Can a bookkeeper help me catch up on years of messy records?
Yes. This is actually one of the most common reasons business owners reach out to a bookkeeper. Things get busy, the books slip, and before you know it two or three years have passed without proper reconciliation. It happens more often than you’d think.
The work involves going through your accounts systematically. A bookkeeper will gather bank statements, credit card statements, and whatever receipts or invoices you still have. Then they reconstruct transactions month by month, categorize expenses correctly, and reconcile everything against your actual bank records. The result is a complete picture of what happened financially over the period in question.
How far back you can go depends on what documentation exists. Banks typically provide statements going back several years, and those form the foundation of any catch-up bookkeeping project. Receipts and invoices might be harder to recover, but the bank records usually provide enough to work with. The IRS accepts bank statements as supporting documentation for most expenses under $75, so even missing receipts don’t necessarily mean lost deductions.
Expect to answer some questions during the process. There will be transactions that aren’t obvious from the description alone. Was that $400 charge at a hardware store materials for a job or something personal? Your bookkeeper can categorize most things independently, but some entries need your input.
The cleanup might also reveal issues you weren’t aware of. Duplicate payments, subscriptions you forgot to cancel, expenses that should have been billed to customers. This isn’t bad news. It’s valuable information that helps you run things better going forward.
Pricing for catch-up work is usually based on time. More years and more transaction volume mean more hours. A straightforward cleanup might take a few weeks. A complicated situation with multiple accounts and years of neglect takes longer. Either way, the investment gets you clean financials you can hand to your accountant at tax time and statements a bank will accept if you need financing.
The goal isn’t just accurate numbers for their own sake. It’s getting to a point where you actually know how your business has been performing. A Richmond bookkeeper who understands your situation can turn chaos into clarity and set you up so you don’t fall behind again.
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More Questions
How do I know if my business is actually making money?
Your income statement tells you whether you're profitable, but only if your books are accurate. Cash in the bank doesn't mean the same thing as profit. Look at what's left after all expenses, including paying yourself fairly.
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Track every cost against the job it belongs to. Labor hours, materials, subs, equipment. Compare what you bid against what you spent. Without this, you won't know which jobs make money until it's too late to do anything about it.
Read answerHow do I reconcile my accounts in QuickBooks Online?
Reconciliation compares your QuickBooks records to your bank statement. Start with your statement ending date and balance, then match transactions one by one until the difference is zero.
Read answerShould I use cash basis or accrual accounting for my business?
Most small businesses do fine with cash basis because it's simpler and matches what you see in your bank account. Accrual makes more sense when you need an accurate picture of profitability across longer billing cycles or carry significant inventory.
Read answerDo I Need a Bookkeeper If I Have an Accountant?
Usually, yes. Accountants and bookkeepers do different jobs. Your accountant handles taxes and financial strategy. A bookkeeper keeps your records current so your accountant has something accurate to work with.
Read answerWhat's the difference between catch-up bookkeeping and cleanup bookkeeping?
Catch-up bookkeeping addresses a time gap when your books stopped being maintained. Cleanup bookkeeping fixes quality issues like miscategorized transactions and accounts that don't reconcile. Many businesses need both.
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