California's Startup tax specialists
Your Startup's Taxes
Are Different.
Your Accountant
Should Be Too.
Most CPAs serve everyone — individuals, small businesses, restaurants, retail. We serve one type of client: startups. From pre-revenue C-Corps to Series A rounds, we handle your corporate income tax, R&D credits, and bookkeeping with fixed pricing and zero hourly billing.
No commitment. No hourly billing. Just answers.
25+ Years
Serving Startups Exclusively
7,500+
Startups Served
$100M+
R&D Credits Claimed for Clients
$2,450/yr
Fixed Corporate Tax Pricing
Why This Matters
Legacy Local Accountants Are Costing California Startups Money.
Here is what happens when a startup founder hires a general CPA: they get advice designed for established businesses, not early-stage companies. They miss R&D credits they qualified for. They get hit with California Franchise Tax penalties they never saw coming.
They find out six months too late that their Delaware C-Corp had additional filing requirements they ignored. We have seen it hundreds of times.
California is the most complex state in the country for startups. You are dealing with the Franchise Tax Board, Delaware incorporation requirements, potential multi-state nexus issues, and one of the most aggressive state tax authorities in the U.S. - all while trying to build a company
You need a specialist. Not a generalist with a startup checkbox on their website.
What we Handle
Startup Tax and Accounting Services in California
All services are fixed-price and à la carte. No bundling required. No binding contracts. Cancel anytime.
Most Popular
Federal Income Tax
Fixed-price annual tax subscription covering federal and state corporate income tax returns, 1099s, Delaware Franchise Tax Reports, payroll software setup, and unlimited tax support. No hourly billing.
$2,450/yr
R&D Study
California startups can claim up to $500,000 in refundable R&D tax credits annually. Our AI-enabled study captures every qualified expense at a fraction of what large firms charge.
0.75%
of Qualified Research
BOOKKEEPING
Monthly bookkeeping on QuickBooks Online, Puzzle, Rillet, or Xero. Setup, monthly reconciliations, and financial statements on the accrual basis your investors require.
$199/mo
Starts at
Sales Tax
Registrations, filings, nexus studies, voluntary disclosure agreements, and reverse sales tax audits. We handle sales tax compliance so you can stop guessing.
$249/filing
california-specific
California Has More Startup Tax Traps
Than Any Other State.
Here Are Three Most Founders Hit.
O1
The $800 Minimum Franchise Tax Nobody Warned You About
Every California LLC and corporation — including those incorporated in Delaware and registered to do business in CA — owes the Franchise Tax Board a minimum of $800 per year. Miss it, and you owe penalties on top. We make sure this never catches you off guard.
O2
Filing Your Federal Return Late Can Cost You $500,000
Startups with foreign founders face automatic IRS penalties of $10,000–$25,000 for late filing. The refundable R&D tax credit — worth up to $500,000 — is only available to startups that file on time. Late filing doesn't just mean penalties. It means leaving $500,000 on the table.
O3
Thinking of Moving Your Startup Out of California? Read This First.
California is aggressive about pursuing tax revenue from companies that leave. If your startup has employees or operations in California, you may still owe CA taxes even after incorporating in Texas or Nevada. Most founders discover this after the fact.
O4
The Water's Edge Election Most International Founders Never Heard Of
California can tax your startup's worldwide income — not just U.S. income — if you have foreign subsidiaries and never filed a Water's Edge Election. This election limits your California filing to U.S.-sourced income only. Most internationally-founded startups miss it entirely. By the time they find out, they owe back taxes on income they never expected to be taxed on.
The process
From Your First Question
to Filed Returns - Here Is How It Works
1. Book a Free Appointment
Schedule a no-commitment consultation. We will assess your startup's situation, explain exactly what you need, and give you a straight answer on pricing. No hourly clock running.
2. We Onboard and Get to Work
Once you sign-up, we set up your books, review prior filings, and build a clear picture of your compliance requirements — federal, state, and California-specific.
3. Filed, Accurate, and Done
Your returns are prepared, reviewed for accuracy, and filed on time. You get a final review before anything goes to the IRS or Franchise Tax Board. No surprises.
Transparent Pricing
Fixed Pricing. No Hourly Billing.
No Surprises.
Every service is priced upfront. You pay after filing — not before. No binding contracts, no forced bundles. If you have a question mid-year, call us. It is already included.
Federal Income Tax
$2,450/yr
Federal + state filing, 1099s, DE Franchise Tax Report, payroll software setup, unlimited tax support year-round
Discounted pricing for newly incorporated startups
R&D Study
0.75%
of Qualified Research Expenses
Federal + state R&D study, audit-ready documentation, AI-enabled software
State credits calculated at no additional charge
Bookkeeping
$199/mo
Starts at
QBO/Puzzle/Rillet/Xero setup, monthly bookkeeping, reconciliations, financial statements
Accrual basis. Does not include AP/AR.
Sales Tax
$249/filing
Registrations, filings, nexus studies, voluntary disclosure agreements, reverse audits
Free initial consultation included
Where We Work
Generic Accountants Are Costing California Startups Money.
We built this practice for California founders. Our current focus is Riverside and the Inland Empire - one of California's fastest-growing startup regions, home to UC Riverside's innovation ecosystem, ExCITE Riverside, and a growing base of cleantech, healthtech, and AI companies.
Coming Soon to more California Cities
Quick Answers
Common Questions From California Startup Founders
Do I need to file a corporate tax return if my startup has no revenue yet?
Yes. If you are a C-Corporation — which most funded startups are — you are required to file Form 1120 with the IRS every single year, even with zero activity. You also likely have California filing requirements. Failure to file is a disclosable event during due diligence and can put future fundraising at serious risk.
Can I ask tax questions outside of tax season without getting charged?
Yes. Our corporate income tax service is a fixed annual fee. That means you can call or email with questions throughout the year — we are not watching the clock. No hourly billing. Ever.
Do you work with foreign founders or startups with international subsidiaries?
Yes. We specialize in U.S. tax compliance for companies with foreign founders, foreign shareholders, and international subsidiaries. We handle the U.S.-based entity and ensure all reporting requirements — including those with serious penalties for late filing — are handled on time.
Stop Guessing on Your
Startup's Taxes.
One conversation is all it takes to know exactly where your startup stands — on California Franchise Tax, corporate filings, R&D credits, and everything in between. The appointment is free. The hourly clock never starts.
No commitment required. We serve startups from pre-revenue through Series-C.