In-House vs Outsourced Accounting Calculator

How this calculator works

1. 1

   Enter your monthly revenue and describe your current setup — in-house, outsourced, or nothing formal yet.

2. 2

   Add the salary and benefits you pay or would expect to pay, including the costs that sit outside base pay.

3. 3

   The calculator adds the supervision time an owner or manager spends overseeing the function, valued at a realistic hourly rate.

4. 4

   The result compares the fully loaded in-house cost against an equivalent outsourced fee, and flags the continuity risk of relying on one person.

Costs owners routinely forget

Gratuity is the most commonly overlooked item — it accrues from day one and becomes payable after a year of service, so it belongs in the monthly cost even though it is paid at the end. You can size it with our UAE gratuity calculator. The second is cover: someone still has to run payroll and file VAT during annual leave.

See how an outsourced arrangement works in practice through our resource outsourcing service.

Frequently asked questions

What does an in-house accountant really cost in the UAE?

Budget well above base salary. A realistic total includes visa and medical insurance, end-of-service gratuity accruing at 21–30 days of basic pay per year, accounting software licences, annual leave and sick cover, recruitment cost, and the management time spent supervising the role.

When does outsourcing make more sense than hiring?

Outsourcing usually wins when transaction volume does not justify a full-time salary, when you need several skill levels (bookkeeper, reviewer, tax specialist) rather than one generalist, or when continuity matters and you cannot afford the function to stop when one person resigns or travels.

What is key-man risk in accounting?

It is the exposure created when one individual holds all the knowledge of your books. If they leave, fall ill or make an undetected error, there is no second pair of eyes and no handover. An outsourced team spreads that risk across people and documented processes.

Does outsourcing mean losing control of my finances?

No. You keep ownership of your accounting system and data; the provider works inside it. In practice most owners gain visibility, because outsourced arrangements come with an agreed reporting calendar rather than ad-hoc updates.

Other free tools

• UAE VAT CalculatorAdd or remove 5% VAT and check your registration threshold.
• UAE Corporate Tax CalculatorEstimate 9% corporate tax, including Small Business Relief.
• UAE Gratuity CalculatorWork out end-of-service benefits under UAE Labour Law.