{"id":10168,"date":"2026-08-07T15:59:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T14:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=10168"},"modified":"2026-08-07T16:12:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T15:12:42","slug":"accounting-for-startups-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/accounting-for-startups-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"Startup accounting: A practical guide for entrepreneurs\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStartup accounting: A practical guide for entrepreneurs \t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBuilding a startup comes with enough challenges. Learning the financial essentials can help you stay compliant, understand your numbers, and create a stronger foundation for long-term success. \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-07T15:59:41+01:00\">7 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Startup accounting: A practical guide for entrepreneurs\u00a0\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/accounting-for-startups-entrepreneurs\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Entrepreneurs are people with&nbsp;big ideas. They have passion, determination, and creativity. But accounting knowledge&nbsp;doesn&#8217;t&nbsp;always come with the territory, and even when it does, there&#8217;s usually room to sharpen it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sound understanding of accounting\u00a0for startups\u00a0can accelerate growth, strengthen your financial position, and improve your chances of securing funding. Whether\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0pre-revenue or already scaling, getting your finances right from the start makes every stage easier.\u00a0To begin, lean\u00a0what startup accounting involves, why it matters for entrepreneurs, the key metrics to track, and how to choose the right accounting support for your business.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<section id=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-sage-key-takeaways\"><div class=\"sage-key-takeaways__inner\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-3-font-size\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Startup accounting goes beyond bookkeeping<\/strong>, helping entrepreneurs manage cash flow, stay compliant, make informed decisions, and prepare for growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The foundations of good startup accounting<\/strong> include accurate recordkeeping, tax compliance, cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, and investor readiness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong financial management improves business resilience<\/strong> by helping founders avoid cash flow issues, make better strategic decisions, and maintain investor confidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tracking key KPIs is essential<\/strong>, including revenue, profit margins, cash flow, debtor days, customer acquisition cost (CAC), and conversion rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Good accounting can improve funding prospects<\/strong> by providing accurate financial statements, reliable forecasts, and smoother due diligence processes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Startups have several support options available<\/strong>, including DIY accounting, outsourced bookkeeping, specialist startup accountants, and cloud accounting software.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Getting financial systems in place early<\/strong> creates a stronger foundation for growth and makes it easier to scale, secure funding, and meet regulatory obligations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what we cover:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#making-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">What is startup accounting?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#key-anchor-link\" data-level=\"2\">What&nbsp;are the key areas of accounting&nbsp;for startups?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"making-anchor-link\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is startup accounting?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Startup accounting is the process of recording, organising, and reporting your business&#8217;s financial activity, which covers everything from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/good-bookkeeping-how-to-keep-financial-records\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bookkeeping<\/a>&nbsp;and cash flow management to tax compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For entrepreneurs,&nbsp;getting this right from the start creates the financial clarity needed to make informed decisions and attract investment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike accounting for established businesses, startup accounting often needs to move fast, adapt to rapid change, and satisfy the expectations of investors and lenders as well as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/glossary\/what-is-hmrc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">His Majesty\u2019s Revenue and Customs<\/a>&nbsp;(HMRC). That means clean,&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;records&nbsp;aren&#8217;t&nbsp;just good&nbsp;practice&nbsp;but&nbsp;a competitive advantage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-startup-accountant-mike-psaras\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">skilled startup&nbsp;accountant<\/a>&nbsp;does far more than file tax returns. They can help you set up the right systems, track the metrics that matter,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/juro-funding-investment-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prepare for funding rounds<\/a>, and make sure your finances are always&nbsp;investor-ready.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"key-anchor-link\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u00a0are the key areas of accounting\u00a0for startups?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Startup accounting covers several interconnected areas, from bookkeeping and tax compliance to&nbsp;cash flow management, budgeting, and investor readiness.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting each of these right from the start gives your business the financial foundation it needs to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"accountants-anchor-link\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bookkeeping and recordkeeping\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maintaining\u00a0accurate, up-to-date financial records\u00a0can\u00a0give you a clear picture of where money is coming from and going to. Without clean books, everything else, such as\u00a0tax returns, financial statements,\u00a0and\u00a0investor reports,\u00a0becomes significantly harder to produce.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tax compliance&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ensure&nbsp;you meet your obligations with HMRC, claim every eligible relief, and avoid penalties that can strain an already tight budget. This includes corporation tax, VAT, PAYE, and self-assessment where applicable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash flow management&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Effective&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/cash-flow-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cash flow<\/a>&nbsp;management&nbsp;anticipates&nbsp;future cash needs before they become urgent, so you can&nbsp;plan ahead&nbsp;rather than react. Even profitable startups can fail if they run out of cash at the wrong moment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Budgeting and forecasting&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Build financial models and projections that inform hiring decisions, investment timing, and growth planning. Comparing actuals against your budget monthly brings discipline and accountability to your finances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investor readiness&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prepare&nbsp;financial statements and projections that give investors and lenders the confidence to back your business. Organised books can significantly speed up due diligence and improve the outcome of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/9-funding-options-for-start-ups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">funding conversations.