QuickBooks Analysis: What’s Actually Wrong With Your Books?
Your QuickBooks won’t balance, your reports look weird, and you’re pretty sure something’s wrong but can’t figure out what. Sound familiar? Get a professional QuickBooks Analysis for $200 and finally know what’s broken so you can fix it yourself or have us handle it.
In this post:
- ✓ Why your QuickBooks is probably lying to you
- ✓ The most common problems we find in messy books
- ✓ What a QuickBooks Analysis actually reveals
- ✓ How $200 can save you thousands in mistakes
Reading time: 8 minutes | For any small business owner who’s frustrated!
Your QuickBooks Looks Fine. Except It Definitely Isn’t.
Here’s a scenario we see weekly at our Littleton and Denver Metro training centers:
A small business owner logs into QuickBooks, looks at their bank balance, and thinks “Cool, I have money.” Then tax season arrives, their CPA looks at the books and says, “These numbers can’t be right.”
Plot twist: The CPA is correct. The QuickBooks file is a disaster.
The owner had no idea because QuickBooks will happily show you completely wrong data without throwing up any red flags. It doesn’t pop up and say “Hey, you’ve got 47 duplicate transactions” or “Your bank reconciliation has been wrong for eight months.”
It just… sits there. Looking innocent. Lying to you.
If you’re a Littleton contractor, Centennial service business owner, or anyone running a small business across the Denver Metro area, this might be your reality right now. You just don’t know it yet.
That’s exactly why we created our QuickBooks Analysis service.
What Is a QuickBooks Analysis? (And Why You Need One)
Think of it like taking your car to a mechanic for a diagnostic test. You know something’s off like weird noises, dashboard lights, poor performance but you can’t pinpoint the problem.
A QuickBooks Analysis is the same thing for your books.
We do a deep dive into your QuickBooks file and identify what’s wrong:
- Duplicate transactions
- Unreconciled bank accounts
- Incorrect categorization
- Missing invoices or bills
- Setup errors that throw off all your reports
- Data corruption issues
- Reconciliation problems going back months (or years)
You get a detailed report showing exactly what’s broken. Then you decide: fix it yourself using our recommendations, or hire us to clean it up.
No surprises. No guessing. Just clarity.
Cost: $200 for the complete analysis. (up to 2 hours of analysis)
After 23+ years as a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, I can tell you this: That $200 analysis prevents mistakes, missed deductions, and expensive emergency cleanup later.
The 7 Problems We Find in Almost Every QuickBooks File
Here’s what we discover when we analyze QuickBooks files for Littleton and Denver Metro small businesses:
Problem #1: Unreconciled Accounts (Sometimes for Years)
What this means: Your QuickBooks balance doesn’t match your actual bank balance and hasn’t for months.
Why it happens: Business owners skip reconciliation because it’s “too hard” or they don’t know how or they don’t have time.
The damage: Your financial reports are fiction. You think you have $10K in the bank; you actually have $6K. Or worse, you think you’re profitable when you’re hemorrhaging cash.
Real talk: If you haven’t reconciled in over three months, your numbers are wrong. Period.
Problem #2: Duplicate Transactions Everywhere
What this means: The same expense or income is entered twice (or three times, or ten times).
Why it happens: Bank feeds import transactions automatically, but you also entered them manually. QuickBooks happily accepts both.
The damage: Your expenses look way higher than reality. Your profit looks way lower. Tax deductions get counted multiple times, which the IRS will notice.
Problem #3: Mystery “Uncategorized” Transactions
What this means: Hundreds of transactions sitting in “Uncategorized Income” or “Uncategorized Expense.”
Why it happens: You connected your bank feed, transactions flowed in, and you… never categorized them.
The damage: Your Profit & Loss report is useless. You can’t see what you’re spending money on. Tax time becomes a nightmare of guessing.
Problem #4: The Wrong Accounting Method
What this means: QuickBooks is set to “Accrual” but your tax return uses “Cash” (or vice versa).
Why it happens: Someone set up QuickBooks years ago and picked a method at random.
The damage: Your QuickBooks reports don’t match your tax returns. Your CPA has to manually adjust everything. You make business decisions based on the wrong numbers.
Fun fact: This is in Settings → Advanced, and most business owners have never looked at it.
Problem #5: Undeposited Funds That Never Get Deposited
What this means: Money is stuck in the “Undeposited Funds” account sometimes for years.
