Catch-Up Bookkeeping for Freelancers
You became a freelancer to do work you love. Not to stare at QuickBooks.
6 months behind, tax season coming, no idea what your actual profit is? Sound familiar? We catch up freelancer bookkeeping in 3-7 days for $69-$99 per month of catch-up.
See My Price →Takes 2 minutes · No card required
Why Freelancers Fall Behind
Client work always wins
When it's a choice between categorizing expenses and finishing a paying project, the client wins every time. Bookkeeping gets pushed to “next weekend” — then next quarter.
It doesn’t feel urgent
Nobody emails you about uncategorized transactions. The consequences are invisible — until tax season.
Personal and business are mixed
Lunch on the business card, software on the personal card. Every transaction requires a decision that adds friction.
It compounds fast
One month behind is manageable. Six months is daunting. A year feels impossible — you can’t remember what each charge was.
I was 14 months behind and dreading tax season. Ketchup cleaned up everything in 5 days. Found $4,200 in deductions I would have missed.
— Sarah M., Graphic Designer
What Catch-Up Covers
Everything your CPA needs, categorized and reconciled — so tax season is a handoff, not a headache.
Transaction Categorization
- ✓Software subscriptions → Software/SaaS
- ✓Home office internet → Utilities
- ✓Client dinner → Meals & Entertainment
- ✓Coworking space → Rent
- ✓Domain renewal → Website Expenses
Income Tracking
- ✓Direct client payments
- ✓Platform income (Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal)
- ✓Affiliate/passive income
- ✓1099 reportable vs. non-1099 income
Schedule C Readiness
- ✓Gross income totals
- ✓Expenses by IRS category
- ✓Home office deduction data
- ✓Vehicle/mileage deduction tracking
- ✓Net profit/loss for the period
Business vs. Personal Separation
- ✓Flag personal charges on business accounts
- ✓Identify business charges on personal accounts
- ✓Recommend account separation going forward
Deductions Freelancers Commonly Miss
Without proper bookkeeping, freelancers typically miss $3,000-$8,000 in annual deductions:
Home office deduction (rent/mortgage, utilities, internet)
Software subscriptions (Adobe, Figma, Slack, Zoom, hosting)
Professional development (courses, books, conferences)
Health insurance premiums
Retirement contributions (SEP IRA, Solo 401k)
Vehicle/mileage for client meetings
Phone and internet (business-use portion)
Bank and payment processing fees (Stripe, PayPal)
Marketing (website hosting, domains, social media tools)
Professional services (legal, accounting — this service is deductible!)
Cost Comparison (6 Months Behind)
| Option | Cost | Your Time |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting Ketchup | $534 | 30 minutes |
| CPA | $1,500-$3,000 | 2-3 hours |
| Bench | $2,370-$3,294 | 1-2 hours |
| DIY | $0 | 12-20 hours |
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm a solo freelancer with simple income. Do I even need bookkeeping?
If you earn more than a few thousand dollars per year from freelancing, yes. The IRS expects you to track income and expenses. Without bookkeeping, you risk overpaying taxes (by missing deductions) or underpaying (and facing penalties).
What if I haven't been using QuickBooks at all?
If you don't have a QuickBooks account, sign up for QuickBooks Online Simple Start ($30/month). Connect your business bank account and credit card. We'll categorize all imported transactions from the period you need caught up.
Can you handle multiple income sources (clients + platforms)?
Yes. Freelancers with income from direct clients, Upwork, Fiverr, Etsy shops, and other sources are common. We'll categorize all income by source.
I'm behind on multiple years. Can you help?
Yes. Our Deep Clean tier covers up to 24 months at $69/month. For longer periods, contact us for a custom quote.
How We Approach Freelancer Bookkeeping
Freelancer accounting isn't just “small business bookkeeping.” It has unique complexities that generic services often miss. Here's why — and how we handle each one.
Schedule C Complexity
Every freelancer files a Schedule C, and the IRS categories matter. We categorize your expenses into the specific Schedule C lines your CPA needs: advertising, car expenses, contract labor, insurance, office expenses, supplies, travel, meals, and utilities. No guessing, no “miscellaneous” dumping grounds.
1099 vs. W-2 Income Mixing
Many freelancers have a mix of 1099 contract income and W-2 employment income (from a day job or part-time work). We separate these income streams so your P&L accurately reflectsyour freelance business performance — not your total household income.
Home Office Deduction
The home office deduction is one of the most valuable (and most commonly missed) freelancer deductions. We track your rent/mortgage, utilities, and internet expenses and flag the business-use percentage for your CPA to calculate.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes
Behind on bookkeeping means behind on quarterly estimated tax payments — which means penalties. Clean books let you (or your CPA) calculate accurate quarterly estimates going forward. Getting caught up now prevents estimated tax surprises later.
Deduction-Heavy Businesses
Freelancers typically have dozens of deductible expenses: software subscriptions, professional development, equipment, marketing, travel, and more. Without proper categorization, these deductions get buried in uncategorized transactions — costing you real money at tax time.
“I was 14 months behind and dreading tax season. Ketchup cleaned up everything in 5 days. Found $4,200 in deductions I would have missed.”
Sarah M.
Graphic Designer
From the Blog
Catch-Up Bookkeeping Before Tax Season
Tax deadline approaching and your books are a mess? Here's exactly what to do, in order, starting today.
Read articleComplete Catch-Up Bookkeeping Checklist
Tax deadline approaching and your books are behind? Follow this 8-step checklist to get caught up — whether you DIY or hire a service.
Read articleYou've been putting this off long enough.
30 minutes of your time. 3-7 days of ours. Clean books, captured deductions, CPA-ready.