Are you looking for a professional accounting firm for startups to provide strategic financial advice for your growing business? We explored client feedback, startup-related case studies, and industry standings of leading startup accounting services to help businesses like yours discover reputable partners. You can browse our directory and refine your search by location, pricing, minimum budget, team size, and other criteria to find an agency that can effectively help you navigate all accounting and regulatory challenges.
We also meticulously reviewed the services, awards, portfolios, industry reputation, pricing, and client reviews of nearly 100 agencies to bring you a list of the top 10 accounting firms for startups. Check out our featured agencies and their specialties to find the right partner for your accounting needs.
The Number 1 Accounting Firm for Startups as Selected by DesignRush Is...
Notable clients: Trash, Lattice, Airtable, Scale AI, Passage AI
Pilot is an accounting firm for startups that provides bookkeeping, fractional chief financial officer (CFO), and tax services to growing businesses. Its skilled accountants use cutting-edge workflows superior to traditional error-prone accounting. So far, Pilot has helped 1,750+ customers save over $35 million in research and development (R&D) tax savings. Some of the services this startup accounting firm is expert in include finance tools integration, tax, R&D tax credit, building budgets, and fundraising preparation.
Pilot Success Story
Challenge: Trash is a video editing platform that had one of its founders keep company books for two years. Instead of investing time in building the startup's product, Karina Bernacki lost hours manually handling budget reports and other accounting tasks. When the company secured a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, it needed to provide regular reporting on how the funding was spent. This is when Trash reached out to Pilot.
Solution: When Pilot took over, it synced all Trash's financial accounts, including payroll and accounting cards. The agency reconciled all books and started creating monthly statements, so all books were up to date. Finally, Pilot built custom reports for NSF to keep track of its funds.
Results: Thanks to working with Pilot, Trash now leaves a better impression on investors, having the board focus on strategy instead of financial decisions. NSF funding reports will make it easier for Trash to apply for future grants and raise more funds.
Notable clients: Caraway, Confiant, SETTLE, SunScoop, The Muse
Born out of a VC fund, Graphite Financial provides startup accounting services that include bookkeeping, fractional CFO, and tax. The company has helped several hundred startups with industry-specific accounting and bookkeeping, financial modeling, fundraising, long-term strategic plans, corporate tax filings, sales tax, and more. Graphite Financial specializes in working with businesses from SaaS and tech, eCommerce, health tech and healthcare, biotech, and other spheres.
Graphite Financial Success Story
Challenge: Caraway is a cookware brand that started with a small team and limited funding. As the business began to grow, it became obvious it needed professional assistance with finance and accounting.
Solution: Graphite Financial provided guidance as Caraway navigated scaling its business, which made financial processes more complex. The accounting firm for startups helped the company establish processes for accounts receivable, bill payment, and other essential financial functions.
Results: By having Graphite Financial handle all financial aspects of its business, Caraway didn't have to worry about the intricacies of back-end CPG accounting, and its core team was able to focus on building and expanding the business.
airCFO offers startup accounting services in the fields of accounting, finance, people operations, and tax. Over 300 startups have trusted airCFO with processes like expense management, financial statement preparation, cash flow projections, budgeting, modeling, tax laws, and IRS guidance. With automated tools and tailored advice, airCFO enables startups to easily scale their infrastructure and get a strong hold of their accounting capabilities.
airCFO Success Story
Challenge: Apartment List is an online rental marketplace that has grown to advertise over 5 million rental units on its platform. To support such rapid growth, the company needed assistance from a professional startup accounting firm.
Solution: airCFO took over all accounting and financial initiatives, most notably with account receivables. The company helped customize the delivery of products and services to support the quick expansion of Apartment List’s business.
Results: Apartment List made significant financial savings by outsourcing all finances to airCFO instead of hiring an in-house CFO. Thanks to the accounting firm's flexibility, the startup successfully scaled and eventually hired an internal financial expert to work alongside the airCFO.
Burkland is a company that provides startup accounting services for over 800 venture-backed startup clients. So far, the accounting firm has helped its clients raise over $14.4 billion in funding by letting them focus on business growth while tackling all accounting and financial tasks. Burkland specializes in tax preparation, tax credit research, financial guidance in strategic scaling, bookkeeping, and financial systems.
