Catch-Up Bookkeeping Checklist
Get your books back on track with this step-by-step checklist for overdue bookkeeping and financial cleanup.
If you’ve fallen behind on your bookkeeping, you’re not alone. Whether it’s a few months or a few years, this catch-up checklist gives you a structured path to get your books current and accurate. Perfect for small business owners, CPAs, and bookkeeping professionals.
Checklist: Catch-Up Bookkeeping Tasks
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Gather all missing bank statements and credit card records
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Retrieve invoices, receipts, and bills from past months
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Organize documents by month and account
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Reconcile each month one at a time
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Enter and categorize backlogged transactions
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Match bank deposits and payments to sales records
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Clear old uncleared transactions
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Review open invoices and unpaid bills
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Fix miscategorized or duplicated entries
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Reconcile loan balances and interest charges
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Update payroll records and tax liabilities
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Run and compare reports for each period (P&L, Balance Sheet)
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Document any write-offs, bad debt, or errors
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Review with CPA or tax preparer if available
Need Help Catching Up?
RemoteBooksOnline provides fast, accurate catch-up bookkeeping with CPA-ready reports in 7–14 business days. First month free.
How Far Back Should You Catch Up?
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For taxes: At least the full prior calendar year
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For investor reporting: Past 12–24 months
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For peace of mind and compliance: As far back as records are missing or unreliable
Who This Checklist Is For
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Small businesses that paused bookkeeping during slow periods
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Startups that didn’t hire a bookkeeper from the start
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CPAs and bookkeepers onboarding messy clients
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Owners preparing for funding, taxes, or sale
Frequently Asked Questions
What is catch-up bookkeeping?
Catch-up bookkeeping is the process of bringing your financial records current by entering and reconciling missed transactions from previous months or years.
How long does it take to catch up on my books?
Most clients are fully caught up within 1–2 weeks, depending on how far behind you are.
Do I need receipts for every transaction?
Not necessarily. Bank statements and basic documentation are often enough to get started, especially for small business compliance.
Need Help Catching Up?
RemoteBooksOnline provides fast, accurate catch-up bookkeeping with CPA-ready reports in 7–14 business days. First month free.