Ask HN: As a startup, how do you do bookkeeping?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2159999

by bdclimber14 • 15 years ago

15 8 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I'm interested in what solutions startups use for bookkeeping. Do you have a dedicated bookkeeper? DIY software e.g. Quickbooks, and do you actually enter everything? I just check my bank account... what's bookkeeping?

I'm finding that most people are January bookkeepers: Do everything at the end of the year for taxes.

I'd rather not have a dedicated bookkeeper, but want to keep everything updated.

skmurphy• 15 years ago

Quickbooks works well, easy to learn and use.

chrisduesing• 15 years ago

While I agree that it works well, I have not found it to be particularly easy to use. (to clarify I use the online version) Then again I made the mistake of never taking any finance classes in school. It is full of strange jargon and confusing menus.

That said, I hooked it up to my business checking account and it pretty much does everything automatically. I have my accountant log in quarterly and make sure everything is in the right place. I use it for payroll as well. It has certainly given me peace of mind, which is worth the somewhat hefty price tag.

apowell• 15 years ago

I use Quickbooks as well. I entered everything by hand until we started exceeding a couple hundred transactions per month. Now I import transactions from the bank and reconcile against the paper statements each month.

I was anti-bookkeeping for a while, but now I'm hooked. I think it's good for the business if you review all your expenses and produce a P&L each month.

thewordpainter• 15 years ago

i know the guys at lessaccounting.com (allen & steve) are the anti-quickbooks crowd, and i've talked to multiple people who have been pretty pleased with their service.

dawson• 15 years ago

We use Excel and Dropbox :)

markstahler• 15 years ago

Freshbooks + SkyLedger

agnesberthelot• 15 years ago

When I first starting working for the previous startup, I took an accouting for small business course at the local small business bureau. It was extremely helpful in that it gave you the rigt mind-set of how to do right with the company's bookkeeping. At the end, we may still need to get some professional help (software or people); but at least we won't end up with a shoebox of receipts mixed with useless papers.

damoncali• 15 years ago

I use Quickbooks for OSX, cash accounting, and update it monthly by manually entering revenues/expenses. It's worth it to avoid the end of year pain of doing it all at once, and you force yourself to really understand your expenses day to day.

Ask HN: As a startup, how do you do bookkeeping?

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