Burkland Success Story
Challenge: Aletha Health is a healthcare startup that started out by manually running all its accounting processes. During its first rapid growth phase, the company faced challenges in maintaining the accuracy and efficiency of its bookkeeping.
Solution: Burkland set out to automate most of Aletha Health’s processes, including integrating its accounting software with its sales platform. All sales data could be handled in one place, enabling Burkland to reconcile transactions at the end of each month.
Results: Thanks to Burkland, Aletha Health now has clean accounting books and automated accounting processes that are quicker and more accurate. Reporting accurate sales taxes protects the business during due diligence and with investors.
Early Growth is the largest national startup accounting firm in the venture capital space. The company is a one-stop shop for all startup financial activities, including fund accounting, equity management, risk management, and financial operations. Early Growth has helped over 5,000 clients, specifically venture capital backed companies, SaaS, life sciences, eCommerce, and technology hardware companies.
Early Growth Success Story
Challenge: Enplug is a startup that transitioned to a SaaS-based model early in its growth phase. As the number of subscribed users grew, the company realized its burning need for professional accounting.
Solution: Early Growth handled transaction categorizations, reviewed and cleaned up line items in the business’ chart of accounts, and streamlined all accounting and financial processes. Besides that, the accounting firm managed monthly close and managing inventory, invoicing, and bill payments.
Results: With Early Growth handling all financial processes, the company could focus on growing the business and attracting more investors. Enplug successfully raised $3.5 million in seed funding and continued to grow.
Notable clients: Scape Technologies, London Filmed, Homevest, Friday, Manyone
Accountancy Cloud is an accounting firm for startups that provides bookkeeping, CFO, and tax services for startups and scale-ups. This startup accounting company covers a wide range of services, including accounting, R&D tax credits, CFO services, invoices, receipts, expenses, taxes, and tax returns. Accountancy Cloud won numerous accolades, such as Accounting Excellence Medium Firm of the Year, British Accountancy Awards Independent Firm of the Year, and Accounting Excellence Innovative Firm of the Year.
Accountancy Cloud Success Story
Challenge: Scape Technologies, a computer-vision startup, needed to file its R&D tax credit claim in a reliable, error-free way. With research and development efforts scattered across multiple platforms, it was difficult to handle the complexity of accounting processes.
Solution: Accountancy Cloud leveraged its expertise to streamline and handle all accounting processes. The firm ensured that R&D credit tracking went flawlessly with a combination of manual and automated work.
Results: Thanks to Accountancy Cloud's help, Scape Technologies could claim £500,000 of R&D tax cash refund and further grow its business.
Learn & Grow Financial is a small team of highly skilled accountants, fractional CFOs, and tax experts focusing on helping startups and growing businesses tackle their financial processes. This startup accounting company uses cutting-edge financial technology to streamline its clients' operations and provide strategic advice and planning as they grow. Learn & Grow Financial specializes in accounts payable, R&D tax credit, revenue growth, and other key performance indicator tracking, as well as accounting automation.
Learn & Grow Financial Success Story
Challenge: Honey is a tech startup that started out with an internal bookkeeper, but as the company grew, it needed high-level support to manage the financial aspects of the expansion.
Solution: Learn & Grow Financial helped Honey manage gross margin and profitability by channel, amortizing expenses and transitioning to accrual-based accounting. The accounting firm for startups ensured that Honey's rewards program was compliant with all financial regulations. Finally, Learn & Grow helped Honey automate payroll and accounts payable processes to handle the large volume of transactions.
Results: Supported by Learn & Grow Financial, Honey managed to scale from 11 to almost 100 employees with the financial infrastructure able to support this growth. Honey gained better insights into its finances, which empowered it to make better financial decisions.
Notable clients: Avidon Health, Ritual, Vetted, Flow Kana, Life Choices Center
Leveraging the power of hi-tech financial solutions, Hiline helps startups and growing businesses manage their accounting. This startup accounting company has provided custom financial solutions to over 300 startups, aiding them with bookkeeping, CFO services, HR and payroll, accounts payable, spending management, and tax. Hiline integrates modern software solutions like QuickBooks Online, Basis FP&A, BILL Accounts Payable, and Spend & Expense software to automate and streamline financial processes.
Hiline Success Story
Challenge: Avidon Health used an external bookkeeper with limited availability, which created operational gaps. A junior team member ran its accounting and finance, and he struggled to tackle more complex issues. The company also lacked timely financial reporting that would help make better financial decisions.
