Behind on Your Books? Here’s What to Do First
If your bookkeeping has been neglected, you’re not alone. Many business owners fall behind – whether due to a busy season, lack of time, or not knowing where to start. But the longer you wait, the more overwhelming it feels. The good news? There’s a proven first step that makes the entire catch-up process easier and faster.
Download Our Free Brochure →Step 1: Get Your Bank and Credit Card Statements
Before doing anything else, gather all your business financial statements:
- Checking and savings accounts
- Credit cards
- Merchant processors (Stripe, Square, PayPal)
- Loans or financing accounts
These statements are the foundation for every transaction that needs to be entered and reconciled.
Step 2: Find Out How Many Months You’re Behind
Are you missing 3 months or 3 years? Pinpoint the earliest period where your books were last up to date. This helps define the scope of the work – and avoid redoing months you’ve already completed.
Step 3: Identify What Platform You’re Using
QuickBooks Online? Desktop? Xero? Excel? Understanding your bookkeeping platform helps decide whether you need a full cleanup or just entry and reconciliation. If your file is corrupted or disorganized, you may need both.
Step 4: Decide If You’ll DIY or Get Help
If you’re confident using accounting software and have time, you may try catching up yourself. But if you’re overwhelmed, out of time, or unsure how to categorize properly, it’s faster (and safer) to bring in professionals.
Step 5: Start With One Month at a Time
Don’t try to catch up 12 months in one sitting. Start with the most recent month and work backward. This keeps your current records clean while chipping away at the backlog.
Real-World Example
A consulting firm fell 14 months behind. The owner tried catching up in one weekend – and accidentally duplicated five months of data. After handing it over to a professional team, we:
- Rebuilt and reconciled 14 months of financials
- Delivered clean reports reviewed by a CPA
- Helped them file taxes and apply for a small business loan on time
Why Acting Now Saves You Money
The longer you wait, the harder it gets. Banks may stop showing downloadable statements, receipts go missing, and transaction histories expire. Starting now ensures:
Download Our Free Brochure →- Fewer missing documents
- Fewer IRS risks
- A faster and more affordable cleanup
If you’re behind on your books, don’t stress – take the first step.
Let RemoteBooksOnline assess your situation, gather the data, and start the cleanup.
Request your free bookkeeping review today.
Catch-Up Bookkeeping Services Across States
Catch-Up Bookkeeping Across Key ZIPs
FAQs
How do I know how far behind I am?
Look at your last set of completed and reconciled financial statements. That’s where your catch-up needs to begin.
Can I start with this year and do last year later?
Yes, many businesses prioritize the current year first and tackle prior years once they’re stabilized.
Do I need receipts to catch up on my books?
Not always. Most financial activity can be reconstructed from bank and credit card statements, with notes added as needed.
Can you fix it if I’ve already tried and messed up my QuickBooks file?
Yes. We specialize in correcting and cleaning up broken or mismanaged files.
Being behind on your books is stressful – but starting is easier than you think.
Let RemoteBooksOnline take the lead, clean up your records, and put you back in control.
