The cost of hiring in-house
A salary is only part of what an employee costs. Add payroll taxes, benefits, and the time spent hiring, training, and managing, and an in-house hire usually costs far more than it first appears. Most small businesses don't need the role full-time.
Here's what a full-time hire costs in California, using published salary data.
| Cost | Per year |
|---|---|
| In-house base salary, California average1 | $44,100–$51,800 |
| Loaded cost with payroll taxes and benefits (about 25%) | $55,000–$65,000 |
| Cost | Per year |
|---|---|
| In-house base salary, California small-business average2 | $100,200–$180,100 |
| Loaded cost with payroll taxes and benefits (about 25%) | $125,000–$225,000 |
Together, a full in-house finance team with a bookkeeper and a CFO runs about $180,000–$290,000 a year. With BooksBud, you pay a monthly fee for the level of support you need, with no payroll taxes, benefits, recruiting, or turnover to manage. Ask us for a quote.
1. Salary.com, California bookkeeper salary, 25th–75th percentile (2026). Back to table
2. ZipRecruiter, California startup and small-business CFO salary, 25th–75th percentile (2026). Back to table
Loaded-cost estimates add about 25% for payroll taxes and benefits. Actual costs vary by experience, benefits offered, and location. Figures exclude hiring, training, and turnover costs, which would add to these totals. These are estimates for comparison.
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