Bookkeeping Cleanup and Catch-Up in Bozeman, MT
If you're months or years behind on your books, or you don't trust what's in QuickBooks, bookkeeping cleanup gets you back to numbers you can use. At Blackfin Accounting in Bozeman, we get your books accurate and current, whether you're a few months or a few years behind.
We hear the same stories a lot. Your last bookkeeper quit and nobody replaced them, or you don't think your previous accountant did a good job. A lot of the owners who come to us are six months or a year behind.
Why Bozeman owners call us when they're behind
- You'll hear back fast. We reply within one business day, all year.
- Nobody's going to lecture you. Catch-up and cleanup work is a big part of what we do for service businesses around Bozeman.
- We can usually start within a few days to a week, once we have the information and access we need.
- You finish with numbers your tax preparer can trust, so you're not paying someone to redo the work in March.
Chris Kimbell, our founder, spent twelve years building and running an IT company here in Bozeman, so he's been on your side of the desk. Our story.
Catch-up or cleanup: which do you need?
Catch-up bookkeeping means going back and doing the work that got skipped. Every deposit and every charge gets sorted, matched and checked against the bank. Cleanup is for books that got done but aren't right, usually because you don't think the last person did a good job. A lot of books need some of both, and you don't have to work out which before you call.
How bookkeeping cleanup works
- Book a 15-minute call. Tell us how your business runs and where your books stand.
- Gather the records: bank, credit card and loan statements for the year, plus your invoices.
- Match each deposit to the job or customer it came from.
- Sort each expense into the right category, like materials, fuel or subs.
- Reconcile each month, so the books match the bank to the penny.
- Fix the snags, like duplicate entries, missing receipts or personal charges on the business card.
- Review the finished year before it goes to your tax preparer.
The order matters. If you skip straight to categories without matching the bank first, you can end up with books that look tidy but are still wrong.
What to pull together first
You don't need to fix everything today. Getting the pieces in one place will save hours, whoever does the work.
- Every bank and card statement for the year
- Your invoice list from your billing software
- A list of every sub you paid, even small jobs
- Any loan or equipment financing statements
- Anything odd you already know about, like a personal purchase on the business card
What makes it faster or slower
How long it takes depends less on your revenue and more on how messy the trail is. A separate business bank account and card speed things up, because every charge is already business. Invoices in job or billing software help too, since deposits can be matched to real jobs.
One account for business and personal slows it down, because every line needs a call. So do cash and check payments deposited in batches, and subs paid all year with no paperwork on file. Most businesses have a mix, and that's normal.
Getting caught up before tax season
It's usually not too late. If you start in late fall or early winter, there's normally enough time to rebuild the year, fix what's wrong and hand your tax preparer clean numbers. The real risk is waiting until the new year, when everyone else is in a hurry too. We go deeper in Is It Too Late to Catch Up on Your Books Before Tax Season?
If you work in the trades here, the slow months are your window, because you have time to answer questions about old charges while you still remember them. Montana also has no general state sales tax, so most local service businesses have no sales tax returns to rebuild. If you used subs, it's a good time to check who had an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate.
After your books are current
Cleanup is often the first step before monthly bookkeeping. Once your books are right, our bookkeeping services in Bozeman keep them that way, with a clear picture every month of what came in, what went out and what you kept.
Common questions
How far behind is too far?
Whether you're a few months or a few years behind, we can get your books accurate and current.
How much does catch-up bookkeeping cost?
It depends on what you need and how messy the records are. We'll learn about your business on a quick call, then give you a clear quote.
How long does it take?
It depends less on your revenue and more on how messy the trail is. We can tell you more once we've seen where things stand.
Can I catch up on my own?
If you're only a month or two behind and you like this kind of work, you probably can. Block out a few evenings, start with the bank statements and work one month at a time. If you're most of a year behind, or you're not sure the bank balance in your software is even right, it's worth getting help.
Can you work with my tax preparer?
Yes. We're happy to get your books clean and hand them off ready for whoever files your return.
What software do you work in?
Mostly QuickBooks, and we also support Xero. Using something else? Call us and we'll talk it through.
Let's talk
Behind on your books? Let's talk.
Book a 15-minute call and we'll learn how your business runs, then give you a clear quote.
Call 406-404-8955, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Mountain Time. We reply within one business day.