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 transactions. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it.
Why We Connect Your Bank Accounts
Connecting your accounts allows your accounting software to automatically import your transactions each day. Instead of manually entering every transaction, your bookkeeper sees a real-time feed of everything coming in and going out — making the categorization and reconciliation process fast, accurate, and seamless.
The connection is read-only — your bookkeeper can see your transactions but cannot move money, make transfers, or take any action in your account.
Step-by-Step: Connecting Your Accounts
Step 1: Gather Your Login Credentials
Before you start, have your online banking username and password handy for each bank account and credit card you want to connect. You may also need to be ready to complete two-factor authentication (a text message or app-based code) from your bank.
Step 2: Log Into Your Accounting Software
Depending on the software we are using for your account (QuickBooks Online, Xero, or another platform), log into your account and navigate to the bank or accounts section.
Step 3: Select Your Financial Institution
Search for your bank by name. Most major US banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, US Bank, and thousands of others) are available for direct connection. Credit unions and regional banks are also supported in most cases.
Step 4: Enter Your Credentials and Authenticate
Enter your banking credentials directly in the secure connection portal. You may be redirected to your bank’s website or prompted to complete two-factor authentication. This is a standard security step.
Step 5: Select Which Accounts to Connect
After authenticating, you will see a list of your accounts (checking, savings, credit cards). Select all the accounts you use for business purposes. If you are unsure, it is better to connect more accounts and we can exclude personal ones later.
Step 6: Set the Start Date
Choose how far back you want to pull transactions. We typically recommend starting from the beginning of the current year or the date your business opened, whichever is more recent. If you need a historical cleanup, we will discuss the appropriate start date during your onboarding call.
Step 7: Let Your Bookkeeper Take Over
Once your accounts are connected, your dedicated bookkeeper at Startup Books takes it from there. They will review your transactions, set up your categories, and have your books ready within the agreed timeframe.
What If My Bank Is Not Supported?
If your bank does not support a direct connection, there are two alternatives. First, you can export your transactions as a CSV file from your bank’s website and we will import them manually. Second, some banks support connections via third-party services like Plaid. Your onboarding specialist will walk you through the best option for your situation.
Security and Privacy
Your financial data is handled with the highest standards of security. Connections to your bank use bank-level encryption. Startup Books staff have read-only access — we can see your transaction data but cannot initiate any transactions or access funds. We never store your banking passwords.
| Questions?
If you run into any issues connecting your accounts, reach out to your dedicated bookkeeper directly. We will walk you through it — most issues are resolved in a single call. |
| Work With Startup Books
Not yet a client? Book your free consultation at startupbooksusa.com/contact-us and we will have your accounts connected within 48 hours. |