Free UK small-business assessment
Bookkeeping Health Check
Check whether your bookkeeping records are current, reconciled and useful for tax and business decisions. Answer 10 practical questions to receive an instant score, category breakdown and prioritised action plan. It takes about two minutes and does not require your name, email address or accounting data.
- 10 plain-English questions
- 2 min typical completion time
- Instant score and next steps
Quick answer
What is a bookkeeping health check?
A bookkeeping health check is a structured review of how complete, accurate and current a business’s financial records appear to be. It considers bank reconciliations, invoices, receipts, VAT or payroll records, transaction coding and reporting. This online version is a self-assessment; it highlights risks but does not verify the underlying transactions.
Explore professional bookkeeping supportYour free assessment
How healthy is your bookkeeping?
Choose the answer that best reflects your current process. If a VAT, payroll, customer or supplier question does not apply, select “Not applicable”; it will not lower your score.
Your result
Bookkeeping score
Your category breakdown
Prioritised action plan
Start with the weakest controls
The review areas
What does the bookkeeping health check cover?
The questions focus on four conditions that make records more useful: accuracy, repeatable controls, compliance support and timely visibility.
Records are current
Sales, costs and bank activity should be recorded often enough for the figures to reflect the business’s present position.
Balances reconcile
Bank, card and payment-account balances should match the relevant statements, with unexplained differences investigated.
Evidence is retrievable
Invoices and receipts should be linked to transactions so costs, VAT treatment and business purpose can be supported.
Amounts owed are controlled
Customer and supplier balances should be current enough to support credit control, payment planning and realistic cash forecasts.
Compliance records connect
Where relevant, VAT and payroll figures should connect back to the underlying records and the amounts submitted or paid.
Reports support decisions
Coding and period-end review should produce figures that help the owner understand profit, cash and unresolved issues.
Understanding the result
What does your bookkeeping score mean?
The score helps you prioritise attention; it is not a pass/fail test. A high score reflects stronger reported processes, not independent verification of the figures.
Strong process
Records appear current and controlled. Maintain the routine, resolve exceptions quickly and review access, software and reporting needs.
Stable with gaps
The foundation is usable, but one or two weak controls may create avoidable corrections or reduce the value of monthly reports.
Needs attention
Several processes are inconsistent. Prioritise reconciliations, missing evidence and any VAT or payroll issue before the next deadline.
At risk
Records may be too old or incomplete to rely on. A structured catch-up and professional review should be considered promptly.
Common warning signs
When should you review your bookkeeping?
Do not wait for every warning sign to appear. One material VAT, payroll or reconciliation problem can justify a closer review.
See when professional accounting help becomes useful- 01Bank or card balances in the software do not match statements.
- 02You cannot quickly find evidence for significant costs.
- 03Old customer or supplier balances remain unexplained.
- 04VAT returns require repeated corrections or last-minute work.
- 05The books are more than one month behind.
- 06Reports look wrong, change unexpectedly or are not reviewed.
Choose the right level of review
Online self-check vs professional bookkeeping review
The free tool helps you identify where to look. A professional review can examine actual records once the scope, access and fee are agreed.
| Review point | Free online self-check | Professional review |
|---|---|---|
| Time and access | About two minutes; no login or files required | Scope depends on the records, software and periods reviewed |
| Evidence examined | Your answers only | Agreed ledgers, statements, reports and supporting documents |
| Output | Indicative score and prioritised actions | Findings based on the agreed work and recommended corrections |
| Best for | Quick triage and deciding what needs attention | Verifying concerns, catch-up work and improving the process |
| Limit | Cannot confirm whether transactions are correct | Not a statutory audit unless separately agreed and applicable |
From score to stronger records
What should you do after the health check?
-
01
Protect the next deadline
Identify any VAT, payroll, accounts or tax deadline that could be affected by incomplete records.
-
02
Reconcile before recoding
Match bank and card balances first. This creates a firmer base for finding duplicates, omissions and incorrect coding.
-
03
Close the evidence gaps
Collect missing invoices, receipts and explanations while the transactions are still familiar.
-
04
Build a repeatable routine
Set ownership, frequency and a short month-end checklist so the same backlog does not return.
Continue with the right guide
Bookkeeping help for your next decision
Use the result to move into the most relevant guide or service instead of trying to solve every bookkeeping issue at once.
Bookkeeping support
See what an ongoing or catch-up bookkeeping routine can include.
Explore support → GuideSmall-business bookkeeping
Understand the records, routines and common mistakes that matter.
Read the guide → Sole tradersBookkeeping for sole traders
Review the bookkeeping needs of a self-employed UK business.
See sole-trader guidance → CostsBookkeeping fees explained
See which factors affect monthly and catch-up bookkeeping costs.
Compare cost factors → SoftwareAccounting software options
Compare practical software considerations for sole traders.
Review the options → VATCommon VAT mistakes
Check the record and coding issues that can affect VAT returns.
Check VAT risks →Bookkeeping health check FAQs
Questions UK business owners ask
Is this bookkeeping health check really free?
Yes. The online self-assessment is free, does not ask for your contact details and provides the score immediately. It does not inspect your bookkeeping file or replace advice based on your records. If you want a professional review, you can separately discuss the scope and fee with Path Accountants.
How often should I carry out a bookkeeping health check?
A quarterly self-check is a useful starting point for many active small businesses, with an additional review before year-end or after changing software, bookkeeper or accountant. Businesses with high transaction volumes, VAT, payroll or recurring reconciliation problems may need more frequent controls.
Can the score prove that my bookkeeping is accurate?
No. The score is based only on your answers and cannot verify transactions, balances, VAT treatment or supporting documents. A strong score means the reported process appears healthier. It is still sensible to investigate unusual balances and obtain professional help where the figures or treatment are uncertain.
Is a bookkeeping health check the same as an audit?
No. This tool is an educational self-assessment, and a professional bookkeeping review is still different from a statutory audit or assurance engagement. Avoid using the score as proof for a lender, investor, HMRC or another third party. The required engagement depends on what that party needs.
What if my bookkeeping is several months behind?
Start by identifying the nearest filing or payment deadline, then gather statements and reconcile one account and one period at a time. Do not submit figures you know are unsupported. If VAT, payroll, tax returns or company accounts could be affected, discuss the backlog promptly with an accountant or bookkeeper.
Do I need bookkeeping software to get a good score?
Software helps automate capture, reconciliation and reporting, but it does not make records accurate by itself. A suitable system still needs consistent coding, supporting evidence, controlled access and regular review. VAT-registered businesses must also follow the applicable Making Tax Digital record-keeping and filing rules.
What records should a UK business keep?
The records depend on the business structure and obligations, but commonly include sales and income, business costs, invoices, receipts, bank statements, amounts owed, VAT records where registered and PAYE records where staff are employed. See the relevant HMRC guidance and retain records for the required period.
Can Path Accountants help fix issues found by the check?
Path Accountants provides bookkeeping support for UK sole traders, limited companies and growing businesses. The work may involve catch-up bookkeeping, recurring records, reconciliations or resolving bookkeeping questions, depending on the agreed scope. Book a consultation to explain the software, periods, deadlines and main issues involved.
Methodology and sources
How this tool should be used
The questions assess reported bookkeeping routines across accuracy, controls, compliance support and visibility. Applicable answers carry equal weight; “not applicable” answers are removed from the denominator. The score is directional and is not a substitute for reviewing the records themselves.
Last reviewed: 30 July 2026
Need more than a self-assessment?
Get clear on what needs fixing first.
Tell us how far behind the records are, which software you use, your VAT status and the next deadline. We will explain the likely work and fee before you decide.