What exactly will I receive when catch-up bookkeeping is finished?

You'll receive fully reconciled books in QuickBooks Online (or Xero) with every bank account, credit card, and loan matched transaction-by-transaction. That includes a clean chart of accounts organized for your industry, every transaction properly categorized, monthly P&L statements for every month covered, a balance sheet as of the cleanup end date, and a summary memo noting anything unusual. Your books will be ready for ongoing monthly bookkeeping immediately.

Are there any other charges not included in a catch-up bookkeeping proposal?

The price in your proposal covers the full cleanup scope described — reconciliation, categorization, and clean financials for the period quoted. Things not typically included (and quoted separately if needed): setting up a brand-new QBO file from scratch, payroll setup or corrections, sales tax filing, inventory tracking setup, or 1099 preparation. If we discover the scope is significantly larger than expected, we'll tell you before doing the extra work — never a surprise bill.

Catch-Up Bookkeeping: What to Expect

Q: Will my finished books be ready for my CPA to file tax returns?

Yes. When catch-up bookkeeping is finished, your CPA gets a clean QuickBooks file they can pull directly from. Transactions are categorized using standard tax-relevant categories so your CPA isn't guessing. If multiple years are behind, each year is cleaned separately so each tax return has its own clean period. We don't file tax returns or give tax advice — that's your CPA's job. We give them the clean data they need to do it efficiently.

Q: Will my bookkeeper communicate directly with my CPA?

Absolutely. Once your books are clean, we connect directly with your CPA to hand off the file and answer any questions they have. If your CPA needs adjustments, reclassifications, or supporting documentation, we handle it directly. You shouldn't have to be the middleman between your bookkeeper and your CPA.

You've received a proposal for catch-up bookkeeping. The price makes sense, but you have questions — and they're the same ones nearly every business owner asks before moving forward. Here are honest, detailed answers. For the full system behind those answers, start with our complete guide to catch-up bookkeeping.

What exactly will I receive when the cleanup is finished?

When we hand you the finished product, here's what you're getting:

Fully reconciled books in QuickBooks Online (or Xero) — every bank account, credit card, and loan matched transaction-by-transaction against your statements.
A clean chart of accounts organized for your industry, so your reports actually make sense for how your business operates.
Every transaction categorized properly — not dumped into "Uncategorized" or "Ask My Accountant." Each one placed where it belongs.
Monthly P&L statements for every month covered by the cleanup, so you can see how each period actually performed.
A balance sheet as of the cleanup end date, showing exactly where your business stands.
A summary memo noting anything unusual we found — missing deposits, duplicate charges, uncategorized transfers that need your input.
Books ready for ongoing monthly bookkeeping — no lingering cleanup work carrying forward. Your cleanup is done, and a normal monthly cycle can begin immediately.

Will my finished books be ready for my CPA to file tax returns?

Yes — that's the whole point. When we finish, your CPA gets a clean QuickBooks file they can pull directly from. No shoebox. No spreadsheets. No "I think this was a business expense."

We categorize using standard tax-relevant categories so your CPA isn't guessing what goes where.
If multiple years are behind, we clean each year separately so each tax return has its own clean period.
We've done this for dozens of clients whose CPAs have used the finished books to file 2–3 years of back returns without needing additional cleanup.

We don't file tax returns or give tax advice — that's your CPA's job. We give them the clean data they need to do it efficiently. And when your books are a mess, your CPA either charges a premium to fix them first or files with incomplete information — both of which are worse outcomes. Clean books from day one of the handoff mean a faster, cheaper, and more accurate tax return. The kinds of bookkeeping mistakes that trigger IRS audits are exactly what a proper cleanup eliminates.

Are there any other charges? Is anything not included?

The price in your proposal covers the full cleanup scope described — reconciliation, categorization, and clean financials for the period quoted.

Things that ARE included:

Reconciling all accounts listed in the proposal scope
Categorizing all transactions for the period covered
Producing monthly financial statements
Fixing prior errors we find along the way
Communicating with your CPA during and after the handoff

Things that are NOT typically included (and would be quoted separately if needed):

Setting up a brand-new QBO file from scratch (if you don't have one)
Payroll setup or corrections
Sales tax filing
Inventory tracking setup
1099 preparation

If we discover the scope is significantly larger than expected — for example, a business bank account you forgot to mention, or 6 months that turns out to be 14 months — we'll tell you before doing the extra work. Never a surprise bill.

Bottom line: the price you see is the price you pay for the work described. Period.

Will you communicate directly with my CPA?

Absolutely — and we prefer it. Once your books are clean, we'll connect directly with your CPA to hand off the file and answer any questions they have.

We've worked with dozens of CPAs and know what they need: clean QBO access, a summary of any unusual items, and someone who can answer "what is this transaction?" without bothering you.

If your CPA needs adjustments, reclassifications, or supporting documentation, we handle it directly.

You shouldn't have to be the middleman between your bookkeeper and your CPA. That's our job.

Ready to get started?

If you've already received a proposal, you know the price and the scope. These answers should fill in the rest. If you haven't gotten a proposal yet, let's talk — a 15-minute call is all we need to scope your cleanup and give you a fixed price.