Solution: Within the first month, Hiline performed a historical cleanup of Avidon Health's financial records. The accounting team set up and started tracking important metrics to give the business a better insight into its finances. Hiline provided the consistency and availability that Avidon Health was lacking.
Results: Thanks to Hiline's support, Avidon Health's SVP of Operations could focus on her duties, helping the company scale while making sure the finances were in order.
Milestone is a startup accounting company that helps nonprofits and high-grow businesses with monthly accounting, fractional CFO, financial system design and implementation, payroll, and other services. The firm offers plans tailored to its clients' size and budget, providing anything from weekly bookkeeping to consultancy in financial review and board meetings. Milestone has extensive expertise working with SaaS, startup, and scaleup companies from different industries.
Milestone Success Story
Challenge: DemandJump is a SaaS startup that had to quickly find an accounting firm after its CFO resigned, leaving the company without a dedicated expert to help with growth plan execution.
Solution: Milestone provided startup accounting services, including fractional accounting and CFO services through a combination of the latest financial software and its financial leadership expertise. The accounting firm for startups took over daily bookkeeping and strategic guidance around financial decisions.
Results: The adoption of financial technology allowed DemandJump to improve operational efficiency and information flow. The day-to-day operations enabled the business to successfully prepare for scaling knowing all back-office operations were streamlined.
Schultz & Associates, CPA, provides startup accounting services tailored to industries like dental, veterinary, optometric, construction, and law. The company offers business accounting, tax services, bookkeeping, payroll processing, filing back taxes, and many other startup accounting services. Schultz & Associates has a portfolio of over 200 satisfied clients and specializes in multi-state income tax and multi-state sales tax issues.
Schultz & Associates, CPA Success Story
Challenge: Westland CPA is a plumbing business that has experienced a rapid growth in demand for its services. With the increased volume of accounting tasks, the company needed an outside firm to handle its accounting and bookkeeping. Also, Westland CPA needed a professional for tax preparation (Form 1120S) and tax planning.
Solution: Schultz & Associates provided full-service accounting support that included weekly payroll processing, end-of-year accounting, and tax preparation. The firm helped Westland CPA switch from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online and choose which processes to handle internally. On top of it, Schultz & Associates simplified the invoicing process for long-term projects, assisted in switching to automated bill payment, and streamlined receipt management.
Results: After Schultz & Associates took over accounting, the business had more free time to focus on other activities, adding an extra 2-5 service calls per week and growing its revenue.
How We Picked the Best Startup Accounting Services
To narrow down the top startup accounting services, we reviewed their clients' testimonials, case studies, industry reputation, team expertise, certifications and accolades, and executive management. Our team of agency experts developed a scoring system to measure their overall performance based on several important factors:
Accounting expertise: The scope of financial and accounting services the firm specializes in
Reviews: Quality of work, client satisfaction, timely delivery, and level of trustworthiness
Portfolio: The accounting company's track record of successful collaboration
Awards and press: Financial industry reputation and innovation, awards, and recognitions
Team bios: The agency’s qualifications and team dynamics
Top accounting services: Areas of expertise and industry-specific knowledge
10 Most Popular Accounting Firms for Startups Compared
Agency name
Location
Hourly rate
Size
Best for
Pilot
San Francisco, CA
$1
250-499
Overall
Graphite Financial
New York, NY
Inquire
Under 49
Scaling financial processes
airCFO
Cleveland, OH
Inquire
Under 49
Account receivables
Burkland
San Francisco, CA
Inquire
100-249
Accounting process automation
Early Growth
San Jose, CA
Inquire
50-99
Inventory management
Accountancy Cloud
London, United Kingdom
Inquire
Under 49
R&D tax
Learn & Grow Financial
Los Angeles, CA
Inquire
Under 49
Regulations compliance
Hiline
Syracuse, NY
$1
100-249
Financial records
Milestone
Carmel, IN
Inquire
Under 49
Fractional CFO
Schultz & Associates, CPA
Canton, MI
Inquire
Under 49
Receipt management
Best Startup Accounting Services
110 Companies-Rankings updated: August 19, 2026
Each agency listed on DesignRush is assessed for industry expertise and customer testimonials are evaluated in order to provide you with a vetted selection. Certain listings represent paid partnerships.
