QuickBooks Cleanup Services: Fix the Past, Close This Month, File with Confidence
Behind on QuickBooks? We fix reconciliations, categorizations, undeposited funds, and AR/AP issues-then deliver CPA-reviewed, tax-ready financials. QBO Certified team. Transparent cost & timeline.
When QuickBooks Cleanup Becomes Urgent
QuickBooks cleanup usually becomes urgent during tax season, when a CPA asks for clean books and discovers reconciliations do not tie, undeposited funds are inflated, or AR and AP balances do not make sense.
Cleanup fixes structural problems inside QuickBooks so the numbers become reliable again. It is the step that makes financial reports usable before filing, audits, or lender reviews.
If your CPA says the file is messy or cannot be trusted, cleanup is the correct first move.
When QuickBooks falls behind, tax season turns into triage. Our QuickBooks Cleanup Services repair historical issues-reconciliations, misclassifications, undeposited funds, negative AR/AP, and mismatched balances-so your numbers are accurate again. Then we deliver a CPA-reviewed reporting pack (P&L, Balance Sheet, AR/AP aging, cash highlights) your filing CPA or lender can trust. A QuickBooks Online Certified team does the day-to-day cleanup; a CPA verifies tie-outs and posts adjusting entries. You’ll know your cost and timeline up front, get a written checklist, and move straight into a predictable monthly close once cleanup is complete.
Where QuickBooks Cleanup Fits in Your Bookkeeping Journey
QuickBooks Cleanup is the starting point when your file is messy or incorrect.
Most businesses follow this path:
- Clean up errors, duplicates, and incorrect balances
- Catch up missing months (if needed)
- Move into monthly bookkeeping
- Add accounting or CPA oversight
After cleanup, use Catch-Up Bookkeeping if months are still missing, or move directly into Monthly Bookkeeping.
As your needs grow, upgrade to Accounting Services or Outsourced Bookkeeping.
Why Choose Our QuickBooks Cleanup
CPA-reviewed final deliverable (variance notes + period-lock recommendation)
QBO ProAdvisors rebuilding rules, vendors, and reconciliations correctly
Clear cost & timeline after a 10-minute file review
Optional lender package and year-end support
Direct collaboration with your tax CPA
QuickBooks Cleanup vs Catch-Up vs Monthly Bookkeeping
QuickBooks cleanup fixes errors inside the file. Catch-up bookkeeping fills in missing months. Monthly bookkeeping keeps everything correct going forward.
Most businesses need cleanup first when:
- Reconciliations do not tie
- Undeposited funds are overstated
- AR or AP shows negatives or duplicates
- Chart of accounts is bloated or inconsistent
If months are also missing, cleanup is followed by catch-up. Once the file is clean and current, monthly bookkeeping prevents the problem from returning. Starting monthly bookkeeping before cleanup leads to recurring errors.
What We Fix
Bank/Credit/Loan Reconciliations - match every month to statements- Undeposited Funds & Suspense - clear to zero with audit trail
- Categorization & Rules - standardize vendors; document recurring entries
- AR/AP Aging - correct negatives, apply payments/credits, clean write-offs
- Accruals/Prepaids/Depreciation - post adjusting journals with workpapers
- Inventory & COGS (if applicable) - reconcile item and GL balances; fix mappings
- Multi-Entity / Intercompany - Due To/Due From and eliminations for consolidation
- Reporting Pack - P&L, Balance Sheet, AR/AP aging, cash highlights + CPA review
Process & Timeline
Assessment (24-72 hrs)
Read-only access, backlog sizing (months), risk flags, draft quote
Data Prep (2-5 days)
Statements pull, feed exports, vendor/customer cleanup plan
Cleanup Execution (1-4 weeks)
Recons, rules, AR/AP, adjustments, documentation
QA & CPA Review (2-5 days)
Tie-outs, variance notes, period-lock recommendation
Go-Forward Monthly Close
Transition to ongoing service so you never fall behind again
Pricing
| Backlog | Typical Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 months | $500-$1,500 | Recons, rules, AR/AP tidy, adjustments, CPA review |
| 4-12 months | $1,500-$4,000 | Full historical cleanup + documentation + variance notes |
| 13-24 months | $3,500-$8,000 | Deep cleanup; inventory/COGS or multi-entity adjustments |
| 25+ months / Complex | Custom | Dedicated plan; consolidation & audit-prep workpapers |
*Depends on transactions, accounts, AR/AP, payroll, inventory, entities, and connected apps.
Deliverables You Receive
- Clean, reconciled QuickBooks file (your tenant; your ownership)
- Reporting pack: P&L, Balance Sheet, AR/AP aging, cash highlights
- CPA-review notes and posted adjusting entries (with workpapers)
- Exceptions list with resolution/next steps
- Written close checklist + period-lock guidance
- Optional lender package (if requested)
After Cleanup: Monthly Close (QBO Certified + CPA-Reviewed)
Move directly into a predictable monthly cadence: weekly engine → month-end recon → CPA review → period lock. Add AR, AP, payroll JEs, and app integrations as needed.
Client Reviews
We support business owners across the country with reliable, remote bookkeeping. Here’s what a few of them say:
RemoteBooksOnline helped my business nationwide catch up on two years of missed bookkeeping, highly recommend!
Chen L, Contractor
Our QuickBooks file was a mess before RemoteBooksOnline stepped in and cleaned it up
Smith A, Restaurant Owner
Thanks to RemoteBooksOnline, my nationwide company's financials are now CPA-reviewed and tax-ready.
Patel J, Realtor
Fast, affordable, and accurate, RemoteBooksOnline saved our business nationwide during tax season.
Gomez M, E-commerce Seller
RemoteBooksOnline provides professional, flat-rate QuickBooks bookkeeping every month for my nationwide small business.
