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Accounting Services for Software Companies

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George Dimov

President & Managing Owner

Table of Contents

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Which Accounting Services for Software Companies Keep Your Books Investor-Ready?

We are aware that software companies hit accounting friction early as money, delivery and costs rarely land in the same month. You might bill subscriptions while prepaying cloud hosting, sell add-ons through an app store that withholds platform fees or pay contractors for work that supports future releases. Our accountants for software companies step in to line up the timing element as well as the recordkeeping.

What Makes Accounting for Software Companies Different?

Specialized on accounting for software companies is different since the revenue generally relates to access over time or usage. Once that timing is documented properly, the financials stay fully consistent and it becomes easier to explain during lending & fundraising or a sale time. There are two major trouble spots:

  • Deferred revenue and mid-contract changes
  • Non-inventory product costs — cloud spend, tools, contractors

Which Amounts Should be Tracked by Software Companies?

These are the ones founders and investors generally ask for first as presented in the below table:

What to trackImportanceFrom where
Monthly revenue (recurring)Presents predictable run-rateBilling + revenue schedule
Gross marginHighlights hosting efficiencyP&L + cost mapping
Cash runwayShows burn vs bank balanceBank + forecast

How Do Software Company Accounting Services Get Set Up Properly?

These professional accounting services for software companies function best when you build the initial foundation — before transaction volume spikes up. A quality setup lowers rework — and that makes month-end less stressful. In this aspect, the build is outlined below:

  1. Connecting points — linking bank, payroll & billing and expenses to one ledger
  2. Using a software-friendly chart of accounts — breaking out hosting, contractors, tools and support in order margins to mean something
  3. Writing the revenue rules — spelling out how subscriptions, usage overages and onboarding hit the books
  4. Standardizing the close — using a checklist for cutoffs, reconciliations and review processes

What Tax Issues Hit Software Teams the Hardest?

The most major pressure points are development costs. In addition, equity compensation and multi-state selling should be taken into consideration. Such issues should be addressed early to prevent surprises. Our dedicated accountants for software companies focus on the below:

  • R&D credits and documentation — the IRS uses Form 6765 for the research credit. 
  • Treatment of software development costs. federal rules treat specific software development amounts as research or experimental spending. The current law can influence the deduction timing. 
  • Sales tax on SaaS & digitals — the taxability varies by state. Economic nexus rules can expand the filing footprint as a software company grows. 

What Does a Proper Month-End Close Look Like in the Software Industry?

In simple terms, it means reconciliation of cash accounts, revenue tied back to contracts, and expense categories that are dependable. A good close covers the below items:

  • Bank & card reconciliations
  • Payroll booked correctly — covering benefits
  • Revenue schedules updated for new and changed contracts
  • One review note for any unusual item

When Should You Hire a Specialized Software Company CPA?

Especially when decisions start changing taxes or reporting practices or investor timelines. If you’re looking for a CPA for software companies, the correct time is — generally — before a round, after a hiring ramp or when sales cross into new states, as they can present assistance with:

  • Entity choice and owner pay planning
  • Quarterly estimates matching the cash flow
  • GAAP-ready reporting for investor requests

How Do You Start with Dimov Tax?

Contact us today for a short call to review your systems and revenue & specific deadlines. Our specialized accountants for software companies will present the next steps for full compliance.

FAQs

Do accounting services for software companies handle App Store/marketplace payouts?

Definitely. Our team reconciles payouts, withheld fees, refunds and chargebacks so revenue and cash match what actually hit your bank.

Can accountants for software companies present assistance with stock options — and equity reporting?

Our accountants for software companies are able to coordinate the amounts for option exercises — and RSU — alongside payroll impacts by keeping the year-end reporting fully compliant with the records.

Do software company accounting services present support to international sales?

Yes — they are able to track foreign currency & country-level revenue & partner — with local advisors once non-US taxes apply.

Can a CPA for software companies aid in lowering 1099 and contractor mistakes?

Yes. Our specialist team can set up vendor tracking. We are able to collect W-9s and keep contractor payments categorized properly, focusing on year-end forms.

How do software company accounting services help when lenders require financial reporting?

A specialized software company CPA can produce lender-friendly financial statements.


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