Behind on Your Books? A Plain-English Guide to Catch-Up Bookkeeping
If your books are months — or years — behind, you’re not alone, and you’re not in trouble yet. Here’s how catch-up bookkeeping works and why getting current is the best move you can make.
Signs you’re behind
Receipts in a drawer, transactions uncategorized, no idea what you actually made, a CRA letter you’re avoiding, or a bank asking for statements you can’t produce. Any of these means it’s time.
Why it matters
Behind books mean missed deductions, late-filing penalties, bad decisions, and stress. The longer you wait, the more it costs — and the harder it is to reconstruct records.
How a catch-up works
It’s a clear, four-step process: we assess the backlog and quote a fixed fee; gather and organize every transaction and statement; reconcile every account; and hand back clean, CRA-ready books. If you’ve missed filings, we prepare them — and if needed, a Voluntary Disclosure can reduce penalties before the CRA contacts you.
Then most clients move onto monthly bookkeeping so they never fall behind again. See our catch-up service →
FAQ
How far behind can you catch me up? Months or several years across multiple accounts. The sooner we start, the less it costs.
How much does a catch-up cost? A fixed fee quoted after a quick assessment — no open-ended hourly billing.
Will I get in trouble with the CRA? Getting current reduces your risk. A Voluntary Disclosure can help if you act before the CRA reaches out.
What happens after? Most clients switch to a monthly plan so it never happens again.
