Bookkeeping - San Diego, CA

Clean Books From Day One.
Not a Scramble
Before Due Diligence.

Investors do not wait for you to get your books in order. Neither does the IRS. Monthly bookkeeping on the platform your startup already uses - set up correctly, reconciled every month, and ready whenever you need it.

QuickBooks Online, Puzzle, or Rillet - your choice
Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliations
Accrual basis accounting - the standard investors expect
Monthly financial statements included
Platform setup and chart of accounts configured correctly
Tailored for early-stage tech startups
See What's Included

Starting at $199/month. No hourly billing. No binding contract.

Bookkeeping

starting price

$199

QuickBooks Online Puzzle Rillet

Everything Included

✓ Platform setup and configuration

✓ Chart of accounts tailored for startups

✓ Monthly bookkeeping entries

✓ Monthly bank and credit card reconciliations

✓ Monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet)

✓ Accrual basis accounting

✓ Coordination with tax filing at year end

Schedule a FREE Appointment

Price scales with transaction volume. No AP/AR services included.

Why This Matters

Messy Books Have Killed San Diego Startup Deals. Here Is What That Looks Like.

A VC asks for your financial statements during due diligence. You open QuickBooks and realize the last reconciliation was eight months ago. Transactions are miscategorized. Payroll is recorded wrong. You have two weeks to clean it up.

That scramble is expensive, stressful, and entirely avoidable. Clean monthly books mean you are always investor-ready - not catching up when it matters most.

Beyond fundraising, clean books mean accurate tax filings, correct R&D credit calculations, and a clear picture of your burn rate at all times. These are not nice-to-haves. They are the financial foundation your startup runs on.

"For a full overview of our bookkeeping service for California startuaps, see our California startup bookkeeping page."

The Due Diligence Scramble

An investor asks for 24 months of financials. Your books have not been reconciled since Q2. You spend $8,000 on emergency cleanup and still miss the deadline. The deal falls through.

The Wrong Basis Problem

Your books are on cash basis. Your investor wants accrual. Converting two years of cash basis records to accrual costs more than two years of monthly bookkeeping would have.

The Missed R&D Credit

Your R&D study requires clean payroll and contractor records by expense category. Your books do not separate R&D payroll from general admin. You lose $40,000 in qualifying expenses - and the credit that comes with them.

The Tax Filing Delay

Your accountant cannot file your return because your books are not closed. You file for an extension. You miss the R&D credit deadline. The IRS sends a late filing penalty. One missed month of bookkeeping costs you far more than the service would have.

The Full Breakdown

Everything Included in Your Monthly Bookkeeping

One flat monthly fee. Everything your startup needs for clean, investor-ready books - set up once, maintained every month.

Platform Setup and Configuration

The team we recommend sets up QuickBooks Online, Puzzle, or Rillet from scratch - or cleans up an existing account. Chart of accounts is configured specifically for early-stage startups, not for retail or service businesses. Done once, correctly, from the start.

Monthly Bank and Card Reconciliations

Every bank account and credit card reconciled against your books monthly. Discrepancies are caught and resolved before they compound. You always know your actual cash position - not a number that is three months out of date.

Accrual Basis Accounting

Books are kept on accrual basis - not cash basis. This is what your investors expect, what your 409(a) valuation requires, and what makes your financial statements actually meaningful for a startup at any stage.

Monthly Bookkeeping Entries

Every transaction categorized correctly every month - payroll, contractor payments, software subscriptions, cloud costs, travel, office expenses. Nothing left uncategorized or miscoded. Your books close on time, every month.

Monthly Financial Statements

Profit and Loss statement and balance sheet delivered every month. Formatted the way investors and lenders expect to see them - on the accrual basis, with proper period matching. Ready to send at a moment's notice.

Year-End Tax Coordination

At year end, the books get closed and clean, reconciled financials get handed off to your tax filing. No translation required. If you use the income tax service too, this coordination happens automatically - nothing falls through the cracks.

Not Included: Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) management are not part of this service. If your startup needs AP/AR support, ask about it on the first call for a referral in the right direction.

Your Platform, Real Expertise

The Team We Recommend Works on the Platform You Already Use.

No forced migrations. No learning a new tool. The team we recommend sets up or takes over whichever platform fits your startup's stage and workflow - and configures it correctly from day one.

QuickBooks Online

The most widely used accounting platform for startups. Deep integration with payroll tools, banks, and tax software. Best for startups that want broad compatibility and easy accountant access.

Most Popular

Puzzle

Built specifically for startups and backed by Y Combinator. Automated accrual accounting, equity tracking, and runway visibility built in. Best for early-stage, high-growth companies.

Startup Native

Rillet

Purpose-built for SaaS startups. Automates revenue recognition, deferred revenue, and subscription metrics. Best for San Diego SaaS companies with recurring revenue models.

SaaS Focused

Is This Right For You?

Who This Is Built For in San Diego

The bookkeeping service from the team we recommend is built exclusively for early-stage startups.
If you fit any of these profiles, this is exactly what you need.

PRE-REVENUE

You are incorporated but not yet generating revenue

Even with no revenue, you have expenses - payroll, software, cloud costs, contractor payments. These need to be recorded correctly from day one so your R&D credit calculation is accurate and your books are clean for your first investor conversation.

