How Startups Should Handle Contractor Payments and 1099s
Most startups rely heavily on contractors and freelancers — especially in the early stages when hiring full-time employees is not practical. A designer here, a developer there, a marketing consultant on retainer. The flexibility is valuable. But the tax compliance side is something many founders underestimate until they get a notice from the IRS. Here […]
What Is Accrual vs Cash Basis Accounting And Which One Does Your Startup Need?
One of the first decisions you make in setting up your startup’s books — often without realizing it — is choosing an accounting method. Most founders default to cash basis accounting because it is simpler. But as your startup grows, accrual accounting becomes necessary, and making the switch later is more complicated than setting it […]
The Startup Founder’s Guide to Understanding Burn Rate and Runway
If you have raised any outside funding — or are planning to — there are two financial metrics that matter more than almost anything else in the early stage: burn rate and runway. Investors ask about them. Your board tracks them. And ignoring them is one of the fastest ways to run your startup into […]
How to Separate Personal and Business Finances as a Startup Founder
For most founders, the early days of running a startup mean using whatever bank account is handy. A client payment lands in your personal checking account. A software subscription gets charged to your personal credit card. It feels fine at the time — but this habit creates serious problems down the road. Mixing personal and […]
What to Send Your CPA at Year-End — And How We Prepare It for You
We prepare a complete year-end financial package so your tax professional can file quickly and accurately. Here’s exactly what’s included. One of the most common sources of stress in the founder-CPA relationship is the year-end handoff. Your CPA needs specific documents to prepare your tax return — and if those documents are incomplete, disorganized, or […]
How to Read Your Monthly Startup Books Report
Every month you receive a financial package. This guide explains each section — P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow — and what to do with it. Two accounting platforms dominate the small business and startup market in the US: QuickBooks Online and Xero. Both are cloud-based, both connect to your bank accounts, and both can generate […]
QuickBooks Online vs Xero: Which One is Right for Your Startup?
We work with both. Here’s an honest comparison of features, pricing, and which type of business each one suits best. Two accounting platforms dominate the small business and startup market in the US: QuickBooks Online and Xero. Both are cloud-based, both connect to your bank accounts, and both can generate the financial reports your business […]
How to Connect Your Bank Account — Step-by-Step Setup Guide
A quick walkthrough of connecting your bank and credit card accounts to get started with Startup Books in under 10 minutes. Getting started with Startup Books is designed to be as simple as possible. One of the first steps is connecting your business bank accounts and credit cards so your bookkeeper has access to your […]
How to Track Business Expenses as a Startup — The Right Way
Which expenses are deductible? How to categorize them? This guide covers everything from SaaS subscriptions to contractor payments. Tracking expenses properly is one of the most valuable things a startup founder can do for their business. Done right, it reduces your tax bill, gives you clarity on where your money is going, and protects you […]
How to Prepare Your Books for Tax Season (US Startup Checklist)
A step-by-step checklist to get your financials ready for your CPA — covering expense categories, 1099s, and year-end close. Tax season does not have to be a crisis. For founders whose books are maintained properly throughout the year, it is just another week. For everyone else, it is a stressful scramble of hunting down receipts, […]