Startup Finance Operating Stack
This stack combines systems that enable
- Trusted financial models and projections
- Investor-grade reporting
- Cash runway clarity
- Scalable processes as you grow
The stack we use
QuickBooks Online (Accounting)
Category: Core accounting Why this tool Industry-standard accounting for US startups. Reliable, investor-understood, and integrates cleanly with banks, payroll, and reporting tools. Used for: General ledger, Monthly close, Financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
Carta (Cap Table & Equity)
Category: Equity & ownership Why this tool Clean cap tables and equity visibility are critical for fundraising and diligence. Carta is the default language of US investors. Used for Cap table management Option grants Investor ownership tracking
Rippling (Payroll, HR, Compliance)
Category: Payroll & HR Why this tool Combines payroll, benefits, and device management — ideal for distributed and cross-border teams. Used for US payroll Benefits administration Headcount cost tracking
Mercury (Startup Banking)
Category: Banking & cash management Why this tool Modern banking built for startups, with clean UX and strong integrations into accounting and reporting systems. Used for Operating accounts Treasury visibility Cash flow tracking
Brex (Corporate Spend & Cards)
Category: Spend management Why this tool Enforces spending controls while giving founders and teams flexibility — essential as companies scale. Used for Corporate cards Expense policies Spend analytics
Mosaic (FP&A & Planning)
Category: FP&A / forecasting Why this tool Purpose-built FP&A tooling for startups that replaces spreadsheet sprawl and enables scenario planning. Used for Runway forecasting Budget vs actuals Scenario modeling
Google Sheets (Modeling Layer) / Excel
Category: Financial modeling Why this tool Still the fastest and most flexible modeling environment — when used with discipline and structure. Used for Custom financial models Investor decks Ad-hoc analysis
Notion (Finance Operating Hub)
Category: Internal documentation Why this tool Centralizes finance documentation, assumptions, processes, and board materials in one place. Used for Finance playbooks Board docs Process documentation
Slack (Finance Execution Layer)
Category: Communication Why this tool Finance execution happens in real time — Slack allows fast approvals, alerts, and collaboration. Used for Budget approvals Spend alerts Cross-functional communication
Stripe (Revenue & Payments)
Category: Revenue infrastructure Why this tool Clean revenue data is foundational for forecasting and investor reporting. Stripe is the gold standard. Used for Payments Revenue data Subscription metrics
Schedule your free consultation today
Let’s start by defining together the scope, and business objectives you have