Startup Bookkeeping Setup Guide
Written by Aparna Devalla, CPA
Curated by Rubric Financial
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When to Start Bookkeeping
- Start bookkeeping from day one of your company's existence, not when you raise money or hire your first employee.
- Every transaction from incorporation fees to founder expenses needs to be recorded to maintain a complete and accurate financial history.
- Retroactive bookkeeping is significantly more expensive and error-prone than maintaining records in real time from the start.
- Clean books from day one make fundraising due diligence smoother and demonstrate operational discipline to potential investors.
Related Resources
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A guide to ASC 842 for startups, explaining how to put office and equipment leases on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and lease liability.
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Startup AccountingAccounts Payable & Vendor Management
Set up AP workflows, negotiate payment terms, and manage vendor relationships to optimize cash flow.
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