Why it happens: You received payments but never created the bank deposit in QuickBooks.
The damage: Your income is understated. Your bank balance in QuickBooks is wrong. Reports don’t match reality.
Pro tip: If your Undeposited Funds balance is over $100, something’s wrong.
Problem #6: Personal and Business Expenses Mixed Together
What this means: Your morning Starbucks, your kid’s soccer fees, and your business expenses are all in the same account.
Why it happens: You’re using one credit card or bank account for everything.
The damage: You can’t tell what’s a legitimate business expense. Audit risk skyrockets. Your actual profitability is a mystery.
This one’s huge for Littleton and Centennial sole proprietors and LLCs.
Problem #7: Opening Balance Errors
What this means: When your QuickBooks file was first set up, someone entered the wrong opening balance.
Why it happens: Honestly? Guessing. Or converting from another system incorrectly.
The damage: Every single report since day one is wrong. Your equity is off. Your balance sheet doesn’t balance. It’s like building a house on a cracked foundation.
The fix: Requires going back to the beginning and correcting it which most bookkeepers won’t do.
What You Actually Get in a $200 QuickBooks Analysis
When you order a QuickBooks Analysis from Perlinger Consulting, here’s the process:
Step 1: Send Us Your QuickBooks File
We’ll walk you through securely sharing your QuickBooks Online access. Takes about 5 minutes.
Step 2: We Run the Deep Dive
Our team (led by Glenn, with 23+ years experience as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor) analyzes your file:
We check:
- ✓ All account reconciliations (or lack thereof)
- ✓ Duplicate transaction detection
- ✓ Categorization accuracy
- ✓ Setup configuration (fiscal year, accounting method, etc.)
- ✓ Undeposited funds and other “holding” accounts
- ✓ Data integrity and corruption issues
- ✓ Report accuracy (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
Step 3: You Get a Detailed Written Report
Within 3-5 business days, you receive a comprehensive report showing:
What’s wrong: Error, duplicate, miscategorization, and setup issues
Why it matters: How each problem affects your financial reports and tax filings
How to fix it: You can chose to DIY or have us do it for you.
Cost to fix: If you want us to handle cleanup, we quote exactly what it’ll cost (no obligation)
You now have clarity. No more guessing, no more wondering if your numbers are right.
After the Analysis: Your Two Options
Option 1: Fix It Yourself
Great option if you’re hands-on and have the time.
Best for: Business owners who like learning QuickBooks and have straightforward issues.
Option 2: Let Us Fix It
We handle the entire cleanup based on the analysis report. You get accurate, reconciled, tax-ready books without lifting a finger.
Best for: Busy Littleton contractors, Centennial service businesses, and Denver Metro entrepreneurs who’d rather focus on their business.
Pricing for cleanup: Depends on how messy things are (which the analysis tells us). We quote before starting with no surprises.
Either way, you’re not locked in. The $200 analysis gives you the roadmap; you decide what to do with it.
Why $200 Is Actually a Steal
Let’s talk ROI.
What happens if you DON’T get an analysis:
You keep operating on bad data. You make business decisions based on wrong numbers. Tax season arrives, your CPA discovers the mess, and charges you emergency rates to sort it out (usually $1,500-$5,000+). Or worse, you file taxes based on incorrect books and the IRS comes calling later.
What $200 gets you:
- Peace of mind that your numbers are (or aren’t) accurate
- A clear roadmap of what he issues are before they become expensive
- Protection from costly tax mistakes
- The ability to make smart business decisions based on real data
- Prevention of that “Oh no, my books are a disaster” moment in March
Who Needs a QuickBooks Analysis?
You should get an analysis if:
🚩 Your QuickBooks won’t reconcile (or you haven’t reconciled in months)
🚩 Your bank balance in QuickBooks doesn’t match your actual bank balance
🚩 Your Profit & Loss report looks “off” but you can’t explain why
🚩 You inherited a QuickBooks file from a previous bookkeeper or employee
🚩 You’re getting ready for tax season and want to make sure everything’s right
🚩 You took over bookkeeping from someone else and aren’t sure what shape it’s in
🚩 Your CPA keeps asking questions you can’t answer about your books
🚩 You’re applying for a loan and need clean financials
🚩 You just have a nagging feeling something’s wrong
Bottom line: If you’re not 100% confident your QuickBooks is accurate, get the analysis. It’s cheaper than finding out later it wasn’t.
