Bookkeeping Cleanup Estimate Template

A business that's months behind on its books wants to know what catching up will cost before it commits to anything monthly. This template prices cleanup at a fixed fee per month behind, adds reconciliations and the payroll and sales tax reviews, and states the assumptions behind the number and what isn't included.

  • Catch-up bookkeeping
  • Review and tie-out
  • Wrap-up
  • Online approval by your client
Free, no account needed to start. Not legal advice.

Use it when a new client's books aren't current, before monthly accounting can start.

The full template

Every line, price, and note is yours to change when you use the template in Clientary, and your client's details fill in from their record.

In the editor, the totals add up as you type. Once you send it, your client accepts it online, and it's ready to become an invoice. Edit this template online

Catch-Up Bookkeeping, March to October

Bringing your books current for the eight months from March through October: every transaction recorded and categorized, every account reconciled, payroll and sales tax tied out, and a review call to walk through what we found.

Catch-up bookkeeping
Record and categorize transactions (per month) (8)$3,000.00
Bank and credit card reconciliations (per account) (4)$700.00
Review and tie-out
Payroll records review and tie-out$450.00
Sales tax review and reconciliation$400.00
Opening balances tied to last year's return$350.00
Wrap-up
Review call and cleanup report$200.00
Total$5,100.00

Notes

This estimate is valid for 30 days. It assumes up to 250 transactions a month across 4 bank and card accounts, read-only access or statements for every month, and answers to our questions within 3 business days. Volume beyond that is billed at $150 per hour, only with your approval first.

Not included: late or amended payroll and sales tax filings, resolving penalties, tax returns, or changes to prior years. Once your books are current, monthly accounting continues under the package you choose.

How to use this template in Clientary

  1. Edit it online. Change any line item, price, or note, or add your own. No account needed.
  2. Preview it as your client will see it. Fill in who it's for and pick a design.
  3. Start your free trial to send it. Confirm you'll have it reviewed, since templates aren't legal advice, and your estimate is waiting in your new account with your client's details filled in.
  4. Send it for approval. Your client accepts it online, and you can turn it into an invoice or a project.

Learn more about estimates in Clientary.

Frequently asked questions

How do bookkeepers price catch-up work?

Commonly as a fixed fee per month behind, set by transaction volume and the number of accounts, plus fixed fees for reviews such as payroll and sales tax. Stating the volume assumed makes it clear what would change the price.

Should cleanup be separate from monthly bookkeeping?

Yes. Catching up is one-time work with its own scope and price. Keeping it separate means the monthly fee reflects the ongoing work, not the backlog.

Is this bookkeeping cleanup estimate template free?

Yes. Read and copy the full text on this page, or edit it online and see it as your client will. When it's ready, start a free Clientary trial to send it or download it as a PDF.

Has a lawyer reviewed this template?

No. It's a general starting point written by Clientary, not legal advice, and it hasn't been reviewed by a lawyer for your situation or the laws where you and your client work. Have your own counsel review it before you use or sign it.

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