CATCH-UP BOOKKEEPING
Catch-Up Bookkeeping
Behind on Your Books? Let's Fix That.
Whether you are a few months behind or several years behind — messy books are not a permanent problem. They are a fixable one.
We clean up the backlog, reconstruct the records and get your books current so you can move forward with confidence.
QuickBooks · Xero · Virtual across Washington State · Bothell Office
COMMON SITUATIONS
Sound Familiar?
These are the most common reasons businesses come to us for catch-up bookkeeping.
Was Doing It Yourself and Fell Behind
Life got busy and the books got pushed to the back burner.
Previous Bookkeeper Left a Mess
Switched bookkeepers and inherited disorganized records.
Never Set Up Books at All
Running the business from bank statements and spreadsheets with no formal books.
Tax Deadline Is Coming
Tax preparer needs clean books and you are not ready.
Need Financials for a Loan
Bank or lender requesting two or three years of financial statements.
Multiple Years of Backlog
Years of transactions sitting unrecorded and uncategorized.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
What Catch-Up Bookkeeping Includes
Every catch-up engagement is scoped after we review your situation. Here is what the work typically covers.
Reconstruction
- Bank statement reconstruction
- Credit card transaction review
- Missing transaction entry
- Prior period reconciliation
- Payroll record reconstruction
- Vendor payment history
- Revenue reconstruction
- Multi-year catch-up
Cleanup & Organization
- Chart of accounts setup
- Duplicate transaction removal
- Miscategorized entry correction
- Opening balance verification
- Accounts receivable cleanup
- Accounts payable cleanup
- Inventory adjustment
- Tax ready financials
No Matter How Far Behind You Are
A Few Months Behind
A shorter project, scoped and quoted at your free review.
6-12 Months Behind
Manageable cleanup with a clear timeline.
1-2 Years Behind
Requires a systematic year by year approach.
Multiple Years Behind
We work through the backlog year by year until the books are current.
BEFORE YOU START
Things to Know Before Starting
Most people wait too long. Here is why starting now is always the right call.
Start Now — Not After Tax Season
The longer books go unreconciled the harder and more expensive the cleanup becomes.
You Do Not Need Perfect Records
Missing statements can usually be downloaded from your bank again, and income reported to the IRS can be pulled from an IRS transcript. Do not let imperfect records stop you from getting started.
Catch-Up Reveals Hidden Deductions
Properly reconstructed books often uncover deductions that were missed during informal record-keeping.
Clean Books Open Financial Doors
Banks require clean financials for loans. Investors require them for due diligence. Getting current opens doors that messy books keep closed.
WASHINGTON
Catching Up on Washington Filings Too
When books fall behind, Washington excise tax returns usually fall behind with them — or were filed from estimates. Part of catch-up bookkeeping is comparing what you reported on your B&O and sales tax returns with what the reconstructed books actually show, so any difference can be corrected before it becomes a Department of Revenue assessment.
Once the backlog is cleared, the books are ready for your business tax return. If unfiled IRS returns or balance-due notices are part of the picture, our back taxes and IRS notices service handles that side.
Catch-up projects are common for general contractors juggling job costs and for gas station owners reconciling cash, card, lottery, and fuel sales. We work with clients in person through our Bothell tax preparation office and virtually across the state, including Seattle bookkeeping clients.
For more on what gets lost when records slip, read what happens if you don't keep good financial records and how to transition your bookkeeping to a professional service.
WHAT TO HAVE READY
Documents for Your Catch-Up Project
Missing some of these? Bring what you have — we can usually rebuild the rest.
- Bank statements for every account
- Credit card statements
- Existing QuickBooks or Xero file
- Payroll reports
- Loan and lease statements
- Receipts for major purchases
- Prior-year tax returns
- Sales tax and B&O returns filed
How Catch-Up Bookkeeping Works
- 01
Free review — we assess the scope of the cleanup and provide a clear timeline and quote
- 02
Document collection — we send a checklist specific to your situation
- 03
Reconstruction and cleanup — we work through your backlog systematically month by month
- 04
Review and approval — we review the completed books with you before finalizing
- 05
Monthly bookkeeping — once books are current we transition you to our monthly bookkeeping service
Catch-Up Is Just the Beginning
THE PROBLEM WITH ONE-TIME CLEANUP
- The same backlog builds up again
- Another cleanup the next year
- Tax time stays stressful
- Loan applications stay on hold
THE BETTER WAY
- Move straight into monthly bookkeeping
- Clean books every month
- Tax time is simple
- Financial statements always ready
PRICING
What It Costs
We assess your backlog and provide a separate quote before starting monthly service. Most projects are completed within 2 to 4 weeks.
View bookkeeping pricing →Final pricing is confirmed during your free consultation after we review your accounts, number of entities, software setup, and current state of your books. No surprises.
Common Questions
GET STARTED
The Backlog Does Not Fix Itself. But We Can.
No judgment. No stress. Just a clear plan to get your books current and keep them that way.
Last updated September 2026