Bookkeeping for startups that will be asked for numbers
SF Business Solutions keeps accrual-basis books for startups from the first bank account onward, closes every month and sends reports you can put in front of investors.
We also run payroll, plan for tax and prepare and file the company's tax return, so one team does what a startup usually hires a CPA for. Monthly bookkeeping starts at $250 a month.
What a startup needs from its books
Early on, the books have three jobs: show investors and your board what you spent and what is left, support the tax return we prepare and file, and avoid a cleanup project when you raise your next round. That means accrual-basis accounting, not a cash-basis spreadsheet, and a close every month rather than once a year.
We set the chart of accounts up the way investors expect to read it, with R&D, sales and marketing, and general and administrative costs separated, so your burn and runway come straight out of the books.
- Accrual-basis books in QuickBooks Online or Xero
- A monthly close with P&L, balance sheet and cash flow
- Burn and runway, taken from the same numbers
- Tax planning, and the year-end return prepared and filed from the same books
Seed stage: keep it simple, keep it clean
Most seed-stage companies don't need a controller or a CFO. They need someone to reconcile the accounts, record payroll and contractor costs properly, and answer the questions that come up in due diligence. That is what our monthly service does.
If you raised on SAFEs or convertible notes, we record them correctly on the balance sheet. Cap table management and 409A valuations are done by specialists; we give them the numbers they ask for.
SaaS companies and founders outside the US
Subscription businesses need revenue recognized over the service period and deferred revenue tracked. Delaware C corporations with founders outside the US have extra filing obligations. Both are covered on our SaaS page.
What it costs
Startup bookkeeping is priced like any monthly bookkeeping: by how many accounts and transactions you have. Plans start at $250 a month. If the books are already behind, cleanup starts at $250; the final price depends on how far behind they are.
How to start
Three steps. The first one is free.
- 1
Book a free consult
A 1-hour call about your books, your software and what you need.
- 2
Give us access
Invite us to QuickBooks Online or Xero and share your bank and card statements.
- 3
We take it from there
Cleanup first if you are behind. Then we close each month between the 5th and 15th of the following month, depending on your documents.
SF Business Solutions is very diligent and responsive. I can tell they are passionate about their work, which I particularly appreciate about them. My project was rather complex but they managed to get it done according to my needs.
What bookkeeping firm should a seed-stage startup use?
One that keeps accrual-basis books, closes monthly and can produce investor-ready reports without a cleanup project. That is what we do for startups, in QuickBooks Online or Xero.
How much does startup bookkeeping cost per month?
Our monthly plans start at $250 a month. The price depends on the number of accounts and transactions.
Do you prepare investor-ready financial statements?
Yes. Every monthly close includes a P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statement, laid out the way investors and boards read them.
Do you do cap tables or 409A valuations?
No. Those are specialist jobs. We give your cap table provider and valuation firm the financial numbers they need.
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