We are a Bay Area Certified Public Accountant firm that provides bookkeeping, tax, and business consulting services to small businesses and individuals in the Bay Area. Our firm is available and affordable for all potential clients...
Provides excellent accounting services to individual and small business.
Provides excellent accounting services to individual and small business.
Shotkoski & Associates, PC provides accounting services to individual and small business clients and assists with navigating the complex and ever-changing financial and tax environments allowing our clients to maximize their success...
Upcloud Accounting is a virtual accounting firm located in Quezon City, Philippines, and is an expert in all areas of accounting, bookkeeping, consulting, outsourcing, payroll, taxes (PH), and business services. We collaborate with our clients to create custom protocols and procedures that support, reinforce...
Infuse your everyday tasks with a real-time, virtual acuity.Task Virtual's team of experts has the timing and expertise to deliver your business needs—from daily duties to big projects requiring quality completion.Empower yourself in this new age digital world where our highly skilled professionals...
Well count the numbers while you multiply your time.
Well count the numbers while you multiply your time.
Providing businesses with the most advanced accounting and financial services is Accario's primary mission. Accario's services and disciplines continue to help clients maintain a healthy balance sheet and have peace of mind no matter the size of their business, be it a small franchise or a large enterprise...
Whiz Consulting is a leading provider of online accounting and bookkeeping services, offering comprehensive solutions tailored to businesses of all sizes. With expertise in payroll processing, taxation, and advisory services, we ensure seamless financial management for our clients...
H&S Accounting & Tax Services is a small accounting firm with extensive experience in all facets of accounting and taxes. In South Florida, we provide numerous accounting and tax services to individuals, small businesses, and medium-sized organizations. People in Hollywood, Florida, think that H&S Accounting...
A Leading Outsourcing Center in Europe with the Healthy Ambition to Remain at the Top! Our business is on par with the standards established by the industry thanks to the exceptional quality and industry understanding that we provide. You may be certain that we will provide you the highest possible level of...
iCareBilling is a private American Healthcare IT Company that provides Insurance Credentialing, Medical Billing and other services to the healthcare industry across the United States, integrating services with any EHR, Practice Management, or Medical Billing Software...
Outsourcing Professional Bookkeeping and Accounting Services
Outsourcing Professional Bookkeeping and Accounting Services
GRO IT Solutions Pvt Ltd is a Pune based Accounting and Bookkeeping solution provider for all kind of businesses across globally. We are happily serving Singapore based client since last 9 years. Since GRO IT's inception in 2014, our team of experts have fulfilled clients' business needs with agility and...
At RKL, we are a professional services firm deeply rooted in finance and driven by our commitment to tangible outcomes, trusted advice and measurable results...
Finance and Accounting Insights to Plot Your Path to Growth
Finance and Accounting Insights to Plot Your Path to Growth
We take care of everything finance and accounting for small and medium-sized businesses. Anything that would normally fall in the CFO's wheelhouse, we handle. From basic bookkeeping, to month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, planning and analysis, and strategic CFO guidance. We adapt the scope of...
We offer a range of tailor-made services that are specially designed to respond to your business precise requirements. We see through the lengthy process of compiling and auditing your financial statements and other relevant documents and manage the entire process of your project from start to finish...
Large enough to handle your diverse needs. Small enough to care.
Large enough to handle your diverse needs. Small enough to care.
We are a top New York City accounting business in the Noho/Greenwich Village neighborhood. We ensure that every customer receives the close scrutiny and attention they deserve by combining our skills, experience, and team mindset. Our clients return year after year because of our commitment to high standards...
Taj Accountants stands high among the renowned accountancy firms in London for offering outstanding accounting and taxation advice to corporates, as well as individuals. Our client base ranges from individuals who are seeking general accounting and taxation advice to sole traders, limited companies or...
CloudTax Ltd., your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of taxation and financial management. At CloudTax, we are dedicated to providing personalized solutions tailored to your unique financial needs. With a team of experienced professionals, we offer expert guidance and support to individuals and...
Were here to support you to make you grow efficiently and worry-free about HR job.
Were here to support you to make you grow efficiently and worry-free about HR job.
3P Professional Co., Ltd. is a trusted HR services provider in Thailand with over 20 years of experience. We have over 2,000 outsourced staff across the country, serving clients from various sectors, both domestically and internationally. Whether you're in banking, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, or...
