FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What is the goal of the cleanup engagement?
The goal is to correct transactions, reconcile all accounts, and organize your books so you have a clear, accurate picture of your business. This prepares you for tax time without stress and gives you control of your cash flow.
Will I lose access to my QuickBooks file during the cleanup process?
No, you will always maintain access to your QuickBooks Online file. We work remotely on your account, ensuring minimal disruption to your daily operations.
Why do contractors need specialized bookkeeping?
Contractors require specialized bookkeeping because they need accurate job costing to correctly price bids and track profitability per job. Our services evaluate and tailor the Chart of Accounts to industry standards like labor, materials, and subcontractor costs.
My books are very far behind (12+ months). Can you still help?
Yes, absolutely. Our Full Restoration package is designed specifically for contractors who are 12+ months behind or have very messy books, requiring multi-year reconciliation and advanced adjustments.
Do you work with desktop versions of QuickBooks or only QuickBooks Online (QBO)
Our specialization is in providing QuickBooks Online (QBO) cleanup services. We focus on the QBO platform to ensure maximum efficiency and cloud-based accuracy for your business.
What makes FinanData Accounting different from other bookkeeping services?
We are Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors who specialize specifically in the financial challenges and needs of contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, and other trades professionals. We speak your language—focusing on jobs, crews, subcontractors, and invoices.
Pricing Questions
Which package is best for a small contractor needing a quick reset before tax season?
The Basic Cleanup package is best for solo contractors or very small crews needing a quick reset, covering up to 3 months of bank and credit card account reconciliation.
Are there any hidden fees in the flat-rate pricing?
No. Our pricing model uses a flat project rate to provide certainty. The package price covers all services listed within that specific package, with no surprises.
If I choose a cleanup package, is ongoing bookkeeping included?
The cleanup packages are one-time project fees. Ongoing monthly bookkeeping is an Optional Add-On starting at $497/month after the cleanup is complete.
How is the price determined for the Full Restoration package?
A: The Full Restoration package starts at $1,997 and is a custom quote. This is for contractors who are 12+ months behind or have very messy books requiring multi-year reconciliation and advanced adjustments like sales tax corrections.
What is the difference between the Basic and Standard Cleanup packages?
The Basic Cleanup ($\$497$) is for small contractors just a few months behind (up to 3 months of accounts)21. The Standard Cleanup ($\$997$) is for contractors 6–12 months behind, including more advanced services like job-costing setup and fixing undeposited funds.
Why do you charge a flat-rate fee instead of an hourly rate?
We position fees as flat project rates rather than hourly fees because it gives contractors certainty, just like a project bid. You know the full cost upfront.
Service Questions
What happens after the one-time cleanup is finished?
We can handle the cleanup as a one-time project, or you can roll it into our Ongoing Monthly Bookkeeping for Contractors package, which starts at $497/month.
What final reports do I receive after the cleanup is complete?
You receive an updated, reconciled QuickBooks file, clean Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow reports. We also provide Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging reports.
Do you reconcile bank and credit card accounts?
Yes, reconciliation is a key component of every cleanup package. We reconcile all bank and credit card accounts to actual statements and correct missing or duplicate entries.
Is payroll cleanup included in the standard service?
Payroll records cleanup and adjustments are specifically included in the Full Restoration package. For all packages, we initially check for incomplete or incorrect payroll entries during the assessment phase.
How do you handle job costing during the cleanup?
If applicable, we assign expenses and labor costs to the correct projects/jobs, reclassify mis-coded job costs, and ensure subcontractor payments are tracked for 1099 filing. We create final project reports to show profitability per job.
What is included in the Transactions Cleanup process?
We categorize uncoded transactions, remove personal expenses mixed in with business, correct vendor/customer records, re-apply payments to correct invoices, and reclassify expenses to the proper job/project.