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Bookkeeping Packages: What Should Be Included?

Bookkeeping pricing varies because scope varies. Two firms at the same price can deliver dramatically different work. Use this checklist to pin down exactly what you're buying before you sign a monthly engagement.

Core deliverables every package should include

Monthly bank and credit card reconciliations
Categorized transactions in a clean chart of accounts
Monthly P&L and balance sheet, delivered by the 15th
Year-end books ready for tax prep
Basic cleanup if catching up from a backlog (sometimes priced separately)

Growth-stage additions

Accounts payable management (bill pay)
Accounts receivable and invoicing
Payroll journal entries
Sales tax tracking and filing prep
Class or location-based reporting for multi-unit businesses
1099 contractor tracking and year-end filing

Premium / controller-level work

Cash flow forecasting
KPI dashboards and management reports
Inventory reconciliation
Multi-entity consolidations
Budget vs actual variance analysis
Internal controls review

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Monthly bookkeeping rhythm
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What is NOT bookkeeping

Tax preparation, tax planning, audit defense, financial modeling for raises, and CFO-level forecasting are out of scope for a bookkeeper. Some firms bundle them via a CPA partner — confirm whether that's truly included or billed separately.

Red flags in a bookkeeping quote

No mention of who reviews the reconciliations
Vague turnaround time ('end of month-ish')
Cleanup billed at vague hourly without estimate
No defined response time for questions
Software ambiguity — confirm QBO vs Xero vs another platform

How to compare quotes apples-to-apples

Send each firm the same scope brief: transaction count, number of accounts, payroll status, sales tax filings, AR/AP needs, software, and reporting deadline. Then compare line items, not headline prices.

Frequently asked

How do I know if I need controller-level support?

If you're making weekly decisions on cash, growing into multi-entity structures, or fundraising, you've outgrown bookkeeping alone and need controller or fractional CFO involvement.

Should bookkeeping include sales tax?

Sales tax tracking can be included; actual filings vary by state and often require a separate add-on or a service like Avalara or TaxJar.

Who handles payroll in a bookkeeping package?

Usually the payroll provider files taxes; the bookkeeper records the journal entry and reconciles. Confirm both pieces are covered.

Do bookkeepers handle inventory?

Only some. Inventory accounting requires periodic counts and tight category discipline — ask specifically before assuming it's included.

What if my books are years behind?

You'll need a cleanup engagement first, usually quoted separately at $500–$5,000 per backlogged year depending on volume and condition.

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