>If you use standard accounting software (like quickbooks) and just want them to deal with filing and paying the taxes, the bill will be small.

I make more use of the accountant than that.. It's almost like having an experienced business person on 'pay by the hour' basis. A typical contract accountant has worked with more businesses than your typical businessperson. I mean, the accountant is not much help on marketing, product development, etc... but as for the mechanics of running the office, payroll, insurance, keeping the government officials besides the taxman at bay, etc... an accountant can be really, really useful, especially when you just want to know "how do other businesses solve this problem?"