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Due diligence support&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solid accounting can&nbsp;assist&nbsp;with the financial aspects of funding rounds and acquisitions, where clean,&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;records can make or break a deal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does startup accounting matter?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good startup accounting gives you the financial clarity to make confident decisions, the credibility to attract investors, and the compliance framework&nbsp;you need&nbsp;to avoid costly penalties.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For early-stage businesses,&nbsp;it&#8217;s&nbsp;one of the highest-return investments you can make.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Poor&nbsp;financial management&nbsp;is one of the leading causes of startup failure. Cash flow problems&nbsp;in particular can&nbsp;derail even the most promising businesses, which is why having&nbsp;accurate, up-to-date accounts is essential for the survival and growth of your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s&nbsp;why it matters at every stage:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Investor confidence:<\/strong>\u00a0well-prepared financial statements\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0that your business is run with transparency and financial discipline. Investors are far more likely to back a startup with clean, organised books and reliable projections.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cash flow control:<\/strong>\u00a0accurate\u00a0forecasting helps you\u00a0anticipate\u00a0cash needs before they become urgent, giving you time to act rather than react.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tax efficiency:<\/strong>\u00a0identifying\u00a0eligible reliefs and credits early reduces your tax burden while\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0still\u00a0establishing\u00a0the business, which is something good financial planning can surface from the outset.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Faster funding rounds:<\/strong>\u00a0organised financial records streamline due diligence, which can significantly speed up the process of closing a funding round.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic decision-making:<\/strong>\u00a0when you understand your numbers, you can make better decisions about when to hire, invest, or expand.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having strong financial foundations in place early gives you a professional advantage when approaching lenders or investors. Funders take greater confidence from businesses that can&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;financial discipline and&nbsp;accurate, well-organised records.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the key performance indicators for startups?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;Key&nbsp;Performance&nbsp;Indicators&nbsp;(KPIs)&nbsp;for startups include revenue,&nbsp;gross profit margin, net profit margin, cash flow, debtor days, conversion rate, customer acquisition cost, and net promoter score.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tracking these monthly gives you the financial visibility to make confident decisions and&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;progress to investors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">KPIs are the financial metrics that tell you whether your startup is growing, stalling, or heading for trouble. The most engaged entrepreneurs review them monthly, using reports and dashboards in cloud accounting software to stay on top of performance and course-correct quickly.&nbsp;Understanding what these figures are telling you (and acting on them) is what separates startups that grow from those that stall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Profitability metrics&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Profitability KPIs tell you whether your business is generating more than it spends and how efficiently&nbsp;it&#8217;s&nbsp;doing so. These are the figures investors look at first when evaluating a startup&#8217;s financial health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Revenue:<\/strong>\u00a0total income from customer purchases, minus\u00a0returns\u00a0or undelivered services\u2014the fundamental measure of whether your business is generating demand.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gross profit:<\/strong>\u00a0revenue minus direct costs, showing how efficiently your business produces its product or service.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gross profit margin:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/calculate-gross-profit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gross profit<\/a>\u00a0divided by revenue, expressed as a percentage. This reveals how well individual products or services are performing across the business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Net profit:<\/strong>\u00a0gross profit minus overheads, loan interest, and taxes\u2014the amount your business has\u00a0actually made\u00a0after all costs.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Net profit margin:<\/strong>\u00a0net profit divided by revenue, expressed as a percentage, showing what proportion of revenue translates into actual profit.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash flow and working capital metrics&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash flow KPIs show whether your business has enough liquidity to meet its obligations day to day. Even profitable startups can run into serious difficulty if cash flow&nbsp;isn&#8217;t&nbsp;managed carefully.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Debtor days:<\/strong>\u00a0the average\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/setting-goals-grow-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">number of days customers take to pay<\/a>. A high figure can damage cash flow even when sales are strong, so businesses that regularly exceed agreed terms present a real risk.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creditor days:<\/strong>\u00a0the average number of days your business takes to pay suppliers. Managing this carefully is a key lever for\u00a0maintaining\u00a0healthy day-to-day liquidity.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Growth and marketing metrics&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growth KPIs help you understand how effectively your business is&nbsp;acquiring&nbsp;and&nbsp;retaining&nbsp;customers and whether your marketing spend is generating a meaningful return.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Conversion rate:<\/strong>\u00a0the percentage of prospective customers that become actual customers, showing how effectively your sales and marketing activity generates revenue.