Family run Chartered Accountancy practice in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Offering accountancy, tax and business support services, Harrisons Accountancy provides solutions to make finances easier to manage and understand for businesses...
IMC is a leading cross-border advisory firm, and it serves large companies, multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, high-net-worth individuals, family-owned businesses and start-ups. It is a Member Firm of Andersen Global in the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and India...
It's great to hear about Sterlinx Global and the comprehensive range of services you offer in the areas of accounting and VAT. Your specialization in VAT registration and tax submissions across various regions, including the UK, Europe, USA, Australia, and the Middle East, demonstrates a global reach that can...
Building The Future Proof Accounting Firm Of Tomorrow.
Building The Future Proof Accounting Firm Of Tomorrow.
Founders CPA is a boutique accounting firm located in Chicago that focuses on outsourced accounting services for startups and small businesses. We pride ourselves on being trusted advisers for startup founders and small business owners across the country. Our breadth of service offerings leverages technology...
Committed to Exceptional Service Achieve Your Business Goals
Committed to Exceptional Service Achieve Your Business Goals
Twin Oaks LLP provides a comprehensive range of accounting and financial services to businesses across various industries. Our team of experienced professionals is committed to delivering the highest quality financial solutions to our clients, helping them achieve their business goals and thrive in todays...
Growth is Complicated. We Make it Simple! Complete Medical Billing Solutions for Your Practice.
Growth is Complicated. We Make it Simple! Complete Medical Billing Solutions for Your Practice.
GreenSense Billing stands as a distinguished leader in the realm of medical billing, dedicated to streamlining billing and coding processes within the healthcare industry. Our paramount goal is to simplify these intricate procedures, strategically minimizing costs while optimizing revenue collection for our...
SAMBUCO5 has the answer to all your digital marketing needs. Based in Milan but overlooking the world, we help you reach the widest, but above all the best sphere of customers...
Singapore Corporate Services is your comprehensive solution for digital corporate services tailored specifically for SMEs. Our experienced team specializes in business formation, accounting services, tax compliance, and audit and assurance. We're committed to guiding you through the complexities of local...
An Ecosystem Of Support For All Your Accounting Needs
An Ecosystem Of Support For All Your Accounting Needs
We focus on supporting small-and-medium-sized business owners and financial leaders manage their accounting at whatever capacity they need. From our name to our approach on work, what we do is very different from other accounting firms - that's because flexibility permeates every aspect of who we are, meaning...
Aspen HR: Expert PEO Solutions for Dynamic Business Growth. Offering specialized HR services, payroll management, and comprehensive benefits in a white-glove approach, catering to diverse industries including technology and finance. Renowned for personalized client service and a robust national presence...
Canada Professional Tax Accountants and Accounting Services - Accountant in Edmonton.
Canada Professional Tax Accountants and Accounting Services - Accountant in Edmonton.
BOMCAS Canada stands as a prominent provider of accounting and tax services, delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to both businesses and individuals. Catering to corporations, small businesses, and personal tax needs, our extensive services encompass bookkeeping, payroll management, tax...
Accountant Calgary is the foremost bookkeeping and accounting company in Calgary, Alberta. We specialize in services like bookkeeping, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and detailed financial reporting. Elevate your financial management with our expertise for business success...
Taxes Served Corporation is your trusted partner in comprehensive financial solutions. Our dedicated team is committed to providing top-notch services in tax, bookkeeping, and payroll to meet the unique needs of your business...
Corexta revolutionizes agency management with an all-in-one platform. From project and client management to finance, HR, and more, streamline operations effortlessly. Try Corexta today and unlock efficiency for your agency...
NetherGrowth stands as a premier web development agency, providing innovative solutions tailored to businesses seeking to expand their online presence. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies and strategic approaches, we empower our clients to reach new heights in the digital realm. Our dedicated team of...
One Accounting is a professional accounting firm with offices located in Oakville, Hamilton and Toronto providing a wide range of services for corporations, small businesses and personal taxes. We provide cost-effective solutions for businesses. Our team of experts are knowledgeable in the latest accounting...
Small Business Accounting, Technology, & Growth Consulting.
Small Business Accounting, Technology, & Growth Consulting.
Fred Lundin CPA LLC is a Chicago-based CPA accounting and technology consulting firm specializing in serving e-commerce, solopreneurs, and small business owners. With a dedicated focus on these sectors, we provide tailored financial and technological solutions to help our clients thrive in their respective...
