How far behind can I be and still use this?
The workbook works month by month, so it scales to any backlog. The scope-assessment tab tells you honestly when a backlog is better handed off than done alone.
Spreadsheet & Workbook · For businesses behind on their books
DIY Bookkeeping Catch-Up Workbook
A month-by-month order of operations to bring your books current.
$49 · one-time
Excel workbook (.xlsx) + quick-start guide (PDF)
Available soon
Sold and fulfilled by Gumroad, Inc. as merchant/seller of record. Content authored by ExpertEngine LLC d/b/a ProAxis Templates — built by the licensed CPAs at ProAxis Tax & Accounting Services.
What it is
Falling behind on the books is not a character flaw — it is what happens when the business gets busy. This workbook gives you the order of operations to climb back out: gather, categorize, reconcile, close, one month at a time, with a reconciliation log so you can see your progress and a scope-assessment tab that tells you honestly whether this is a DIY job or a hand-off.
Simple books catch up well with a DIY tool. Heavy backlogs with payroll, inventory, or loans often cost less to hand off than to fight through — and the workbook says so, because it was built by a licensed CPA firm that does catch-up work and would rather you succeed than struggle.
What's included
- Month-by-month catch-up tracker
- Bank and credit-card reconciliation log
- Scope-assessment tab (DIY vs. hand-off indicator)
- Quick-start guide (PDF)
Who it's for
- Businesses months behind on bookkeeping
- Owners cleaning up before tax season or a loan application
- Anyone who needs a clear order of operations to catch up
How you get it
After checkout you receive an instant digital download — excel workbook (.xlsx) + quick-start guide (pdf). There is no physical item and nothing ships. You can start using the file the same day.
Setting it up
This workbook is designed to be usable the day you download it, whether or not you have used a spreadsheet like it before. Open the Excel file, start on the guide tab, and enter your own numbers where indicated. The structure does the organizing; you just keep it current.
- Download and open the workbook in Microsoft Excel (it also imports into Google Sheets if you prefer).
- Read the short quick-start guide (PDF) included with your purchase — it explains each tab in plain language.
- Enter your data as it happens through the year, rather than reconstructing it all at tax time.
- Use the summary views to see where things stand and to hand a clean file to your tax preparer.
The workbook records and organizes your numbers. It does not file anything, does not prepare a tax return, and does not decide the judgment calls that depend on your specific facts — those stay with you and the professional you engage.
Why buy a template built by a CPA firm
Most bookkeeping templates sold online are built by spreadsheet marketers to look good in a listing. This one was built by the licensed CPAs at ProAxis Tax & Accounting Services (New Jersey and New York) around how the return actually reads. That difference does not show up in a screenshot, but it shows up the first time you reconcile: the accounts are grouped the way your situation reports, the categories line up with the tax form, and the structure holds when the numbers get real.
Every product is reviewed by a licensed CPA before it is published, and any figure it references is cited to a primary IRS or state source and dated inside the file. The goal is an honest, professional starting point — not an optimistic one. If you later decide you would rather hand the work to a CPA than do it yourself, ProAxis does bookkeeping setup, cleanup, and ongoing accounting for businesses across NJ, NY, and PA. The template makes that conversation shorter; it does not depend on it.
Related resources
More CPA-built bookkeeping workbooks
- Self-Employed Tax Spreadsheet → Income, expenses, quarterly taxes, and mileage in one workbook.
- Etsy Seller Bookkeeping Spreadsheet → Fees, COGS, sales tax, and a tax-prep dashboard for Etsy sellers.
- Rental Property Income & Expense Tracker → A landlord bookkeeping system that hands off cleanly at tax time.
Frequently asked questions
Will it fix my books automatically?
No. It gives you the order of operations — gather, categorize, reconcile, close — and a reconciliation log to track progress. You do the work.
When should I hire this out instead?
Heavy backlogs with payroll, inventory, or loans often cost less to hand off than to fight through. The workbook flags this and links to CPA catch-up help.
Important — please read before buying
Educational template — not advice. This is a do-it-yourself template. It is general educational material, not tax, accounting, or legal advice, and is not written tax advice under Treasury Circular 230. Your purchase does not create a CPA-client, engagement, or advisory relationship. Figures reflect the law as of the date shown for the tax year noted and are not updated after purchase — verify at the primary source before acting. Consult a professional you separately engage about your specific situation. Results vary; no specific tax, refund, deduction, or compliance outcome is promised.
Refunds: Digital products are delivered instantly and are non-refundable once downloaded. We will refund or replace any file that is corrupt, materially not as described, or not delivered, within 30 days of purchase.
Purchases are governed by the Digital Product License & Terms of Sale. Sold and fulfilled by Gumroad, Inc. as merchant/seller of record. Content authored by ExpertEngine LLC d/b/a ProAxis Templates — built by the licensed CPAs at ProAxis Tax & Accounting Services.
Want a CPA to set up your books, not just a template?
ProAxis Tax & Accounting Services does bookkeeping setup, cleanup, and ongoing accounting for NJ, NY, and PA businesses. Book a free consultation to talk through your situation.