Cleanup & Catch-Up Accounting

Get accurate, usable books without judgment about how they got messy

Behind books, unreconciled accounts, duplicate transactions, incorrect balances, and missing information can make it difficult to understand your finances or prepare reliable tax returns. Dunham Bookkeeping Services identifies what went wrong, corrects the records, and creates a clear path forward.

Whether the books need a focused cleanup or a more extensive reconstruction, the work begins with reviewing the current records and determining what is actually required.

Your books may need cleanup when…

  • Bank or credit card accounts have not been reconciled

  • QuickBooks does not match the actual bank balances

  • Transactions are duplicated, missing, or sitting in Uncategorized

  • Personal and business activity has been mixed together

  • Loan, payroll, sales tax, or payment-processor balances look wrong

  • Income or expenses may be recorded in the wrong accounts

  • Accounts receivable or accounts payable reports are unreliable

  • Prior-year activity was changed after tax returns were prepared

  • Financial reports do not make sense or cannot be used confidently

  • Your tax preparer has requested corrections before filing

You do not need to diagnose the problem before reaching out. The purpose of the review is to determine what is wrong, how far back the issues go, and what level of correction is actually necessary.

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How cleanup and catch-up accounting works

1. Initial conversation

We’ll discuss what is not working, how far behind the records may be, which accounts and systems are involved, and what you need the books to accomplish.

2. Diagnostic review

I’ll review the available accounting records and supporting information to identify the major issues, determine what additional documents are needed, and estimate the scope of the cleanup.

3. Cleanup or reconstruction

Once you approve the proposal, I’ll correct the agreed issues. This may include reconciling accounts, removing duplicates, correcting classifications, rebuilding balances, recording missing activity, and reviewing connected systems.

4. Final review and path forward

You’ll receive corrected records, an explanation of the work completed, and a list of any remaining questions or recommendations. We’ll also discuss whether ongoing bookkeeping or periodic reviews would help keep the books accurate.

No cleanup work begins until you have reviewed and approved the proposed scope and pricing. If the review uncovers additional issues that materially change the project, we’ll discuss them before expanding the work.

What cleanup may include:

  • Matching accounting records to statements, identifying discrepancies, correcting beginning balances, and resolving old unreconciled activity.

  • Removing duplicate entries, recording missing activity, correcting account classifications, and clearing transactions that were left uncategorized.

  • Reviewing deposits, fees, payroll entries, clearing accounts, and connections between QuickBooks and systems such as Stripe, Square, PayPal, Venmo, or payroll software.

  • Reviewing loans, credit cards, owner activity, sales tax, payroll liabilities, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other balances that may not be accurate.

  • Organizing and correcting the books so the financial statements are reliable enough for tax preparation, while coordinating with the tax preparer when needed.

Every cleanup is different. Your proposal will identify the specific accounts, periods, and corrections included in the project rather than using a generic checklist.

How cleanup pricing is determined

Cleanup is not priced by the number of months alone. Two businesses can be behind for the same period and require very different amounts of work.

Pricing may be affected by:

  • The number of bank, credit card, loan, and payment accounts involved

  • Transaction volume and the condition of the existing records

  • How long accounts have gone unreconciled

  • Missing statements, receipts, or historical information

  • Payroll, sales tax, accounts receivable, or accounts payable issues

  • Payment processors and other systems connected to the accounting file

  • Whether balances can be corrected or must be reconstructed

  • The reporting or tax-preparation deadline

Some projects can be quoted after the initial conversation. Others require a paid diagnostic review before the full scope can be determined. Any diagnostic fee, deliverables, and next steps will be explained before the review begins.

Ready to get your books back on track?

You do not need perfectly organized records or a complete explanation of what went wrong before reaching out. We’ll start with what you have, identify the issues, and determine the most practical way to move forward.

Schedule a Consultation

Need ongoing support after the cleanup? Monthly bookkeeping and accounting services can be quoted as part of your recommended next steps.