Fueling Business Leaders with BI & Data Governance Expertise
Fueling Business Leaders with BI & Data Governance Expertise
We leverage cutting-edge Business Analytics, Data Governance tools and best practices to solve data problems from ingestion to transformation to actionable insight.Our expertise goes beyond crunching numbers and generating reports. We help businesses operationalize their data strategy in its various...
Complete outsourced accounting departments & bookkeeping since 2005.
Complete outsourced accounting departments & bookkeeping since 2005.
Complete Outsourced Accounting Department and premium bookkeeping partner for CPA firms and businesses across the USA and Canada. 100% human-led, white-label support since 2005...
Now Expert Tax Consultants provides comprehensive financial management services, specializing in value-added tax (VAT), accounting, and business setup in the United Arab Emirates. Its expert team offers tailored solutions to help businesses meet local compliance requirements while focusing on growth. With a...
At Intellgus, we specialize in outsourcing accounting services tailored to meet the unique needs of your business. We offer comprehensive financial solutions, including bookkeeping, payroll management, tax preparation, and financial reporting...
CentsIQ delivers tailored Bookkeeping, Advanced Analytics, Fractional CFO, Quality of Earnings (QoE) solutions to fuel your growth and maximize profitability...
Eliminate Technology Frustrations, Headaches, and Downtime.
Eliminate Technology Frustrations, Headaches, and Downtime.
Ideal Managed Solutions provides complete business IT and cybersecurity solutions, from network and devices security, to user productivity and management, to business online marketing. We aim to become your technology partner, not just another vendor...
Empowering Customer Experience with AI and Human Expertise-Customized Care Solutions by D3Mynds.
Empowering Customer Experience with AI and Human Expertise-Customized Care Solutions by D3Mynds.
Empowering Customer Experience with AI and Human Expertise-Customized Care Solutions by D3Mynds. Where AI Meets Human Touch D3Mynds Delivers Customized Customer Care Solutions for a New Era...
We Delivering Excellence In Every Aspect Our Their Work
We Delivering Excellence In Every Aspect Our Their Work
Outsource Work is an Outstaffing Company specializing in Finance Recruitment and Bookkeeping Services. We help businesses hire skilled Ukrainian professionals who deliver accuracy, reliability, and cost savings of up to 70%...
Turning Accounting and Tax Services into Strategic Growth Opportunities
Turning Accounting and Tax Services into Strategic Growth Opportunities
KFN Accounting & Financial, LLC is a premier consulting firm in Illinois, offering expert accounting, tax planning, CFO services, and business consulting tailored to small and medium-sized businesses. With a commitment to integrity and personalized solutions, we help clients optimize their financial resources...
We incorporate companies and take care of everything else.
We incorporate companies and take care of everything else.
Margin Wheeler Pte. Ltd. specializes in delivering high-quality accounting and corporate services at affordable rates, ensuring success and ease for clients since 2011...
An accounting firm for startups is a company that helps new businesses handle their financial tasks, such as bookkeeping, cash flow management, taxation, etc. By hiring an accounting company, startups can ensure that all financial transactions are made and booked in compliance with the laws and regulations. This helps keep track of the company's finances and avoid risking any irregularities that can result in high money penalties or startup shutdowns.
One example of a successful project is the collaboration between a health and wellness startup and Mercurius Advisory Services accounting firm. The client had an issue with inaccurately maintained books and lacked staff with adequate accounting knowledge to handle the problem. Mercurius Advisory Services provided proper categorization of credit card transactions and bank statements and matched all accounts receivables with Zoho Inventory, Amazon, Shopify, and Stripe accounts. Thanks to this, the startup was relieved of all accounting concerns and free to focus on core areas of its business.
What services do accounting firms provide for startups?
Accounting firms provide everything from basic bookkeeping to financial advising for their startup clients.
