The 5 Things to Clean Up Now Before Year-End Closes

The 5 Things to Clean Up Now Before Year-End Closes

Many solopreneurs wait until tax season to “clean things up,” but the truth is this:

What you fix now could save you money, stress, and time in February.

Here are the five tasks you can do this week to get your books year-end ready:

(1) Match and reconcile your bank & credit card balances
Make sure QuickBooks matches your real-life accounts. Small differences create big tax problems later.

(2) Categorize the uncategorized
If you see “Ask My Accountant,” “Uncategorized Expense,” or “Uncategorized Income,” fix those now or ask your accountant what to do now.
These accounts are where deductions go to die.

(3) Send December invoices early
Getting receivables in before year-end helps your cash flow and your planning. Remember, if your bookkeeping is on the accrual basis, then income and expenses are recorded when earned and incurred, respectively, regardless of when cash changes hands – ask your accountant if you are unsure. 🤔

(4) Record outstanding bills & receipts
If you paid it, it should be in the books.
If you earned it, it should be recorded (see #3 above again).

(5) Download all statements while they’re easy to find
Banks only keep certain statements visible for a short time. January becomes a scavenger hunt.
A calm, simple year-end cleanup sets you up for a smoother tax season — and more importantly, gives you clarity.

👉 If you’d like help reviewing your books before year-end, I’m here.

Just saying…


— Michael Cook Tax & Bookkeeping LLC
“Big care for small businesses.”