanding the cost of your close.

It's the total team-hours your close takes each month, multiplied by your team's blended hourly cost, across 12 months. The tool compares that against the same hours handled by a remote accountant at $7/hour.

Because a dedicated remote accountant through Zedtreeo starts from $1,232/month — typically 70–85% less than a loaded in-house finance hire — moving the close usually cuts its cost by a similar margin while freeing your team's time.

Zedtreeo's accountants are pre-vetted for software proficiency (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite and more) and onboarded to your close process and checklist. The rate includes account management and a replacement guarantee.

No. You keep ownership and review; the remote accountant runs the recurring close work under your supervision and sign-off, which is exactly what frees your team's time.

Zedtreeo shortlists pre-vetted candidates within 48 hours, with a free 5-day trial so you can confirm fit before committing.

Methodology

How the Month-End Close Time & Cost Estimator works

How the number is produced

Enter the hours your team spends per close (default 60) and the internal loaded hourly rate of the people doing it (default $55).
In-house cost = hours × internal rate; remote cost = the same hours × the Rate Index accountant rate; savings = the difference, annualised.
Hours reclaimed = the close hours moved off your in-house team.

Assumptions built in

The hours model is a heuristic — enter your actual close hours if you track them.
Well-run SMB closes land in 5–10 business days.

Benchmarks & sources

Zedtreeo Rate Index (2026)Used for: the offshore hourly rate per role used on the Zedtreeo side of every comparison — the same figures quoted on our service pages.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011) (2024)Used for: US comparator.

Methodology and constants last reviewed August 18, 2026 against the Zedtreeo pricing engine and Rate Index. Estimates are for planning; your quote depends on role, scope and engagement.