Catch-up bookkeeping, months or years rebuilt
Catch-up bookkeeping rebuilds the months or years your books fell behind. We gather your bank and card statements, categorize every transaction, reconcile each account and hand you a profit and loss and balance sheet you can file from. Pricing starts at $150 for each month behind, quoted before we start.
Updated November 2026
When do you need catch-up bookkeeping?
Most owners call us for one of these.
Your tax return is due
The books are a year behind and your accountant needs a real profit and loss.
A lender or buyer asked
Banks, SBA lenders and buyers want reconciled financials.
You got an IRS letter
Missing returns or a CP2000 mean the numbers have to be rebuilt first.
Your bookkeeper left
The file is half done and nobody knows what was reconciled.
You switched software
The move to QuickBooks Online or Xero left gaps and duplicates.
You just don't know
You can't tell if you made money last year. That's reason enough.
How do we catch up your books?
A fixed quote first, then four steps.
Free review
We look at what exists and how far behind you are, then quote a fixed price.
Gather
You send statements and access. Our checklist says exactly what.
Rebuild
We categorize every transaction and reconcile every account to the statements.
Hand over
You get a profit and loss and balance sheet, plus a note on any late filings.
What does catch-up bookkeeping cost?
Pricing starts at $150 for each month behind, and the exact price depends on how many accounts you have and how busy they are. A business with one bank account and a few hundred transactions a month sits at the low end. Several accounts, payroll and inventory cost more. Either way, you get a fixed quote before we start, so there's no surprise bill. See all our prices on the pricing page.
What's the difference between catch-up and cleanup?
Catch-up means the books weren't kept for a while, so we build the missing months from statements. Cleanup means books exist but they're wrong: unreconciled accounts, duplicates, personal costs mixed in or a bad software move. Many files need both. We'll tell you which after the free review.
What happens after?
Most clients move straight to monthly bookkeeping, so the books never fall behind again. If returns are late, we can prepare them too, with business tax returns and personal tax returns. Start by gathering what's on our catch-up bookkeeping checklist.
How much does catch-up bookkeeping cost?
From $150 for each month behind, depending on accounts and volume. You get a fixed quote before we start.
How long does catch-up bookkeeping take?
Once we have statements, a few months usually take one to two weeks. A year or more takes longer, depending on how many accounts there are.
Can you catch up books in QuickBooks Desktop?
We usually move them to QuickBooks Online or Xero as part of the catch-up, so they stay current afterward.
Do I need to file my taxes before the books are done?
If the deadline is close, file an extension. It's better to file once, correctly, from finished books.
Tell us what's messy. We'll tell you what it takes.
Tell us what you need and get a fixed price before any work starts. No pressure and no contract.