# Bookkeeping Engagement letter

> This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Laws and required terms vary by country and state. Have a qualified lawyer review it for your jurisdiction and business before you use it.

Replace everything in [brackets]. Delete clauses that don’t apply and have a lawyer review the result.

---

## Letter

Date: [Date]
To: [Client name and address]
Re: Bookkeeping services

Dear [Name], this letter sets out the services we’ll provide and the responsibilities on both sides.

## 1. Services

| Service | Frequency | Deadline |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Bank reconciliation and categorisation] | [Monthly] | [By the 15th] |
| [Payroll] | [Monthly] | [Pay date] |
| [Sales tax / VAT return] | [Quarterly] | [Filing deadline] |
| [Management report] | [Monthly] | [By the 20th] |

## 2. Not included

- [Tax advice beyond the listed returns]
- [Audit or assurance work]
- [Work on records before the start date unless quoted]

## 3. Your records

- Read-only bank feeds or statements each month
- Receipts and invoices by the 5th of the following month
- Prompt answers to queries on transactions

You are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the records you give us; we rely on them and don’t audit them.

## 4. Identity and anti-money-laundering checks

We must verify your identity and, where relevant, your business’s ownership before we start, and keep those records as the law requires.

## 5. Fees

Monthly fee: [Amount, covering up to [150] transactions]
Extra work: [Hourly rate]
Billing: [Monthly in advance by direct debit / card]

## 6. Data and confidentiality

We keep your information confidential and process personal data in line with our privacy notice and data protection law.

## 7. Professional obligations

[Name your professional body and any rules you follow.]

## 8. Ending the engagement

Either of us may end it with [one month’s] written notice. We’ll hand over your records once fees are paid.

## Acceptance

Signed for the client: [Name, signature, date]
Signed for the practice: [Name, signature, date]

---

## Before you sign it

- [ ] Both parties’ legal names and addresses are correct.
- [ ] Services, deliverables and exclusions are specific.
- [ ] Fees, deposit and payment terms match the proposal.
- [ ] Ownership, confidentiality and liability clauses suit the project.
- [ ] Termination and notice periods are filled in.
- [ ] A lawyer has reviewed the template for your jurisdiction.

---

# Example: key terms for Ledgerline Accounting and Moss & Pine Landscaping

How the main clauses read once filled in for a monthly bookkeeping and year-end accounts. Both companies are fictional.

## Parties and dates

Provider: Ledgerline Accounting
Client: Moss & Pine Landscaping
Effective date: 1 March

## Services

- Reconciled monthly books
- Monthly management report
- Payroll and payslips
- Tax returns as listed

## Not included

- Tax advice beyond the listed returns
- Audit or assurance work
- Work on records before the start date unless quoted

## Fees and payment

Fee: $927.00 excluding tax, as itemised in the proposal
Deposit: $278.00 (30%) before work starts
Payment terms: Invoices due within 14 days
Notice: 14 days’ written notice by either party

## Client responsibilities

The client is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the records provided. The practice relies on that information and doesn’t audit it.

## Professional obligations

The practice follows its professional body’s rules and anti-money-laundering requirements, including identity checks before work starts.

---

This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Laws and required terms vary by country and state. Have a qualified lawyer review it for your jurisdiction and business before you use it.

Template by Angelwood — https://angelwood.io/templates