Financial Services Cost Guides
Understand typical pricing before you hire. Know what's fair, what's high, and what questions to ask.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| DIY Software |
$0 |
$120/yr |
e.g. TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA — best for straightforward W-2 returns |
| Online CPA |
$150 |
$500 |
Flat-fee individual return filing; includes schedule review |
| Full-Service CPA |
$300 |
$2,000+ |
Complex returns: self-employed, investments, rental income, S-corps |
💡 Tip: Free federal filing is available for most simple returns. Upgrade to a CPA if you have a business, rental property, or major life change (marriage, divorce, inheritance).
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| Robo-Advisor |
0% |
0.50% AUM/yr |
Automated portfolio management; no human advisor |
| Subscription CFP |
$100 |
$300/mo |
Unlimited advice from a Certified Financial Planner via video/phone |
| AUM-Based Advisor |
0.50% |
1.50% AUM/yr |
Traditional wealth manager; typically requires $250k+ minimum |
| One-Time Plan |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
Comprehensive financial plan document without ongoing management |
💡 Tip: For most people with under $500k in investable assets, a subscription-based flat-fee planner delivers better value than AUM-percentage models.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| Term Life (20yr, $500k) |
$25/mo |
$80/mo |
Healthy 30-year-old; varies significantly with age and health |
| Homeowners Insurance |
$800/yr |
$3,000/yr |
Varies by home value, location, and coverage level |
| Auto Insurance |
$800/yr |
$2,500/yr |
Full coverage; depends on car, driving record, and location |
| Disability Insurance |
1% |
4% of income/yr |
Replaces 60-70% of income if you cannot work |
💡 Tip: Use comparison tools (Policygenius, etc.) to shop multiple carriers at once. Term life is almost always a better value than whole/universal life for most buyers.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| DIY Software |
$15/mo |
$75/mo |
e.g. QuickBooks, Xero, Wave — requires your own time investment |
| Virtual Bookkeeping |
$200/mo |
$800/mo |
Outsourced monthly bookkeeping for small businesses |
| Full-Service Accounting |
$500/mo |
$3,000+/mo |
Includes payroll, invoicing, financial statements, and tax prep |
💡 Tip: Wave is free for invoicing and accounting if you are a very small business. Once your annual revenue exceeds $500k, professional bookkeeping typically pays for itself in tax savings alone.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| SBA 7(a) Loan |
6.5% |
10% APR |
Government-backed; best rates but slower approval (30–90 days) |
| Business Line of Credit |
7% |
25% APR |
Revolving credit; draw as needed; varies by credit score and revenue |
| Online Term Loan |
10% |
80%+ APR |
Fast funding (1–3 days) but much higher rates; use only if necessary |
| Invoice Factoring |
1% |
5% per invoice |
Sell outstanding invoices for immediate cash; best for B2B businesses |
💡 Tip: Always pursue SBA loans first if you can wait 60–90 days. The rate difference between SBA and online lenders can save tens of thousands over the loan term.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| Self-Directed Brokerage |
$0 |
$0 |
No commissions on stocks/ETFs; pay expense ratios on funds only |
| Robo-Advisor |
0.25% |
0.50% AUM/yr |
Automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting |
| Managed Portfolio |
0.50% |
1.50% AUM/yr |
Human advisor with portfolio management; typically 250k+ minimum |
| Hedge Fund / Private Equity |
2% |
20%+ carried interest |
Accredited investors only; $1M+ minimum typically |
💡 Tip: For most long-term investors, a low-cost index fund strategy (0.03–0.20% expense ratios) outperforms actively managed funds after fees over 20+ year periods.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| Origination Fees |
0% |
1% of loan |
Some lenders charge zero origination; negotiate this |
| Closing Costs (Purchase) |
2% |
5% of price |
Title insurance, appraisal, attorney, prepaid taxes/insurance |
| Refinance Closing Costs |
$2,000 |
$8,000 |
Break-even typically 18–36 months; only worthwhile if you plan to stay |
| Mortgage Broker Fee |
0.5% |
2.75% of loan |
Can shop multiple lenders; fee paid by lender or you at closing |
💡 Tip: Always get at least 3 loan estimates before committing. A 0.25% rate difference on a $400k mortgage saves over $20,000 over 30 years.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| Federal Subsidized |
5.50% |
6.54% APR |
2024–25 rates; income-driven repayment and forgiveness eligible |
| Federal Unsubsidized (Grad) |
7.05% |
8.05% APR |
Accrues interest during school; PSLF and IDR eligible |
| Private Refinance (Excellent Credit) |
4.5% |
8.0% APR |
Can lower rate but surrenders federal protections |
| Refinancing Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
Reputable lenders charge no origination fee to refinance |
💡 Tip: Do NOT refinance federal loans into private loans if you plan to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness or are on income-driven repayment. You permanently lose those protections.
Disclaimer: All pricing ranges are approximate estimates based on publicly available market data as of 2024–2025. Actual costs vary significantly based on individual circumstances, location, service complexity, and provider. FinanceStackHub does not guarantee the accuracy of these figures. This is not financial or legal advice. Always obtain multiple quotes and conduct your own due diligence before engaging any service provider.