Their responsibilities are typically:
Bookkeeping services: Keeping a record of all financial transactions and organizing them
Tax compliance: Maximizing tax benefits, decreasing tax liability, and providing another kind of tax guidance
Financial management: Cash flow management, budgeting, and similar services
Financial modeling: Creating a model to attract potential investors
Financial reporting: Creating comprehensive reports for startup stakeholders and investors
Business planning: Strategic organization of financial goals
Risk management: Mitigating financial risks to safeguard against potential issues
Advisory services: Help with financial business decisions such as investments or succession planning
An example of a successful collaboration that included accounting services delivery is the one between Mercurius Advisory Services and a USA-based landscaping business. The landscaping firm had trouble recording invoices and payments with the QuickBooks Desktop software. Therefore, the startup accounting company provided the following services:
Reconciling merchant account deposits with bank deposits
Creating invoices and recording payments
Categorizing and reconciling accounts
Un-deposited fund balance rectification
Financial reporting
The client was happy with the services received that it decided to continue working with Mercurius Advisory Services and even hired the firm to help migrate accounts to another bookkeeping software.
What is the difference between startup accounting services and bookkeeping?
The difference between startup accounting services and bookkeeping is in the scope of work delivered to the client. Bookkeeping is just one part of accounting services that entails tracking and organizing a startup's financial transactions. In contrast, startup accounting services usually include bookkeeping and other supporting tasks that can range from tax compliance to financial advising.
For instance, common startup bookkeeping services include:
Keeping records of customers' payments and invoices
Maintaining accounts receivable
Reconciling bank and credit card accounts
Payroll management
Accounting services for startups typically include:
Bookkeeping
Taxing
Financial management and reporting
Risk management
Financial advising
How much do startup accounting services cost?
Startup accounting services costs start from around $600 per month for basic bookkeeping. Several factors affect the price of accounting services for startups:
The volume of transactions: Accounting price goes up for a large number of monthly transactions
The complexity of transactions: Some transactions, like prepaid Facebook advertising, require monthly updates and take more time
The client doing some bookkeeping: Some startups take on basic payment tasks, which can lower the accounting price
Using accounting software: Investing in an accounting software tool will save money and costs
The top 50 startup accounting agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $98/hour. Roughly 32% of the startup accounting companies on DesignRush accept projects with a minimum budget of less than $1,000, while 4% require a $50,000+ minimum budget.
Why should I hire a startup accounting service?
You should hire a startup accounting service to keep track of your finances, eliminate bookkeeping errors, and ensure compliance with financial laws and regulations. Hiring a startup accounting service can provide specialized expertise, cost savings, scalability, and strategic insights, all of which are essential for the growth and success of a new business.
Some of the benefits of hiring a startup accounting firm include:
Avoid common startup pitfalls: According to a survey, running out of money or failing to raise capital is the number one reason startups fail. An accounting firm can help minimize these risks.
Reduce the risk of errors: An accounting professional has the necessary expertise to ensure all tasks are done according to financial laws.
Provide financial advice: When considering important business decisions around investments, startup founders can consult an accounting company and get guidance.
Cost optimization: If your startup has good revenue but a stagnant profit, an accounting firm can find the source of problems like unnecessary expenses or overpriced investments.
Time saving: Startups have few employees and can benefit from delegating all financial tasks to an accounting company so they can focus on other responsibilities.
An example of a successful collaboration is a healthcare billing startup that hired an accounting firm called Invensis to help overcome billing and payment process challenges in receiving payments from patients. Invensis identified an outdated approach to invoicing as one of the problems and established different payment options. As a result, the client saw an improvement of almost 80% in recovering outstanding payments and a nearly 90% reduction in bad debt.
How do I choose the best accounting firm for my startup business?
Choosing the best accounting firm for your startup involves several key considerations. You want to ensure that the firm meets your specific needs and can support your business effectively as it grows. To choose the right accounting firm for your startup business, consider the company’s experience in your industry, its portfolio of services, pricing plans, and client reviews.
Based on your company's needs, you should focus on these steps:
Identify your goals: Define which financial processes you want to take care of internally and which you want to outsource. Make a list of all the areas where you need expert help.
Find the right expertise: Look for a startup accounting company with experience in the services you need. Browse through DesignRush’s Agency Directory to find ideal candidates for the job. Some companies provide only bookkeeping and taxing services while others offer financial advising for startups.
Set a budget: Determine the monthly amount you can invest in accounting.
Evaluate their pricing structure: Understand the firm’s pricing model. Some agencies charge hourly rates, while others offer fixed-fee packages. Make sure the pricing is transparent and aligns with your budget. Ask about any additional fees that might arise.
Review agency experience: Ask for a portfolio of relevant work, case studies, reviews, and clients you can contact for feedback. Ideally, the agency should have tangible results with companies from your industry.
