Being months or years behind is the most common reason people get in touch. We look at how far it goes, price the whole job as one number before we start, then clear it and file what is outstanding.
Being behind on your books is not a character defect and it is not rare. It usually starts with one busy month, and then the pile is big enough that starting feels worse than ignoring it.
The only thing that reliably makes it worse is more time. Everything else about it is fixable, and the fixing is routine work.
How far behind
01
Straightforward. The records still exist, the statements can be worked through in order, and nothing has been missed that cannot be filed on time or close to it. This is the cheapest version of the problem and the easiest to price.
02
Still routine, but there is more of it, and usually at least one filing deadline has already gone. We work out what is outstanding before quoting, so the number covers the whole job, not just the easy part.
03
Bigger, and it is where owners are most reluctant to make the call. It is also the case where waiting costs the most, because interest and penalties on anything outstanding keep accruing whether or not the books are done.
04
A completely normal answer, and not a problem. Say so in the form. Working out the actual state of things is the first thing we would do anyway, and it happens before you are asked to commit to anything.
How it goes
What exists, what is missing, which registrations you hold and what has not been filed. This comes before the quote, because quoting a backlog you have not looked at is guesswork.
The catch-up is quoted as a single figure, agreed before any work starts. It does not roll into your monthly fee and it does not turn into a bigger invoice halfway through because the job was worse than it looked.
We reconcile and close the backlog, then file whatever is owed to the CRA or the province. You will know the liability before it lands, not after.
From then on it is the ordinary monthly plan, on books that are correct. Clearing the backlog is what stops it rebuilding.
To be clear
It is not a lecture. We have not yet met the business that got behind on purpose, and telling you it should have been done sooner helps nobody.
Waiting did make the job bigger than it would have been. But the number reflects the work in front of us, not a penalty for the delay.
And it is not a commitment to anything else. Some people have the backlog cleared and take the monthly plan; some have it cleared, get handed clean books, and carry on alone. Both are fine, and the quote does not change based on which one you are.
A rough answer is fine, and "not sure" is a valid one. You get a written scope and a single figure for the catch-up within one business day. No sales call, and nothing starts until you agree the number.