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customer\u00a0Acquisition\u00a0Cost (CAC):<\/strong>\u00a0the total cost of a marketing campaign divided by the number of new customers it attracted, revealing whether your marketing budget is working efficiently.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Net\u00a0Promoter\u00a0Score (NPS):<\/strong>\u00a0a\u00a0measure of how likely customers\u00a0are\u00a0to recommend your business. Customers are asked to score the\u00a0business\u00a0on a scale from one to ten, and the results are aggregated. Scores of nine or\u00a010\u00a0indicate\u00a0active advocates and are a strong signal of product-market fit.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">7 ways to take control of your business<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Want to know how you can boss it at your business? Read this guide for top tips to help you master your business admin and truly take control.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b3b47a28-fdcc-4e9d-b759-f1cc7daa1d9c\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1221202813-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1221202813-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does accounting help startups raise funding?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good accounting strengthens your position when raising funding by giving investors and lenders the financial transparency they need to back your business with confidence.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clean, well-organised books can accelerate due diligence, improve your valuation, and reduce the risk of a funding round falling through.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically, strong startup accounting supports fundraising in three ways:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investor-ready financial statements&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clear,&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;financial reports like profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements give investors the information they need to assess your business quickly and confidently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reliable financial projections&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data-driven forecasts show investors where your business is headed and&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;that you understand your own numbers. Projections grounded in&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;historical data are significantly more credible than those built on assumptions alone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smoother due diligence&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disorganised or inaccurate books are one of the most common reasons funding rounds slow down or fall apart. Having your records in order before you approach investors removes a major source of friction and signals that your business is professionally run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What accounting support options are available to startups?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right accounting&nbsp;for startup&nbsp;support depends on your stage, budget, and financial complexity, but most early-stage businesses choose from four main options: DIY accounting, part-time or outsourced bookkeeping, a specialist startup accountant, or cloud accounting software.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each&nbsp;option&nbsp;has its place, and the right choice often changes as your business evolves.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DIY accounting&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many pre-revenue&nbsp;or very early-stage startups manage their own books initially, particularly if transactions are simple and volumes are low. This can work in the short term but becomes increasingly risky as revenue grows, employees join, or investors come on board. The time cost alone often outweighs the savings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Part-time or outsourced bookkeeping&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Engaging a part-time bookkeeper or outsourced accounting service is a cost-effective middle ground for startups not yet ready for a full-time hire. It keeps your records&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;and your compliance on track without the overhead of a permanent employee. The risk is continuity\u2014if your bookkeeper moves on, their knowledge of your business goes with them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A specialist startup accountant&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For funded startups or those preparing to raise, a specialist accountant with experience in early-stage businesses is often the most valuable investment. They bring strategic financial guidance, an understanding of investor expectations, and the ability to support due diligence,&nbsp;things a general bookkeeper or DIY approach simply&nbsp;can&#8217;t&nbsp;provide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cloud accounting software&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern cloud accounting software allows startups to manage bookkeeping, invoicing, financial reporting, and tax compliance in one place,&nbsp;with real-time visibility into their financial position. For many startups, software works best alongside professional accounting support rather than as a replacement for it. It handles the day-to-day efficiently, freeing up your accountant to focus on the strategic work that adds the most value.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take control of your startup&#8217;s finances from day one&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you choose to work with a startup accountant, manage your books yourself, or use cloud accounting software, having the right tools in place makes everything easier.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sage&nbsp;accounting&nbsp;software<\/a>&nbsp;helps startups stay on top of their finances in real time, from bookkeeping and invoicing to financial reporting and tax compliance. Explore how it can support your business from day one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-sage-faq\">\n\t\n<h2 id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions\u00a0<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-items\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-47856adf\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-do-startups-need-an-accountant-from-day-one\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do startups need an accountant from day one?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not&nbsp;necessarily, but&nbsp;getting professional accounting support early is strongly recommended for most startups.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very early-stage businesses with minimal transactions may be able to manage basic bookkeeping themselves, but as soon as revenue, employees, or external investment enters the picture, working with a startup accountant or using dedicated accounting software significantly reduces risk and improves financial decision-making.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-f61a0ac7\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-is-the-difference-between-cash-and-accrual-accounting-for-startups\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the difference between cash and accrual accounting for startups?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash accounting records income and expenses only when money changes hands, while accrual accounting records them when they are earned or incurred, regardless of when payment is made.