Evaluate communication and responsiveness: Good communication is vital. Confirm the firm is responsive, easy to communicate with, and willing to explain complex financial concepts in understandable terms. Quick and clear communication can save time and prevent misunderstandings.
Ask about the processes: Find out how the accounting firm handles all finances, what inputs and documents it needs from you, etc.
Inquire about analytics and reporting: Ask the agency how it tracks finances and if it uses any kind of accounting software for reporting.
Interview: Set up interviews with prospective startup accounting companies to discuss the project in detail and determine if they fit your team well.
Make a decision: After reviewing the RFPs, choose the best-suited agency and establish all project development processes.
If you need a custom-made list of accounting firms for startups, contact us. Our team will match you with the most suitable agencies based on your list of requirements. You can browse our Marketplace for more details.
How do I find the best startup accounting service on DesignRush that fits my budget?
To find the best startup accounting service on DesignRush that fits your budget, use the filtering feature to sort agencies by minimal budgets in ascending order or by hourly rate from lowest to highest.
If you have a limited budget, look for agencies that accept projects under $1,000. Accounting firms like Remofirst, Upcloud Accounting, BOMCAS, Treewalk Consulting Inc., and CCC Capital CPA require a minimal budget below $1,000. The average hourly rate changes from country to country, so you may consider hiring an agency outside the US that offers more affordable rates.
What are the key success metrics in accounting firms for startups?
The key success metrics in accounting firms for startups are related mostly to the volume of processed invoices, error rates, processing costs, and time needed to complete certain tasks.
Common startup accounting metrics include:
Days Payable Outstanding (DPO): The average number of days it takes for a startup to pay its bills
Cost per invoice: The average cost of processing a single invoice
Invoice exception rate: The percentage of invoices that have incorrect information and require manual intervention
Invoice cycle time: The average time it takes to complete an invoice from receipt to payment
Payment error rate: The rate of payments that have issues such as duplicate payments, incorrect amounts, etc.
Error resolution time: Total time spent resolving errors divided by the number of errors
Accounts Payable Expense as a Percentage of Revenue: Total costs of accounting compared to startup revenue
Electronic invoices rate: The number of electronic invoices divided by the total of electronic and paper invoices
Client profitability: Total revenue coming from a single client subtracted by job-related costs
Job profitability: The difference between job-related costs and revenue from a single job
Client retention rate: The difference between the total number of clients at the beginning and the end of a set timeframe, which excludes any new customers acquired, calculated in percentages
New client growth rate: The difference between the total number of clients at the end and at the beginning of a set timeframe, calculated in percentages
Employee productivity: Total startup revenue divided by the number of employees
What questions should I ask before hiring accounting services for startups?
You should ask accounting services for startups about their experience with startups and your industry, the accounting software and tools they use, the services they provide, and the approach they will take to managing your finances.
These include the following:
Its Relevant Background
How many years of experience do you have in accounting for startups?
Do you have a portfolio with startup clients?
What certifications and licenses do your team members have?
Do you have experience working with startups from my industry? Are you familiar with its specifics?
Its Services and Processes
How do you plan to handle my finances?
What strategies will you use to optimize costs?
What records should I keep? Which documents will you require from me monthly?
Do you offer financial advising for startups?
Can you help me handle investments and improve my business decisions?
What are my tax obligations?
Will I get a dedicated accountant or a team of people?
Do you have experience with fundraising and M&A?
What is your accounting plan for when the startup grows?
Related to Your Project
How do we define monthly deliverables? What happens if they still need to be met?
Who are the key team members in charge of my accounting?
What metrics will you use to optimize accounting processes?
How often will you provide us with status reports and relevant metrics?
What is the planned budget? Are there any additional costs we can expect?
What kind of additional support and financial advising can you provide?
What are the best accounting firms for startups in the US?
The best 5 accounting firms for startups in the US are:
Top clients: The Co-Group, Home Caring, Flow, MH London
Discover more about these and other startup accounting firms by scrolling through our list of agencies. All the companies were carefully selected based on successful projects, industry reputation, customer reviews, and team expertise. Personalize your search and sort companies by location, budget size, hourly rates, and reviews.
-content.jpg "startup-accounting-awards-logos")
-content.jpg "startup-accounting-technologies-logos")
Proposals