Bookkeeping Cleanup vs. Monthly Bookkeeping

Monthly bookkeeping keeps current records moving

A monthly service handles the recurring work for current periods: categorization, reconciliation, client questions, review, close, and reports. It works best when the starting balances and earlier records have been reviewed.

Cleanup addresses earlier periods

Cleanup focuses on a past period or account that is incomplete, unclear, or unreconciled. The work might include reviewing statements, categorizing historical transactions, reconciling accounts, and documenting questions that need the owner's answer. The exact work depends on the condition of the records.

Signs to raise during a consultation

These are reasons to ask for a books review, not a diagnosis of your records:

• A bank or credit-card account has not been reconciled for several months
• Many transactions are uncategorized or duplicated
• You cannot explain a balance shown on a report
• Past statements or receipts are missing

Decide the starting period before monthly work

A books review should identify the earliest period and accounts that need attention, compare the available statements with the accounting records, and list questions the owner must answer. Those findings define a separate cleanup scope when past periods need correction. The monthly service then has an agreed starting point; it should not be assumed to repair every earlier period for the recurring price.

How TrueBooks sets the scope

TrueBooks first reviews the available records and agrees on the period, accounts, deliverables, price, and expected timeline. If no cleanup is needed, the conversation can focus on the ongoing monthly service. Historical cleanup is never assumed to be included in the monthly price.