Posted On 10 May 2023

Startups do accounting by implementing a range of financial management techniques, depending on the founders financial sophistication and time. The best startups use a cloud-based accounting software like QuickBooks Online to do basic bookkeeping, which includes tracking income, expenses, and other financial transactions. They may DIY their books, but should work with a CPA firm to file taxes and ensure state and local tax compliance. VC-backed businesses typically choose to outsource their bookkeeping and tax preparation/compliance to experienced CPA firms. Our deep understanding of the Austin market enables us to offer specialized CPA services that are both cost-effective and strategically aligned with the challenges and opportunities of local startups.

Of course, having the right systems set up can dramatically lower the amount of effort required; we’ll get to those systems in a moment. He realizes your need for financial services will change throughout your personal and professional life. Adept at problem-solving, nothing inhibits him in giving you quality service. Lou will develop a dynamic solution with you modifying that service as your financial needs change.

The Right Accounting Partner for Your Startup’s Next Round

Not only do CPAs learn accounting rules by heart, they transform raw financial data into financial statements, tax returns, and audits. With this, CPAs help founders understand their numbers, receive better guidance, and can ultimately make better decisions. For the first, most VC-backed startups will go through complicated financial due diligence during a funding round or during an M&A exit to a large technology player. Later-stage VCs are increasingly hiring outsourced due diligence experts – including large accounting firms. The team at a huge accounting firm that is investigating your startup’s financials will have pages upon pages of questions. Having a CPA who knows your company and financials (and tax returns) on your side will make due diligence that much easier and less painful.

So we don’t recommend that level of complexity for your seed stage model – just the IS and the cash position (maybe working capital or inventory). In the life cycle of a startup, sooner or later you’ll l need to work with a CPA. If it’s not for tax filing, verifying financial statements, or conducting audits, then it’s likely all three. In other words, it’s inevitable so why not build that relationship sooner rather than later. To ensure that journal entries have been recorded and posted correctly, small businesses use the trial balance accounting method to double-check account balances for a given time period. A trial balance ensures that the debit and credit balances in the ledger accounts match.

Startup Budget Template

You need a startup accounting expert to support you through processes like this. FreshBooks accounting software for startups is the top choice for the startup owner who wants to make life easier startup cpa for themselves. FreshBooks is an all-in-one startup accounting software solution that handles your bookkeeping needs and provides important insights into your finances as your business grows.