Startup Accounting Services

Accounting for startups

Juggling daily tasks with accounting is tough, especially for startups facing extra challenges like:


• Sophisticated funding structures
• Rapid scaling requirements
• Cash flow management concerns
• Complex tax issues, like R&D credits


The average accounting firm lacks experience with startup-specific situations and may struggle to accommodate them, but Zeni’s outsourced accounting services specialize in helping startups navigate their unique financial challenges.

What you get with Zeni

Each of our customers gets a dedicated team of accounting professionals with decades of experience in accounting and taxes for venture-backed startup taxes. They can handle every aspect of your tax compliance, including:

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If your startup is scaling rapidly, or you expect it to in the near future, our tax services can take compliance off your plate and let you focus on growing your small business. Maximize your tax benefits without breaking the budget and sail through your next tax season with an accountant from Zeni.

Unique tax considerations for startups

If you qualify, you could be eligible for:


• $1.25M payroll tax credits - You may be able to claim up to $250K in annual FICA tax credits for up to five years    each year that you have no more than five years of gross receipts and receive no more than $5M in gross receipts.

• Dollar-for-dollar income tax credits - You may be able to claim a nonrefundable tax credit that reduces your federal income taxes dollar-for-dollar by roughly 6% to 10% of your eligible R&D costs.

Of course, R&D tax credits are far from the only unique tax issue for startups. Some of the other most notable considerations include:

• Business structuring - Choosing your legal structure, such as an LLC or an S corporation, is always a significant decision. However, it’s particularly impactful for startups, as it can affect your ability to raise funds from venture capital investors and complete M&A transactions.

• GAAP adoption - Startups typically must follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to attract investors. Adopting accrual accounting is a significant undertaking, even if you have the necessary expertise, which many founders may not.

• Sales tax compliance - Because startups often sell in multiple states, you’ll have to determine where you have nexus, collect and remit the necessary tax amounts, and file quarterly sales tax returns across the country.

A startup tax accountant from Zeni can help you devise a tax strategy for each of these issues that maximizes your benefits without risking noncompliance.

Bookkeeping for startups

Every aspect of your financial health, including your accounting and tax prep functions, starts with good bookkeeping. Without organized, accurate financial records, you can’t file a tax return, let alone engage in meaningful financial planning.


Zeni’s startup bookkeeping services leverage the power of artificial intelligence to keep your financial reporting consistently clean and up to date.


With technologies like optical character recognition, Zeni’s AI can process and reconcile financial data from multiple sources automatically, including invoices, receipts, and bank account or credit card statements.


Thanks to machine learning, it also becomes increasingly efficient over time. The more Zeni studies your historical data, the better it gets at recording each financial transaction in line with your personal preferences.


Of course, we appreciate that no accounting software can fully replace the human touch. As a result, all of our bookkeeping service plans include 24/7 access to a dedicated team of professionals, available to provide support whenever you need it.

Fractional CFO and financial advisory

A basic bookkeeping and accounting service can help your startup navigate many of its recurring financial responsibilities, such as generating financial statements, filing annual tax returns, and managing monthly cash flows.


However, you may need additional guidance when you encounter more novel or sophisticated challenges, such as:

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Since many founders lack financial backgrounds, startups often need a CFO to navigate these successfully, but hiring a full-time CFO can be prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, Zeni’s fractional CFO and advisory services offer an ideal solution.


Instead of shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, you can hire a professional with CFO-level experience on a part-time or project basis for a fraction of the price. That way, you only pay for the help you need, when you need it.


If you’re facing financial tasks beyond your financial expertise, Zeni’s fractional CFOs can provide whatever financial advisory services you need, including financial modeling and budgeting, fundraising support, and board meeting preparation.

AI bill pay, reimbursements, payroll, and more

Zeni’s ultimate goal is to provide a platform you can use to manage every aspect of your finances in one place. To that end, our product and service suite include even more than our accounting, bookkeeping, and CFO services.



Some of our other integrated offerings include:


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The more your startup grows, the more important it becomes to have efficient financial systems and the right advisors in place.

Schedule a free call with one of Zeni’s professional advisors to learn more about how we can help you master your finances and connect you with the best CPA for startups.