The finance tag has no wiki summary.
17
votes
15answers
3k views
How do I do my own accounting for my startup?
I am the founder of a very early stage startup, 4 people total, just incorporated with no funding and a minimal amount of money already in. We expect to raise funding in 3-6 months, before then there ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Why do startups need so much money?
What are startups raising millions of dollars for? I know running a website can get costly, but seriously, millions? I just don't get it. And if you say advertising, I still don't get it, because the ...
10
votes
9answers
983 views
Business Bank Account Suggestions
Recently, my partner and I created an LLC and have secured about 30K in capital to start our online company. We are in the process of choosing a bank to work with and would appreciate some guidance. ...
9
votes
7answers
463 views
What is more important - having funding or keeping control?
I am starting-off a venture with limited capital that will be sufficient to keep my business afloat for at least 12-18 months. I believe that my product will get some traction during this period, ...
9
votes
3answers
300 views
What does it take to be an Angel?
I'm a wannabe Angel.
I don't sit on a huge pile of cash, but my intention is to help startups in whatever possible way within my capacity. I haven't made a decision yet, as this thought has recently ...
7
votes
8answers
593 views
Launch on a tiny budget
I have a product I'm developing on my own, with no other investors or partners. Via another project I'm developing, I have an IP Waiver and NDA that I can use for the project, I'm using my personal ...
7
votes
3answers
119 views
How to work internationally in a country which is under sanction?
I'm a web developer and I live in Iran. Unfortunately my country is under international sanction. However, I'm able to work for foreign customers and get their job done. But there is a problem. A big ...
7
votes
8answers
1k views
What's the Best Credit Card for a Start-up?
I've been using our debit/bank card to make purchases, and I'm not entirely comfortable putting that out there. I'd also like to potentially be earning points for things, although I don't want to pay ...
7
votes
6answers
341 views
How much accounting should a founder of a startup know?
I just started up a mobile game company, set up Quickbooks online, and now I'm trying to read up on accounting.
Right now I'm reading The Accounting Game. It's a great book and it makes really easy ...
7
votes
4answers
392 views
How much financial info should I demand from my CEO (I'm a founder)
About three years ago I built a prototype of a web application. My partner collected some money from a local angel group so I could quit my job and write code full-time.
My partner was the CEO, ...
7
votes
2answers
148 views
What type of funding are you using?
I'd like to start a thread discussing the type of funding different startups are using and why. I think that there are a lot of people here who would like to hear the general experiences, advantages, ...
6
votes
3answers
277 views
How big should a company's rainy day fund be?
"They" have always said that, as an individual, we should have enough in cash savings to cover 3-6 months of living expenses.
Have you heard of a rule of thumb for (small) businesses? How do you ...
5
votes
9answers
452 views
What application do you use for managing your business' finances?
I was wondering what applications other people here use to manage their business finances. I looked at some programs such as Simply Accounting and QuickBooks, but both of their free versions are ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Customer Acquisition Cost for a new Website
How do you (personally or generally speaking) calculate/estimate/guesstimate the cost to acquire a customer for a new website?
5
votes
6answers
204 views
How do I prove my finances to a partner? My partner is afraid I will not give him his full cut
I own and operate a company selling products online. A partner is stepping in and wants to sell our product line across it's websites.
However, my company will accept the payments from the buyers. ...
5
votes
2answers
619 views
Cloud-based accounting software [closed]
I am in the process of starting a business. The nature of the business is Photography (weddings, etc.). What would be a good accounting software solution (preferably cloud-based or SaaS)?
5
votes
4answers
291 views
accounting package
Can you suggest an accounting package / method / minimum MUST HAVEs when starting up. I know we have to keep track of our finance but I'm not an accountant or that way inclined. So whats the basics ...
5
votes
2answers
601 views
Starting an online bank
What is involved in starting a bank? I am aware that rules might differ from country to country. But let's say I wanted to start an online bank in the US. What is needed?
5
votes
1answer
355 views
Is it possible to delay customer invoices to the next financial year so I can save tax?
I'm operating a startup in its 1st year. This year's sales from consulting services is very good but the pipeline for next financial year is very very weak.
My question is, legally, can I delay ...
4
votes
3answers
994 views
How do websites that don't charge anything make money?
The obvious answer is "advertising" but I've heard of a lot of decently popular sites that don't make much on advertising. How else do you make money? are they just hoping to get bought out?
And for ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Most important skill a businessman should have
What is the most important skill one should have when starting up or running a business? is it financial handling?
4
votes
2answers
240 views
Can I ask my customers to invest in our company in exchange for products?
My wife and I own a tea company; neither one of us has good credit so we have not been able to get loans or credit cards or people to invest in our company
We have had about 550 customers so far in ...
4
votes
6answers
519 views
Start a Business with no financing
anybody knows how to start a business from absolute zero financing. I have an idea ( software related). I am a programmer too (but not very proficient to call myself brilliant). And I want to start a ...
4
votes
4answers
529 views
Why is the finance industry so lucrative?
Why is the finance industry so lucrative ?
According to Yahoo Finance, the finance sector has by far the largest market capitalization of all sectors. And yet, I have a hard time understanding why ...
4
votes
5answers
182 views
Reagrding pricing …Should it be few big fish or many small fish
We have software which can run as per user SaaS model and also as custom deployment. To advertise we are planning to host it and give it free for some time / users. But there is another argument as we ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Do I need 1099-MISC forms for someone paid via paypal?