Williams S, Consultant
Ready to fix the past and close this month?
Get a CPA-reviewed QuickBooks cleanup with a firm timeline.
QuickBooks Cleanup Guides and Resources
These resources explain when cleanup is required, how it impacts tax filing, and what happens next.
Behind on your books before filing deadlines? Read: Behind on Your Books Before April 15? Here Is How to Catch Up Fast
Not sure why your CPA cannot file yet? Read: What Happens If Your Books Are Not Ready for Your CPA?
Trying to choose between cleanup and catch-up? Read: QuickBooks Cleanup vs Catch-Up vs Monthly Bookkeeping
Concerned about cost and timing? Read: How Much Does Catch-Up Bookkeeping Cost for Small Businesses?
Want to avoid cleanup in the future? Read: Monthly Bookkeeping vs Catch-Up Bookkeeping: What Your Business Actually Needs
Read: Last-Minute Bookkeeping Mistakes That Delay Tax Filing
These guides show how cleanup fits into the full bookkeeping lifecycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most projects complete in 1-4 weeks after access. Larger backlogs (12-24+ months), inventory, or multi-entity cases may require a longer window; we provide a firm schedule after assessment.
Yes, we support both QuickBooks Desktop and Online users.
Typical ranges: $500–$1,500 (1-3 months), $1,500-$4,000 (4-12 months), $3,500–$8,000 (13-24 months). Complex cases are custom-quoted.
Cleanup corrects books; your filing CPA decides on amended returns. We provide CPA workpapers and support.
Yes. We reconcile item quantities/values, fix mappings, and align COGS to statements-then document entries for CPA sign-off.
Absolutely. We clear these to zero with proper audit trails and tie-outs.
We rebuild rules, document SOPs, and transition to a monthly close with CPA review and period-lock guidance.
Yes. We share the reporting pack, adjusting entries, and workpapers; your CPA files without rework.
No. We clean the current setup, then optimize rules and mappings. If needed, we’ll recommend app tweaks for stability.
Yes. We stage cleanup milestones so your invoicing and payroll continue uninterrupted.
View all answers in our full QuickBooks Cleanup FAQ →
Not Sure if you Need QuickBooks Cleanup, Catch-Up, or a Monthly Plan?
If your QuickBooks file is messy, incomplete, or months behind, cleanup is usually the first step. After that, most businesses move into a steady monthly plan, and some eventually upgrade to full accounting support.
Here’s how the paths usually line up::
If you’re behind or your file is messy:
If you’re ready for ongoing monthly support:
If you need deeper support after cleanup:
If you want to fully outsource:
QuickBooks Cleanup Services by State – Local Insights
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in California – Specialized QuickBooks cleanup services to organize and optimize your California business books.
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in Texas – Clear up past errors and streamline your records with expert QuickBooks cleanup services in Texas.
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in Florida – Get your QuickBooks files accurate and audit-ready with professional cleanup services in Florida.
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in New York – Fast, reliable QuickBooks cleanup for small businesses and startups in New York.
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in Alabama – Affordable QuickBooks cleanup services to fix and reconcile your books in Alabama.
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in Georgia – Professional QuickBooks cleanup to ensure accuracy and compliance for Georgia businesses.
- QuickBooks Cleanup Services in Illinois – Trusted QuickBooks cleanup services to organize financials and prepare your Illinois business for growth.
- See how our QuickBooks month-end operates
- Behind multiple months? Start with our catch-up scope
Explore QuickBooks Cleanup Services by Location
Need QuickBooks Cleanup Services help near you? View all locations .
Already tried doing it yourself? Here’s what it really costs to manage your own bookkeeping.
Cleanup complete? Take it further with our CPA Bookkeeping Compliance Overview to ensure your books are ready for tax prep, audits, and year-end filings.
Running a retail business and behind on your books? See our real-world QuickBooks Cleanup for Small Retailers to understand how we help retail owners fix reconciliation issues, POS mismatches, and sales tax headaches.
Fixing years of messy records? Start with the QuickBooks Cleanup Checklist. After cleanup, follow our Catch-Up Flow and Monthly Bookkeeping Guide to stay current.
Payroll impacts your books every pay run. Make sure you’re aligned with our Payroll & Bookkeeping Integration Checklist.
If you’d like quick explanations for terms such as reconciliation, chart of accounts, undeposited funds, duplicate entries, or journal adjustments, you can review the Glossary for simple, clear definitions.
If you’re not sure whether you need cleanup, catch-up, or ongoing monthly bookkeeping, read our guide on how to choose between QuickBooks Cleanup, Catch-Up Bookkeeping, and Monthly Bookkeeping.
If you’re unsure whether cleanup is the first step, this comparison of reconciliation, cleanup, and catch-up shows how each piece fits together in the bookkeeping process.
If your books became disorganized because DIY bookkeeping slipped, this comparison of DIY, affordable bookkeeping, and hiring a bookkeeper can help you identify the right next step before or after cleanup.
Once cleanup is completed, this post-cleanup roadmap explains what should follow so your books move smoothly into reconciliation, catch-up work, and monthly maintenance.
If you’re trying to understand where cleanup fits into the bigger picture, this comparison of monthly bookkeeping, accounting services, and outsourced bookkeeping explains the stages that come after cleanup is complete.
If you’re deciding between a local bookkeeper or an online service to help with cleanup, this comparison shows how location affects ongoing accuracy and support.
What Happens After QuickBooks Cleanup Is Complete
Once cleanup is finished, your QuickBooks file is stable, reconciled, and CPA reviewed. From there, most businesses move into monthly bookkeeping so reconciliations stay clean and reports remain reliable.
Cleanup fixes the past. Monthly bookkeeping protects the future.
Businesses that skip monthly service often need cleanup again.