Why Perlinger Consulting for Your QuickBooks Analysis?
Fair question. Here’s why Littleton and Denver Metro businesses trust us:
23+ years of experience: Glenn has seen just about every QuickBooks disaster imaginable. There’s nothing in your file that’ll surprise him.
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor: Experience counts.
Three Colorado training centers: We’re not some faceless online service. Meet us in Lakewood, Denver Tech Center, or Cherry Creek or work with us online.
We teach, not just fix: Even if you choose to fix issues yourself, our analysis tells you where the problems are. You learn, your business benefits.
Flat $200 price: No hourly billing, no surprise fees. You know exactly what you’re paying upfront. (up to 2 hours).
Local reputation: We’ve helped hundreds of Colorado small businesses get their books right. Check our reviews.
How to Get Your QuickBooks Analysis
Ready to find out what’s actually wrong with your books?
Step 1: Call us at (720) 290-4389 or visit perlingerconsulting.com
Step 2: Pay $200 for the analysis (credit card, check, or ACH)
Step 3: Grant us access to your QuickBooks file (we’ll walk you through it—takes 5 minutes)
Step 4: Receive your detailed analysis report in 3-5 business days
Step 5: Decide whether to fix it yourself or have us handle cleanup
That’s it. No commitment to ongoing services, no pressure. Just answers.
The Real Cost of Not Knowing
Here’s the truth most Centennial and Littleton business owners don’t want to hear:
If your QuickBooks has been running for more than six months without professional review, there are probably errors. Maybe small ones. Maybe catastrophic ones. But they’re there.
And those errors compound. A duplicate transaction in January becomes part of your year-end reports. An unreconciled account in March means your Q2 numbers are wrong. A miscategorization in July costs you deductions in April.
The longer you wait, the worse (and more expensive) it gets.
$200 now versus $3,000 in emergency cleanup later? That’s not even a choice.
Get Clear on Your Numbers
You didn’t start your business to be a bookkeeper. You started it to do work you’re passionate about like contracting, consulting, retail, services, whatever drives you.
But you can’t run a successful business on bad data. You need to know your numbers are right.
A QuickBooks Analysis gives you that certainty.
For $200, you get a professional diagnostic from a 23+ year veteran. You find out exactly what’s wrong, how to fix it, and what it’ll cost if you want help.
No more guessing. No more wondering. Just clarity.
Ready to find out what’s actually in your QuickBooks file?
📞 Call Glenn at (720) 290-4389
🌐 Visit perlingerconsulting.com
📍 Three Colorado locations: Lakewood | Denver Tech Center | Cherry Creek
Stop operating in the dark. Get your $200 QuickBooks Analysis today.
Common Questions About QuickBooks Analysis
Q: Will you judge me if my books are a mess?
A: Absolutely not. After 23+ years, Glenn has seen books in just about every condition imaginable. There’s zero judgment, just solutions.
Q: How long does the analysis take?
A: You’ll receive your report within 3-5 business days of giving us access to your file.
Q: Do I have to hire you to fix the problems?
A: Nope. The analysis is standalone. You can use our recommendations to fix things yourself, hire us, or hire someone else. Your call.
Q: What if my QuickBooks is actually fine?
A: Then you get peace of mind for $200 and confirmation you’re doing things right. That’s valuable too.
Q: What if I’m years behind on bookkeeping?
A: The analysis will identify that and show you exactly how far behind you are and what it’ll take to catch up. Knowledge is power.
Q: Do you work with businesses outside Littleton?
A: Absolutely. We serve Littleton, Centennial, Denver Metro, and nationwide online. Location doesn’t matter for analysis, we do it remotely.
About Perlinger Consulting:
Perlinger Consulting provides trusted QuickBooks analysis, cleanup, training, and monthly bookkeeping to small businesses across Littleton, Centennial, and the Denver Metro area. Led by Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Glenn Perlinger, we transform messy books into clear, accurate systems so you can make smart business decisions and stop stressing about your numbers.
With 23+ years of experience, direct Intuit contacts, and three Colorado training centers, we offer personalized solutions tailored to your business needs.
Call (720) 290-4389 or visit perlingerconsulting.com to get your $200 QuickBooks Analysis today (2 hrs. of analysis more complex books may require more time).