Seed Stage

You have just raised and need to track your runway

You raised a round. Now you need clean books that tell you exactly how much runway you have and where it is going. Monthly reconciliations and financial statements give you and your investors a clear picture every single month.

Series A Ready

You are preparing for your next fundraise

Series A investors ask for 24 months of clean financials. If you have been doing bookkeeping yourself in a spreadsheet or letting it slide, now is the time to get it right - before the due diligence request hits your inbox.

Saas Startup

You have subscription revenue that needs proper recognition

SaaS revenue recognition is not straightforward. Deferred revenue, monthly recognition, annual contract amortization - these need to be handled correctly on the accrual basis. The right partner sets it up correctly so your MRR and ARR numbers are actually accurate.

Switching

You are moving away from DIY or a legacy local CPA

If you have been doing your own books in a spreadsheet or your current bookkeeper does not understand startup accounting, switching is easier than you think. A clean onboarding review gets your books right before monthly service begins.

R&D Company

You want your books set up to maximize your R&D credit

Your R&D credit calculation depends on clean, correctly categorized payroll and contractor records. The chart of accounts gets set up specifically to capture qualifying research expenses - so when the R&D Study happens, the data is already there

HOW IT WORKS

From First Call to Monthly Close - Here Is What to Expect

1
Free Consultation
It starts with a no-commitment call to understand your startup's current books, platform, transaction volume, and what you need. You will hear exactly what the monthly fee will be based on your situation — no surprises after you sign on.
2
Onboarding and Platform Setup
Your bookkeeping platform gets set up or taken over. Chart of accounts is configured for your startup's industry and stage. If you have existing transactions that need cleanup, that is handled as part of onboarding - you do not start with messy books.
3
Monthly Bookkeeping and Reconciliation
Every month your transactions are categorized, your bank and credit card accounts reconciled, and the books closed. You receive your P&L and balance sheet by the 15th of the following month - consistently, every month, without chasing anyone.
4
Questions and Ongoing Support
Questions about a specific transaction, a new account, or how to categorize something? Reach out any time. The bookkeeping service includes ongoing support - not just the monthly deliverable.
5
Year-End Close and Tax Handoff
At year end, a final close of the books happens and your financials get prepared for tax filing. If you use the federal income tax service too, the handoff is seamless - your accountant and bookkeeper are on the same team, with the same data, filed together on time.

CALIFORNIA-SPECIFIC

TRANSPARENT PRICING

Starting at $199/Month.
Scales With Your Transaction Volume.

The base price covers startups with straightforward transaction volumes - typically pre-revenue or early revenue companies with under 100 transactions per month. As your startup grows and transaction volume increases, the monthly fee adjusts accordingly.

No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. No binding contract - cancel any month if your situation changes. You always know what you are paying before the month starts.

$199

per month - starting price

Platform setup and configuration Included
Monthly bookkeeping entries Included
Monthly reconciliations Included
Monthly P&L and balance sheet Included
Accrual basis accounting Included
Year-end tax coordination Included
AP/AR management Not Included
Schedule a FREE Appointment

Common Questions

Bookkeeping Questions From San Diego Founders

Why accrual basis instead of cash basis?

Cash basis records transactions when cash moves. Accrual basis records them when they are earned or incurred. For startups, accrual basis is what investors expect to see, what GAAP requires, and what makes your financial statements actually meaningful. It also gives you a more accurate picture of your burn rate and financial health. If you are going to raise a round, your books need to be on accrual.

Do I need to use a specific platform or can I keep using what I have?

The team we recommend works on QuickBooks Online, Puzzle, and Rillet. If you are already on one of these platforms, they take it over. If you are not on any platform yet, they will recommend the right one for your startup's stage and industry during the first call. There is no forcing migrations - if what you have is working, it stays.

What if my transaction volume grows significantly?

The monthly fee adjusts as your transaction volume grows. This gets discussed upfront during onboarding so you know what the pricing looks like at different stages. There are no surprise invoices - any pricing change is communicated before it takes effect. Growth is a good problem to have, and it is planned for from the start.

How long does the R&D study take?

The R&D Study can be completed within 24 hours once everything needed is available - though the timeline ultimately depends on how quickly you want to move and how responsive your team is. Direct access to your payroll system is not required. A point of contact or access to the right person who can provide the relevant information is all that is needed. The study is coordinated directly with your tax filing deadline so both are completed together.

Is bookkeeping separate from the income tax service?

Yes. both services are à la carte and can be purchased independently. That said, they work best together. When your bookkeeper and your tax accountant are on the same team, year-end close is seamless, your R&D credit calculation is accurate, and nothing gets lost in translation. Many San Diego founders start with bookkeeping and add tax filing when the first return comes due.

Get Your Books Right

Stop Running Your San Diego Startup on Outdated Numbers.

One free call with the team we recommend is all it takes. They will assess your current books, recommend the right platform, and give you a straight answer on monthly pricing. No commitment, no hourly billing, no surprises.

Schedule a FREE Appointment

Starting at $199/month. No binding contract. Cancel anytime.