There is no single price, because every file is different. The cost depends on how many months need work, how many bank and card accounts are involved, how many transactions there are and how messy the records are. A good bookkeeper reviews your statements first and gives you a fixed price in writing before any work starts.
1Why there is no one-size-fits-all price
Two businesses can both say they are six months behind and need very different amounts of work. One has a single bank account and clear records. The other has four accounts, a payment processor, personal spending mixed in and half the receipts missing. The second job takes far longer.
That is why careful bookkeepers quote a cleanup after looking at your records, not before. A price given without seeing anything is a guess, and guesses tend to turn into surprise bills.
2What drives the cost
- How many months are behind: each month has to be reviewed, categorized and reconciled
- How many accounts: every bank account, credit card and loan adds reconciliation work
- Transaction volume: a store with thousands of small sales takes longer than a consultant with a few invoices
- Payment platforms: Stripe, PayPal, Square and similar tools need their own reconciliation
- Personal and business mixing: separating personal spending takes time and questions
- Missing records: statements, receipts and invoices you cannot find slow everything down
- Prior errors: duplicates, wrong opening balances and old uncategorized items must be investigated
The more organized your statements are when you start, the lower the cost. Gathering every statement for the months involved before the first call can save hours of back-and-forth.
3What our cleanups usually cost
At Profit Path Solution, most cleanups range from $350 to $500+ per month behind. We use a range because the real price depends on the factors above. The plus sign is honest: a very messy file can cost more.
We do not quote from a guess. You send your statements, we review them, and within 1 business day you get a fixed price in writing. That price covers the work described in the quote, so you know the total before we begin.
4What a cleanup includes
- Reviewing and fixing the chart of accounts
- Correcting miscategorized and duplicate transactions
- Reconciling every bank and credit card account to its statements
- Investigating unclear or unusual transactions instead of guessing
- Clearing old uncategorized items and wrong balances
- Organizing the file so monthly bookkeeping can start cleanly
If a quote is missing any of these, ask why. A cleanup that skips reconciliation leaves you with books you still cannot trust.
5How to compare quotes
A low price is not a bargain if the work is incomplete. Ask each bookkeeper these questions:
- Is the price fixed, or hourly with no limit?
- Which months and accounts does it cover?
- Will you reconcile every account to the bank statements?
- What happens if you find more problems than expected?
- What will I receive when it is finished?
Clear answers to these questions matter more than a few dollars of difference.
6After the cleanup
A cleanup fixes the past. To keep the file clean, most clients move to monthly bookkeeping so new transactions are recorded and reconciled each month. Without that, the same problems tend to return.
If you are not sure how far behind you are, our 2-minute checklist can help you decide. When you are ready, send us your statements for a fixed quote.
Want help with your books?
Book a free 15-minute consultation. Tell us where you are stuck and we will recommend the right next step.