Startup Bookkeeping – What Founders Need to Track from Day One
Your product is exciting. Your pitch is tight. But if your books are a mess, it won’t matter. Investors, CPAs, and even your own team need clean, reliable numbers. Here’s what every startup founder should track from day one.
Download Our Free Brochure →What Startups Should Be Tracking
1. Revenue by Source
- Break out income by product, customer, or channel
- Tag beta vs. paid revenue if you’re pre-launch
2. Startup Expenses
- Track spending by category: marketing, software, legal, product development
- Separate R&D costs for potential capitalization or grants
3. Founder Contributions and Reimbursements
- Log founder capital injections, loans, or personal payments made for the business
4. Payroll and Contractor Payments
- Log employee wages vs. 1099 contractors
- Ensure you’re filing the right forms (W-2 vs. 1099)
5. Burn Rate and Runway
- Calculate how many months of cash remain at current spend levels
- Report to investors and adjust strategy proactively
Test Case
A seed-stage SaaS startup hired RemoteBooksOnline 4 months before fundraising. We:
- Cleaned up 6 months of contractor payments
- Built a revenue model segmented by beta users and paying subscribers
- Delivered a CFO-style dashboard used in investor updates
Tax & Compliance Notes
Startups must:
- Track deductible expenses by type
- Prepare books for potential audits, 83(b) elections, and year-end 1099s
- Stay investor- and CPA-ready at all times
Building a company? Start with clean books. Our startup bookkeeping service helps you track what matters.
Download Our Free Brochure →Startup Bookkeeping Services Across States
Startup Bookkeeping Services Across Key ZIPs
FAQs
Can you help us set up our chart of accounts from scratch?
Yes. We build your entire bookkeeping system from day one.
Do you track equity or cap table info?
We focus on financials, but we’ll align books to reflect equity-related activity.
Can you work with a fractional CFO or VC team?
Yes. We collaborate with any stakeholders you bring in.
Startups don’t get a second chance to look organized. Let RemoteBooksOnline build your books while you build your vision.
