Should we run cash basis or accrual basis?

Cash basis is simpler and works for most pre-seed startups. Accrual is required by GAAP and almost universally expected by Series A investors and beyond. We typically set startups up to track both: cash basis for tax filings (until revenue requires accrual under IRS rules) and accrual for management and investor reporting. Switching from cash-only to dual-basis later is messy; building it in from the start is easy.

Can you handle SAFE notes and convertible notes on the books?

Yes. SAFEs and convertible notes get recorded as a long-term liability when the cash comes in, then converted to equity when the qualifying round closes. We coordinate with your startup attorney on the conversion mechanics so the equity recording matches the cap table exactly.

What about R&D tax credits?

We do not prepare R&D credit studies (those require a specialty firm), but we maintain the underlying expense and time-tracking data the specialist needs and we coordinate the handoff. For most software and hardware startups in their first three to five years, the R&D credit is meaningful and worth the specialty firm fee.

Are you familiar with SaaS metrics like MRR, ARR, and CAC payback?

Yes. We pull SaaS metrics monthly for any startup that wants them: MRR with new/expansion/churn breakdown, ARR, gross and net dollar retention, CAC, LTV, CAC payback period. These are the metrics every SaaS investor will ask about; having them ready monthly puts you in a much stronger position when you raise.

Can you join board meetings or investor update calls?

For higher-touch engagements, yes. We can join quarterly board meetings to walk through financials and answer financial questions directly. This is more common in fractional controller engagements than basic startup bookkeeping; we will quote it as part of the engagement scope if you want it.

Bookkeeping · Cumming, GA

Bookkeeping for Startups Cumming, GA

Get a quote

Overview

Bookkeeping for startups in Cumming, GA done the way investors and lenders expect to see it. We build the file from day one with the right chart of accounts, accrual options when you need them, and reports that hold up under due diligence, not just a P&L you cobbled together for the pitch deck.

Overview

Startups grow fast and pivot often. We adjust the chart of accounts as new revenue streams appear, track burn and runway each month, and deliver investor-ready statements your board will not flag. When the next round of funding shows up or a strategic acquirer asks for a data room, half the work is already done.

Process

For software, hardware, and DTC startups based around the Halcyon area or working remotely from the broader Atlanta metro, we also coordinate with R&D tax credit specialists, equity admin platforms like Carta, and accrual revenue recognition when you cross that threshold.

Details

This pairs naturally with QuickBooks setup, startup accounting solutions, and business financial analysis as you start tracking unit economics. When the time comes to add a fractional controller, that is in our wheelhouse too.

Building books a future investor will actually trust

The single biggest difference between startup bookkeeping and small business bookkeeping is who is going to read the financials. For a small business, the audience is the owner and the CPA. For a startup, the audience is also the future investor, the future acquirer, and the future board. That changes how the books need to be built.

We build to GAAP-aligned standards from day one. Revenue is recognized when earned (not just when cash hits). Deferred revenue is tracked when customers prepay. Stock-based compensation is recorded properly when equity is granted. Capitalized software development costs are tracked separately if you are building a product. None of these are hard once they are set up correctly. All of them are painful to retrofit at Series A.

Investors and acquirers also want to see clean monthly cohorts and KPIs alongside the standard financials: monthly recurring revenue (for SaaS), customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, gross margin trends, burn rate, runway. We pull these as part of the monthly close so they are ready when you need them.

Burn and runway tracking every month

For most early-stage Cumming and Atlanta-metro startups, burn and runway are the two numbers that matter most. How much cash are we spending each month? How many months of cash do we have left? Get either one wrong and you can over-hire, miss a fundraising window, or run out of money before the next round.

We calculate burn three ways each month: gross burn (total monthly cash outflow), net burn (gross burn minus revenue), and adjusted burn (net burn excluding one-time items). Runway is calculated against each. The variance between months tells you whether you are trending toward longer or shorter runway, which matters for when to raise.

For startups that have raised, we also track use-of-proceeds against the budget you committed to investors. If you raised a $2M seed earmarked for product, sales, and marketing in specific proportions, the monthly close includes a variance report so you (and your investors) can see whether spending is on plan.

Coordinating with your equity, R&D, and tax stack

Most Cumming-area startups end up with three or four specialty advisors over their first three years. Carta or Pulley for cap table management. A R&D tax credit specialist (the credit can be substantial for software and hardware startups in their first profitable years). A CPA for the corporate return. A startup attorney for fundraising paperwork. We sit in the middle and coordinate so the data flows cleanly between all of them.

We can also handle the cap table-to-books reconciliation each month so equity grants, vesting, and any 409A valuations stay properly recorded. For startups headed toward acquisition, we package historical financials in the format buyers' due diligence teams typically request.

Pricing

Pre-revenue and pre-seed startups (under 50 transactions a month, no employees, single bank account) start at $325 a month. Post-seed startups with revenue, payroll, and a more complex stack typically run $625 to $2,000 a month depending on complexity. Series A and beyond usually moves into a fractional controller engagement priced separately.

For startups in heavy build-mode with limited cash, we sometimes structure the engagement around a milestone trigger (escalate the fee when you cross your first $X of MRR or close your next round). Talk to us during the discovery call about what works for your stage.

FAQ

Common questions about bookkeeping for startups in Cumming, GA

Should we run cash basis or accrual basis?: Cash basis is simpler and works for most pre-seed startups. Accrual is required by GAAP and almost universally expected by Series A investors and beyond. We typically set startups up to track both: cash basis for tax filings (until revenue requires accrual under IRS rules) and accrual for management and investor reporting. Switching from cash-only to dual-basis later is messy; building it in from the start is easy.
Can you handle SAFE notes and convertible notes on the books?: Yes. SAFEs and convertible notes get recorded as a long-term liability when the cash comes in, then converted to equity when the qualifying round closes. We coordinate with your startup attorney on the conversion mechanics so the equity recording matches the cap table exactly.
What about R&D tax credits?: We do not prepare R&D credit studies (those require a specialty firm), but we maintain the underlying expense and time-tracking data the specialist needs and we coordinate the handoff. For most software and hardware startups in their first three to five years, the R&D credit is meaningful and worth the specialty firm fee.
Are you familiar with SaaS metrics like MRR, ARR, and CAC payback?: Yes. We pull SaaS metrics monthly for any startup that wants them: MRR with new/expansion/churn breakdown, ARR, gross and net dollar retention, CAC, LTV, CAC payback period. These are the metrics every SaaS investor will ask about; having them ready monthly puts you in a much stronger position when you raise.
Can you join board meetings or investor update calls?: For higher-touch engagements, yes. We can join quarterly board meetings to walk through financials and answer financial questions directly. This is more common in fractional controller engagements than basic startup bookkeeping; we will quote it as part of the engagement scope if you want it.

Pairs well with

Services that work alongside bookkeeping for startups.

More bookkeeping services

Google Business Profile

Bookkeeping for startups from a Cumming, GA firm.

Use our Google Business Profile for business details before starting bookkeeping for startups with Fearless Bookkeeping.

561 Fountain Ln
Cumming, GA 30040

Open in Google Maps →

Let’s talk

Bookkeeping for startups in Cumming, GA, done right.

Book a free consultation and we’ll walk through scope, timing, and a fair fixed price.

Book a free consultation Call (470) 681-6805