Bookkeeping checklist
What to Prepare Before Hiring a Bookkeeper
Start with a list of your accounts, the months that need attention, and the reports you need.
Before your first conversation
- Describe the business. Say what you do, how customers pay you, and whether you use bookkeeping software or spreadsheets.
- List the accounts. Include business checking, savings, and credit cards. Mention payment processors and any personal accounts used for business purchases. Account names are enough for the first conversation.
- Identify the last reconciled month. If you’re unsure, note the last month someone checked the books against the statements.
- List what’s missing. Flag statements you can’t find, receipts you still need, and deposits or transfers you can’t explain.
- Write down the outcome and date you need. For example, you might need 2026 reports for a tax professional or a monthly profit and loss statement for your own decisions.
After you agree on the scope
Gather statements for the agreed accounts and dates, plus relevant invoices, receipts, prior bookkeeping reports, and any records that explain unusual transactions. IRS guidance lists sales slips, paid bills, invoices, receipts, and similar records as examples of supporting business documents. Intuit’s reconciliation guidance explains how a statement is used to check transactions recorded in QuickBooks.
Ask how to grant authorized access and transfer files. Keep banking passwords, account numbers, and statements out of the initial inquiry.
Ask what will be delivered
Confirm which months and accounts are included, which reports you’ll receive, who answers open questions, and whether older cleanup needs a separate quote. See bookkeeping cleanup for overdue records or monthly bookkeeping for ongoing help.
Sources
Sources checked November 13, 2026. This checklist provides general bookkeeping information.
Talk through your checklist.
If you’re unsure which months or accounts need work, tell us what you know and we can discuss where to start.