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CA Firm Retainer Fee Calculator — Price Your Services Right

Most CA firms under-price their services — not out of choice, but because there is no single reference that tells you what the market rate actually is for your city and service mix. This calculator benchmarks your fee band against prevailing market rates across metros, Tier-2, and Tier-3 cities for every service a CA firm typically offers: GST filings, TDS returns, ITR, bookkeeping retainers, ROC compliance, and tax audits. Enter your client portfolio, team size, and monthly overhead to see whether your current pricing covers costs — and what the market supports.

Firm Location

Client Portfolio

₹1.2K–₹2.5K/client/mo
₹1.0K–₹1.8K/client/qtr
₹1.5K–₹4.0K/client
₹4.0K–₹12.0K/client
₹2.5K–₹6.0K/client/mo
₹7.0K–₹18.0K/client/yr
₹12.0K–₹40.0K/client/yr

Team & Overhead

Salaries + rent + software

Fee Band Estimate

GST Filing (GSTR-1 + 3B)

₹24.0K – ₹50.0K

per month

TDS Returns (quarterly ÷ 3)

₹3.3K – ₹6.0K

per month

Bookkeeping / Retainer

₹12.5K – ₹30.0K

per month

ITR Filing (annualized)

₹7.1K – ₹20.0K

per month

ROC / Company Compliance

₹4.7K – ₹12.0K

per month

Tax Audit (annualized)

₹5.0K – ₹16.7K

per month

Suggested Monthly Revenue Band

₹56.6K

to ₹1.35 L

Revenue per Team Member

₹9.4K

per month (6 people)

⚠ Overhead Gap: ₹93.4K/month

At the minimum fee band your revenue does not cover overhead. Raise fees, add clients, or reduce costs.

Rates based on prevailing market averages for Tier-2 CA firms. Actual fees depend on client complexity, firm reputation, and service scope.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much should a CA firm charge for GST filing per month?+
GST filing fees (GSTR-1 + GSTR-3B) typically range from ₹800–1,800/client in Tier-3 cities, ₹1,200–2,500 in Tier-2 cities like Pune or Ahmedabad, and ₹2,000–3,500 in metros like Mumbai or Delhi. These are per-client monthly fees. Fees are higher for clients with complex transactions, e-invoicing requirements, or multiple GSTINs.
What is the standard TDS return filing fee for CA firms?+
TDS return filing is charged quarterly. Standard rates are: Tier-3 cities ₹700–1,200/return, Tier-2 ₹1,000–1,800, and Metro ₹1,500–2,500. Rates vary by number of deductees — a company with 200+ deductees may pay more than one with 20. Some CA firms charge per-deductee (₹50–100 per head) for large clients.
How should I price a monthly bookkeeping retainer?+
Bookkeeping retainer pricing depends on transaction volume, number of bank accounts, and reporting complexity. Typical market rates: Tier-3 ₹1,500–4,000/month, Tier-2 ₹2,500–6,000/month, Metro ₹4,000–9,000/month. New CA firms often under-price bookkeeping — price it to cover at least 4–6 staff hours per month at your effective billing rate.
What is the industry benchmark EBITDA margin for CA firms?+
Healthy CA firm EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) margins typically range from 25–40%. Margins below 15% indicate under-pricing or over-staffing. Partners in sole proprietorships often confuse drawings with profit — true margin should be calculated after paying market salary to the proprietor. TaxZeo's profitability calculator separates this out.
Should I charge separately for GSTR-9 annual return?+
Yes. GSTR-9 (annual return) is typically charged separately at 1–2× the monthly GST retainer. For clients with complex reconciliations or mismatches between GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B, charge more — the work is often 4–8 hours per client. Many CA firms include GSTR-9C (reconciliation statement) at a separate fee of ₹5,000–20,000 depending on turnover.

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