Startup bookkeeping
Online bookkeeping services for startups, done right every month.
Clean books are the foundation for every startup finance decision. We set up and run your bookkeeping, reconcile the accounts, coordinate the day-to-day work, and deliver a monthly close your founder, board, and CFO can use.
Startup bookkeeping that gives you useful numbers
The close, setup, and reporting work that lets the rest of your finance function work.
Monthly bookkeeping
Transactions categorized, accounts reconciled, and the books kept current on a dependable close cadence.
Bookkeeping setup
Chart of accounts, bank and card feeds, payroll connections, and a close process built around how your startup runs.
Dedicated accountant
A consistent point of contact who knows your books, answers the practical questions, and coordinates the work.
Investor-ready reports
Monthly reporting that turns your close into a view of cash, burn, runway, and the questions founders need to answer.
Cleanup and catch-up
If your books are behind or unreliable, we reconstruct prior periods and establish a clean monthly process before the next raise or close.
A path to CFO support
When questions turn strategic, the same team can add financial modeling, board reporting, and fundraise support.
Startup bookkeeping setup: the first things to get right
The point of bookkeeping setup is to create one reliable record of financial activity. We start with the company structure and the systems that move money, then make the categories, approval steps, and close responsibilities clear. Once the setup is in place, the monthly work becomes repeatable instead of a scramble.
- Establish the financial stack. Connect the bank, cards, payroll, billing, and expense systems that need to feed the books.
- Build a usable chart of accounts. Organize the accounts so founders can understand spending, revenue, cash, and the items that matter to their stage.
- Set the monthly bookkeeping checklist. Reconcile cash, cards, payroll, invoices, and key balance-sheet accounts before reporting.
- Review the close. Use the finished financials to address exceptions and make the decisions that cannot wait until the next quarter.
Need a broader back-office partner? See our startup accounting services. Need a forecast built on the completed close? See financial modeling for startups. For a quick cash-planning tool, use the free 13-week cash flow forecast.
Startup bookkeeping FAQ
Straight answers on scope, setup, and cost.
What do online bookkeeping services for startups include?
Online bookkeeping services for startups usually include transaction categorization, bank and card reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable support, payroll coordination, and a recurring monthly close. At AG Accounting, the work also produces the reporting founders need to manage burn and prepare for investors.
How do I set up bookkeeping for a startup?
Start with a separate business bank account and card, then set up a chart of accounts, connect the systems that create financial activity, establish who approves bills and payroll, and create a recurring monthly close. The goal is not just to collect transactions but to make the resulting reports usable for decisions.
Do I need an accountant for a startup business?
A startup needs accounting support once financial activity, payroll, fundraising, or reporting expectations outgrow a founder-managed spreadsheet. Early support is usually less expensive than recreating a year of books before diligence or a tax filing.
How much does startup bookkeeping cost?
Pricing depends on transaction volume, payroll, reporting needs, and whether you need strategic finance support. AG Accounting plans start at $500 per month for Early Stage teams. See our startup accounting cost guide and plans page for the scope behind each price point.
Can you take over bookkeeping from another firm or DIY books?
Yes. We can take over during the year, assess the state of the books, clean up and reconcile prior periods where necessary, and then move into a recurring monthly close.