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Free Bookkeeping Tool

Bookkeeping Self-Check

Twelve questions about how your business keeps its records. Your answers are sorted into areas that look current, need attention or are behind, with a practical next step for each. Your answers stay in this browser tab.

0 of 12 answered

  1. 1. Business accountsDo business income and expenses run through accounts used only for the business?
  2. 2. ReconciliationWhen were your bank and credit-card accounts last reconciled to their statements?
  3. 3. CategorizationHow current is the categorization of transactions in your books?
  4. 4. Unresolved balancesIs there a balance in an uncategorized, suspense or 'ask my accountant' account?
  5. 5. Receipts and invoicesIf you picked a business expense at random, could you find its receipt, invoice or statement?
  6. 6. RevenueDoes the revenue in your books match your deposits and your payment-processor or platform reports?
  7. 7. ContractorsIf you pay contractors, is a Form W-9 on file for each one?
  8. 8. PayrollIf you run payroll, do the payroll provider's reports agree with the payroll accounts in your books?
  9. 9. Sales taxIf you collect sales tax, is it recorded separately from sales in your books?
  10. 10. Loans and equipmentDo loan balances and major equipment or vehicle purchases in your books match the lender statements and purchase documents?
  11. 11. Owner moneyAre the owner's contributions and withdrawals recorded separately from business income and expenses?
  12. 12. Where the books are keptWhere are your books kept today?

Answer all 12 questions to see your results.

What this self-check is, and what it is not

The self-check sorts your own answers about twelve areas of a small business's records. It does not look at your books, and a result is not a finding about your records, your taxes or what any work would cost. Nothing you select is stored or sent.

The twelve areas are:

  • Business accounts
  • Reconciliation
  • Categorization
  • Unresolved balances
  • Receipts and invoices
  • Revenue
  • Contractors
  • Payroll
  • Sales tax
  • Loans and equipment
  • Owner money
  • Where the books are kept

If your answers point to catch-up work, the bookkeeping cleanup page describes how a written cleanup scope is set. For records that are current, the bookkeeping page describes monthly work. Either way, the contact form is where to describe your situation; any work begins only after a written scope is accepted.

Bookkeeping guides

Bookkeeping

Catch-Up Bookkeeping vs. Cleanup Bookkeeping: What's the Difference?

A practical distinction between recording missing activity and reviewing activity that was already recorded.

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Small Business

Separating Business and Personal Finances in NJ

Separate business and personal records can support bookkeeping and tax substantiation. Entity, bank, contract, and governance requirements differ, and counsel should address any legal significance of commingling.

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Bookkeeping

Seven Bookkeeping Record and Process Issues for NJ Small Businesses

Seven bookkeeping risk patterns, from mixed transactions to skipped reconciliations. Education only; no savings, completeness, AP/AR, back-office, bank-setup, or audit-defense outcome is promised.

Read Guide

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Tax advice disclaimer: This material is for general educational information only and is not legal, tax, or accounting advice for your specific facts. A CPA-client relationship is formed only through a signed engagement letter.