If I pay someone via paypal, do I still have to fill in the 1099 and/or w forms?
4
votes
4answers
168 views
What methodology can I use get a snapshot of my business finances?
Currently I have very little book-keeping processes - it all gets put into a spreadsheet at the end of the year, and I take it to my accountant who files my taxes and generates a couple of statements ...
4
votes
4answers
237 views
Funding: Kickstarter or Family Loan?
Background
I've been working on a video game for android devices (i.e. an app) for some months now, and I'm getting close to completing a solid, well polished product
I'm lucky enough to have an ...
4
votes
2answers
142 views
income in paypal
Does income in my paypal account need to be declared for tax purposes, or does it just have to be declared for tax purposes if I transfer my paypal funds to a real bank account?
4
votes
4answers
535 views
Seed Capital to Live On, Do I Pay Taxes?
I've been working on a startup since Jan. 1, 2009. To keep me alive (physically on a ramen diet) my parents give me $1-$2k per month. My company is set up as an LLC and my parents would like to ...
4
votes
1answer
123 views
Do Open Finances and Wages Build Trust in a Company?
Please only answer if you have personal experience with this topic.
I've been hearing of more and more companies that choose to openly display their finances and/or employee wages to all employees of ...
4
votes
3answers
505 views
Do companies get taxed on money deposited by owners?
I just started a business (startup) and wanted to do the right thing by having a bank account for the company and putting all the business expenses on the business account. Now, I am in NY and I know ...
4
votes
2answers
113 views
Income estimation
I'm developing a product for creating software installers. Initially this was a hobby project; just prove to myself that I can acheive my technical goals writing this product. The product is available ...
4
votes
4answers
147 views
Managing Aggressive Growth … responsibly
I run an aggressively growing (SaaS) eCommerce software company. We're becoming well known in a niche market, and have managed to bootstrap to where we are with modest investment (<500k). We ...
4
votes
2answers
136 views
What is My Business Worth?
I have recently approached my business partner with a request to buy out his membership in our LLC. His involvement as of late is declining and a buy out was something we had planned on from day 1. I ...
4
votes
2answers
273 views
Have you applied for R&D tax credits?
Like many software product companies, we spent an exorbitant amount of money in 2008 developing our product. I’ve heard that there are federal R&D tax credits available ("Section 41 Credit"), but ...
4
votes
2answers
271 views
Startup Taxes and Accounting: Finding services, Best practices, & How not to go to jail
There are many money issues that neither add to my code base nor user base. For example:
payroll taxes and excise taxes
W2 W3 W4 I9 941 940 1120 + all the equivalent state forms
all of those ...
3
votes
3answers
355 views
Chicken/Egg: New Startup, Need Credit Card
We're a new startup and need a credit card to make some online purchases. We're looking into options and all of them seem to want at least two years of business history, positive cash flow, etc. ...
3
votes
2answers
299 views
Risks caused by Euro collapse
I am running a start-up business in Denmark. Denmark is not a part of the Euro, but the currency has been pegged to the Euro for many years. I believe that there is a significant risk of a collapse of ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
Anti-dilution for founders?
I read that it is common/possible for investors to ask for anti-dilution clauses.
Is there a way a co-founder can protect himself against dilution? Of course, dilution will eventually happen during ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Buy or Rent/Lease
Assuming a venture-backed startup with seed financing that plans to raise further rounds: does it make sense to buy things or should it go for renting/leasing?
"Renting" something (office equipment, ...
3
votes
2answers
222 views
What do you do when your Angel turns out to be a Devil?
Investor are in it for one thing, profit. That's okay if both the founders and the investors profit. What do you do when the "Angels" who have been funding your work kick out the founders and the ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Finding an appropriate website investor
If somebody has a website idea and make the website successfully (not on paper) and the local market is good (idea succeed) but he cannot extend the market because of management, finance and marketing ...
3
votes
1answer
196 views
Plain english translation of these finance terms
What does these mean in plain English, guessing the best way to describe it is by giving theoretical numbers for best worst case instances, though that's just my thought - I'll leave it up to you to ...
3
votes
2answers
110 views
How to form an INC Company
I would like to know how inc companies are formed. Is it only beyond some threshold revenue or asset barrier that companies can be incorporated as incs. I have seen most of the US major companies: ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Holding and spending USD from Australia
My business is based in Australia, but most of my sales are made in the USA in US dollars, and most of the bills my business pays are also paid in USD (via debit card).
I know that some Australian ...
3
votes
5answers
329 views
Startup Financial Plan
I need to prepare a financial/cashflow/budget plan for my startup. Can anyone offer suggestions about what items I should include or exclude? Are there any 'templates' available for preparing this ...
3
votes
1answer
187 views
[UK] Pros and cons of self billing for first time contractor?
I've just started my own company and I'm initially contracting - I've been asked if I want to send invoices, or do self billing. I've had a look online and I can't see any reason not to self bill, ...
3
votes
3answers
310 views
Need a ballpark figure! How much will a EULA cost me?
I'm working on a tech startup and trying to make some rough financial forecasts. Has anyone ever hired a lawyer to draw up an EULA for a web app (we are hoping to sell skinned, customized versions of ...
3
votes
3answers
235 views
Thoughts invited on unconventional ways of raising money
As I learn, fundraising is always a nightmare. It drains a considerable amount of energy. No matter how promising the pitch you make, it's not sure to entice an Angel or a VC. Even if they agree, it ...
