Bookkeeping Onboarding Checklist

Service Agreement Phase

□ Initial consultation completed
□ Service needs assessed
□ Pricing structure agreed
□ Contract terms reviewed
□ Service agreement signed
□ Payment method established
□ Billing cycle determined
□ Start date confirmed
□ Deliverables defined
□ Communication plan set
□ Expectations documented
□ Questions addressed

Business Information

□ Legal business name
□ DBA names
□ Business structure
□ Formation date
□ EIN/Tax ID number
□ State tax IDs
□ Business licenses
□ Industry classification
□ Physical address
□ Mailing address
□ Website/online presence
□ Business description

Financial Accounts

□ Business checking accounts
□ Savings accounts
□ Credit card accounts
□ Merchant services
□ PayPal/Venmo business
□ Loan accounts
□ Line of credit
□ Investment accounts
□ Petty cash processes
□ Foreign accounts
□ Cryptocurrency wallets
□ Other payment methods

Software Setup

□ Accounting software selection
□ Account creation
□ User permissions
□ Bank feed connections
□ Credit card feeds
□ App integrations
□ Payroll integration
□ POS integration
□ Inventory system link
□ Time tracking setup
□ Expense app connection
□ Report customization

Chart of Accounts

□ Review standard COA
□ Customize for industry
□ Add specific accounts
□ Set up sub-accounts
□ Configure account numbers
□ Set account types
□ Create cost centers
□ Set up departments
□ Configure classes
□ Create locations
□ Set up projects
□ Document structure

Tax Information

□ Federal tax classification
□ State tax requirements
□ Local tax obligations
□ Sales tax nexus
□ Payroll tax setup
□ Estimated tax schedule
□ Previous tax returns
□ Tax preparer information
□ Filing deadlines
□ Extension history
□ Tax planning needs
□ Audit history

Vendor Management

□ Vendor list creation
□ W-9 collection
□ 1099 requirements
□ Payment terms
□ Recurring bills
□ Vendor categories
□ Approval processes
□ Purchase orders
□ Credit applications
□ Vendor portals
□ Payment methods
□ Contact information

Customer Setup

□ Customer list import
□ Billing addresses
□ Payment terms
□ Credit limits
□ Tax exemptions
□ Invoicing preferences
□ Recurring invoices
□ Customer categories
□ Price levels
□ Discount structures
□ Collection procedures
□ Customer portals

Payroll Configuration

□ Payroll provider setup
□ Employee information
□ Pay schedules
□ Deduction setup
□ Benefit configurations
□ Time tracking
□ Overtime rules
□ Commission structures
□ Reimbursement process
□ Tax withholdings
□ Direct deposit
□ Reporting requirements

Internal Controls

□ Approval hierarchies
□ Spending limits
□ Segregation of duties
□ Document requirements
□ Receipt policies
□ Expense procedures
□ Reimbursement process
□ Cash handling
□ Check signing
□ Wire transfers
□ ACH procedures
□ Fraud prevention

Reporting Requirements

□ Financial statement frequency
□ Management reports
□ Cash flow projections
□ Budget comparisons
□ KPI tracking
□ Custom reports
□ Board packages
□ Investor reporting
□ Lender requirements
□ Grant reporting
□ Tax estimates
□ Year-end requirements