Chart of Accounts
Accounts match the business model and reporting needs.
QuickBooks Setup Checklist
Verify the Foundation Before You Move Forward
This checklist confirms whether core setup elements were completed correctly. Missing steps often create future cleanup and reconciliation problems.
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Opening Balances
Opening balances were entered once and not modified later.
Bank & Payment Flow
Deposits and payments follow a defined clearing process.
Permissions & Access
User access matches responsibility and audit expectations.
Reporting Review
Balance Sheet and P&L reflect expected structure.
What This Checklist Confirms — and What It Doesn’t
This checklist verifies whether core setup elements exist and align. It does not validate transaction accuracy, repair historical issues, or correct reconciliation problems. Failing one or more items signals structural risk — not a one-click fix.
Many QuickBooks files appear functional while quietly failing checklist items. Those failures typically surface later as reconciliation breaks, unexplained balance changes, or unreliable reports.
Checklist = Verification
Confirms structure — does not modify data.
Failures Signal Risk
Missing steps increase future cleanup scope.
Order Matters
Review comes before cleanup or redesign.
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Built From Real QuickBooks File Reviews
This checklist reflects patterns observed during Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor file reviews — where setup gaps quietly compound into cleanup-level issues.
Structure Analysis
Workflow Validation
Reporting Integrity
Audit Awareness
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If You’re Unsure About Any Item on This Checklist
Uncertainty usually means historical context is missing. The safest next step is understanding how the file was built and modified before attempting fixes.
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