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most startups&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from accrual accounting,&nbsp;as it gives a more&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;picture of financial performance over time and is what investors and lenders typically expect to see when evaluating a business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-1b4c39e5\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-financial-records-should-a-startup-keep\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What financial records should a startup keep?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Startups should keep records of all income and expenses, bank statements, invoices, payroll records, tax filings, and any contracts or agreements with customers, suppliers, or investors.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMRC requires businesses to keep records for at least six years. Keeping these organised and up to date from the start makes tax compliance, financial reporting, and due diligence significantly easier as the business grows.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-6fd1adde\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-when-should-a-startup-consider-outsourcing-its-accounting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should a startup consider outsourcing its accounting?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most startups&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from outsourcing their accounting earlier than they expect to.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of professional support is typically far lower than the cost of errors, missed reliefs, or compliance failures. As financial complexity increases,&nbsp;particularly around payroll, VAT, and investor reporting,&nbsp;outsourcing becomes even more valuable until the business reaches a size&nbsp;where&nbsp;bringing finance in-house makes commercial sense.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-3a83d56e\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-accounting-method-do-investors-expect-startups-to-use\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What accounting method do investors expect startups to use?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investors typically expect to see accounts prepared on an accrual basis, in line with&nbsp;generally accepted&nbsp;accounting principles.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clean,&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;financial statements prepared this way&nbsp;make due&nbsp;diligence significantly smoother and give investors greater confidence in the reliability of your financial data. Startups planning to raise funding should ensure their books meet this standard well in advance of approaching investors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/bookkeeping\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBookkeeping\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/business-finances\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness finances\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/business-support\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness support\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-31973 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-making-tax-digital-for-vat tag-tax tag-vat business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-642394299-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Staying on top of business changes\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-642394299-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-642394299-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-642394299-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-17T09:48:05+01:00\">17 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">14 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/vat-calculator\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tVAT Calculator: use now to add &amp; remove VAT\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tCalculate VAT quickly and accurately with our free VAT calculator (estimator). Whether you&#8217;re adding VAT to a price or working out the VAT amount included in a total, this tool helps you make the calculation in seconds. It&#8217;s ideal for businesses, sole traders and anyone who needs a simple way to manage VAT calculations.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-31395 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-bookkeeping tag-mtd-business tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/mtd-quarterly-updates-supercharge-your-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A small business person working on MTD\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-08T09:00:00+01:00\">8 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow MTD quarterly updates can supercharge your business. Yes, really.\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-9464 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-business-support tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/get-funding-start-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-05T16:28:12+01:00\">5 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to get funding to start a business\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-20184 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-costs tag-business-finances tag-business-support business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/business-line-of-credit\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Woman applying for business credit line\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-05T15:28:03+01:00\">5 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is a business line of credit and how do you apply for one?\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-10305 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/business-bank-account-small-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/08\/Bright-Path-Consulting_FY20_SBC-Accounting-Payroll_78-1-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/08\/Bright-Path-Consulting_FY20_SBC-Accounting-Payroll_78-1-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/08\/Bright-Path-Consulting_FY20_SBC-Accounting-Payroll_78-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/08\/Bright-Path-Consulting_FY20_SBC-Accounting-Payroll_78-1-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-05T12:10:03+01:00\">5 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is a business bank account? A guide for UK businesses\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building a startup comes with enough challenges. Learning the financial essentials can help you stay compliant, understand your numbers, and create a stronger foundation for long-term success. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":8429,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"6","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[23,135,124],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,74,75],"imagine_tag":[109],"coauthors":[369],"class_list":["post-10168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-bookkeeping","tag-business-finances","tag-business-support","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/11\/200122_Sage_BridgeHousing3578.jpg","imagine_tags":{"109":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10168"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31894,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10168\/revisions\/31894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=10168"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}