Handling accounting internally can feel like juggling spreadsheets, receipts, deadlines, and HR issues all at once. Many companies end up paying more than expected once salaries, software, and compliance work are included.
Why not outsource to a BPO to keep things simpler, cheaper, and a lot less stressful?
Direct Cost Comparison: In-House vs Outsourced
Salaries and Statutory Contributions
A single full-time accountant in Malaysia usually costs:
- RM 3,000-5,000 salary
- RM 420-650 for EPF and SOCSO
- RM 500-900 for benefits and bonuses
Two accountants easily push monthly internal costs to RM 7,000 to 11,000 before factoring in software licensing costs, office utilities, and miscellaneous things.
Outsourcing the same scope of work to a BPO usually lands between RM 3,500 to 6,500 monthly. That fee covers multiple professionals and fully-managed statutory compliance.
Software and Technology
Internal accounting requires licenses, updates, renewals, and setup time. For example:
- Xero: RM 120-200 per user each month
- PayrollPanda: Starts around RM 6.80 per employee per month + fixed subscription fee
- HReasily: RM 50-00 per user
- ERP or integrated platforms: RM 500-1,000 per month
BPOs include software costs in their service fees, giving companies access to premium tools without separate upfront investment.
Hidden Costs, Scalability and Risk (with Real Cost Risk)
When you run finance with only an internal team, what seems like stability often comes with hidden financial risks most companies don’t account for:
- Staff turnover – Recruiting and training a new accountant can cost RM 3,000-5,000 per hire, plus lost productivity while they get up to speed.
- Bonus and Claims – Annual bonuses, expense claims, and perks can add at least RM 500-1,000 per staff each year.
- Growing means more fixed costs. As your business scales, the volume of financial transactions grows. This means more invoices, more payroll, more reconciliations. That usually means increasing overhead by hiring more staff and buying more software licenses.
- Compliance Risk – Late SOCSO contributions carry 6% p.a. interest. Late EPF can trigger fines up to RM 10,000, plus interest and penalties.
- Operational Continuity – If a key accountant leaves, month-end reporting and statutory filings can stall, slowing decisions and risking penalties. BPO teams avoid this with multiple trained staff per account.
Cost Perspective Summary
For a small SME with two accountants:
- Internal cost: RM 7,000 to 11,000 monthly
- Outsourced cost: RM 3,500 to 6,500 monthly
That is a potential 40–55 % while providing multiple professionals, better continuity, and lower compliance risk.
Practical Takeaways
- Companies with fewer than 15 employees benefit most from outsourcing
- Outsourcing gives access to multiple finance professionals at a lower cost than hiring in-house staff
- BPO teams gain experience across industries and clients, improving compliance, accuracy, and problem-solving.
Take Action
If your accounting team is costly or slowing down operations, Quantum BPO can help. We handle bookkeeping, payroll, and statutory filings so you can focus on running and growing your company.
Contact Quantum BPO today to simplify accounting for your company.