Catch-Up Bookkeeping
Reconstruction and reconciliation of backlogged financial records. We work through historical transactions, correct errors, and bring your books fully current.
The Project
This is for businesses that have fallen behind on their books. Maybe you tried handling it yourself and the numbers stopped making sense. Maybe life got busy and financial record-keeping kept sliding down the priority list. Maybe you inherited a mess from a previous bookkeeper or accountant who wasn’t doing the job properly.
We treat this as a reconstruction project. We take whatever documentation you have, work through the backlog systematically, and rebuild your financial history until every account reconciles and every transaction is properly categorized. The goal is a complete and accurate set of books, not a patched-together approximation.
The Assessment
The Assessment
Before any work begins, we figure out what we’re dealing with. How far back do the problems go? What records exist and what’s missing? Once we understand the scope, you get a fixed project fee. You know exactly what it costs to go from chaos to current.
The Reconstruction
The Reconstruction
We process the backlog month by month. Every transaction gets classified. Bank and credit card accounts get reconciled against statements. Missing documentation gets tracked down. Errors and duplicates get corrected. The result is a clean ledger that accurately reflects your business history.
The Problem
Messy books create a particular kind of stress. There’s the obvious worry about taxes and compliance. But there’s also a quieter burden. Every time you need to make a business decision, you’re doing it without reliable data. Every time someone asks for financial statements, you change the subject or stall.
The worst part is how the problem compounds. The longer the backlog sits, the harder it becomes to untangle. Bank statements pile up. Memory of what certain transactions were for fades. What started as a few months of catch-up work turns into a years-long reconstruction project. Waiting makes everything harder.
Tax Complications
Tax Complications
You cannot file an accurate return based on incomplete books. If you’ve been guessing or estimating, you may have underpaid and now owe back taxes with penalties. Or you overpaid and left money on the table. Either way, sorting out the books is the only path to sorting out your tax situation.
Closed Doors
Closed Doors
Banks want financial statements before approving loans. Potential buyers or investors want to see historical performance. Insurance companies and landlords sometimes require proof of revenue. Without clean books, these conversations stall or never happen. Opportunities pass because you can’t produce the documentation.
The Outcome
The weight lifts. You stop avoiding your financial records because there’s nothing to avoid anymore. You have a complete, accurate picture of your business’s financial history. If someone asks for statements or documentation, you can provide it confidently.
More importantly, you’re positioned to stay current going forward. Once the catch-up work is done, monthly bookkeeping becomes straightforward maintenance rather than an overwhelming project. You don’t have to dig out of this hole again.
Tax Readiness
Tax Readiness
Your books support accurate tax filing. Whether you’re working with a CPA or handling it yourself, you have the categorized transactions and reconciled accounts that tax prep requires. No more scrambling at deadline. No more anxiety about whether you got the numbers right.
A Clean Baseline
A Clean Baseline
We deliver reconciled accounts and organized records. The messy history is resolved and documented. You start the next period with accurate balances and a clear process for keeping them that way. The backlog is behind you.
The Merrimack Valley's Trusted Accounting Partner
The Next Step:
A 15-Minute Call
Tell us about your business and what you're dealing with. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you a straightforward quote.