How we work
From messy books to investor-ready, in two phases.
No two startups arrive in the same shape, so we don't start with a template. We start by understanding what you have, validate that it's right, then put a clean monthly process in place, with a dedicated accountant on the day-to-day and fractional CFO support when the moment calls for it.
One team, two roles
A dedicated accountant for the day-to-day, plus a fractional CFO when strategy calls for it. The two stay coordinated so you don't have to manage the handoff.
Your dedicated accountant
A senior accountant or controller who owns your books day to day: reconciliations, payroll, sales tax, AR/AP, and the monthly close. One point of contact who actually knows your business.
Fractional CFO, when you need it
For models, board prep, and fundraise strategy, we bring in a fractional CFO. They don't run the day-to-day. They step in for the high-stakes questions, working from books we keep clean.
The process
A gap analysis first, then two phases, so we agree on the plan before we execute it.
Gap analysis
We map what you're doing today: which tools you use, what you actually need, and who's responsible for what. Most early teams are over-tooled and under-clear; we fix that before adding anything. No three CRMs, no software you don't use.
Phase one: review & validate
Reconciled isn't the same as right. We check that the books actually make sense: does the balance sheet reconcile to your cap table, is revenue mapped to your business logic, are you handling multi-state nexus and foreign qualifications for employees across states. Then we agree on a plan, together, before touching anything.
Phase two: execute & run
We clean up what the review surfaced, close out open questions, and put the ongoing process in place: financials by the 5th of each month, a monthly review where you actually look at the numbers with us, and a shared Slack channel so you're never guessing.
Ongoing: keep you accountable
Clean books are the floor, not the finish. We keep you to your budget and spend, flag what needs attention, and bring in CFO support as the questions get bigger, so you walk into a board meeting or a diligence room ready.
Why founders choose AG
The operational details that make the relationship work, not just the deliverables.
US-based, senior-level team
Every accountant is US-based and works at a senior or controller level, never junior. We tried offshoring; it did not meet our bar. You get one expert who knows your books inside and out.
The same person, for years
Our turnover is very low. Our first hire has been with us since 2012. You keep your accountant, and everything lives in a shared knowledge base so any transition stays inside our team, not on your plate.
Month to month, no lock-in
Pay monthly. If it is not the right fit, a 30-day notice wraps things up cleanly. We would rather earn your business every month than hold you to a contract.
A quiet layer of fraud defense
Because we are in your books and your channel daily, we know your normal. When a 'CEO' email demands an urgent wire to a new account, we catch it and verify before anything moves.
Specialized in startups
Tech is our niche: pre-seed through Series C. We know venture pace, cap tables, multi-state nexus, and what an investor or diligence room expects to see.
Closed by the 5th, in your channel
Financials land by the 5th of each month, and we work alongside you in a shared Slack channel for same-day answers. You are never guessing whether the numbers are right.
Fractional CFO
Strategy when the stakes are high. Not before.
For most early-stage and pre-revenue teams, we recommend quarterly CFO support: monthly is more than you need, and a senior accountant covers the rest. As complexity and fundraising heat up, we scale to monthly. Our fractional CFOs run their own practices, work with Series A through C companies, build the financial models, and advise on fundraise terms, so you walk in knowing whether the deal in front of you is a good one.