Wondering how much your VC-backed startup's tax return will cost?   Check out our startup tax cost calculator to get an estimate now!
Kruze Consulting named one of the best accounting firms to work for in 2022 Inc.500 Honor Roll 6x Honoree 2023
Kruze Consulting Logo
Kruze

Accounting, Finance, Tax & HR for Startups

Kruze Consulting handles all things Accounting, Finance, HR and Tax for over 800 startups.
Vanessa Kruze, CPA Founder and CEO of Kruze Consulting
Vanessa Kruze, CPA
Founder and CEO
featured in

800+ Of The Best Funded Startups Trust Kruze

$15B+ in Funding Icon

$15B+ in Funding

Our clients have secured over twelve billion dollars in seed and venture funding; close to three billion in the past year alone. Top tier VCs trust our clients' books, and Kruze knows how to prepare startups' financials for VC due diligence. Our clients know that they'll be ready for their next round.

Successful Exits Every Month Icon

Successful Exits Every Month

On average, one to two of our clients are acquired every month. Our team has experience producing accounting and tax due diligence requests for the biggest public companies. Every month we help founders navigate the most important transaction of their life.

$100+ million in Tax Credits Icon

$100+ million in Tax Credits

Kruze is a leader in R&D tax credits and other tax incentives for VC-backed startups. Our clients are receiving close to $40 million per year in tax credits (cash from the IRS!), and hundreds of funded startups trust Kruze to deliver the right advice, at a reasonable price.

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

Contact Us

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

Specializing in DE C-Corps with Seed and VC Funding

Please note, our expertise is not focused on LLCs or bootstrapped companies.

Contact Us

Due Diligence Success Stories

When early-stage companies get acquired by massive public companies or sophisticated venture capitalists, they need specialized accounting consulting and finance help.

With Kruze on your side, your team will have the numbers – and advice – you need to survive due diligence with your valuation intact.

Everybody, go to Kruze Consulting. They do a great job. I personally can tell you, they've done a great job for our companies, including Calm.com. I'm sure they’ll do a great job for you.

Watch Video

Name

Jason Calacanis

Angel investor in Uber, Robinhood, Thumbtack, Wealthfront, and Calm.com

VC Funding & M&A

I had an excellent experience working with the team at Kruze - from seed funding through acquisition of my company. They are timely, professional, and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to all things startup finance.

Name

Ann Jaskiw

Founder and CEO

M&A

Kruze helped us all the way through our journey - from our seed round to our A to our eventual acquisition by a public company.

Name

Omar Tawakol

Founder and CEO

M&A

From a team of three to multiple VC investments to an acquisition by Apple, the Kruze team worked hand in hand with Fleetsmith’s founders. Congratulations to their success!

Name

Scott Orn

Kruze COO

M&A

Kruze knows R&D, SAFE Notes, SaaS, and venture debt and they gave us valuable advice. We have 100% confidence in their work.

Name

Farhad Massoudi

CEO

IPO

The Kruze team helped us grow from a 2-person startup to a NASDAQ listed public company in 2 years. We wouldn’t have gotten public without Kruze’s support. Anyone thinking of launching a startup should make Vanessa their first call!

Name

Jesse Shefferman

CEO

Affordable Startup Bookkeeping and Accounting

Check out Kruze's affordable monthly bookkeeping options.

Basic Bookkeeping

Great for pre-revenue, seed-stage companies

Starting at $600 per month Starting at $750 per month

  • Dedicated accounting manager
  • Accrual-basis bookkeeping
  • Pre-revenue companies
  • Tax services available
Kruze Badge
Most Popular

Founder Timesaver

Best for companies starting to scale

Starting at $850 per month Starting at $1,250 per month

  • Dedicated accounting manager
  • Accrual-basis bookkeeping
  • Revenue recognition support
  • Monthly call included
  • Earlier financial delivery
KRUZE RECOMMENDS
Kruze Badge

Premium

Ideal for high-growth, well-funded businesses

  • Dedicated accounting manager
  • Accrual-basis bookkeeping
  • Complex revenue recognition
  • Monthly call included
  • Support for multiple entities, consolidation
  • Support for class / department tracking

Our experts can help you find the right solution for your budget and business needs.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about our monthly bookkeeping options.

One Finance and Tax Team For Your Startup, Backed by Best in Class Automation and Apps

INTERIM CFO

INTERIM CFO

Raising capital or beginning hyper-growth? Our CFOs provide valuable guidance.

BOOKKEEPING

BOOKKEEPING

Professional CPA's & Automated Systems deliver books that you and your investors can trust.

IN-HOUSE TAX TEAM

IN-HOUSE TAX TEAM

Federal and state yearly tax returns, state and local compliance, registrations, sales tax and more.

TAX CREDITS

TAX CREDITS

R&D tax credits - and more. Our startup tax credit experts reduce your cash burn.

FINTECH SYSTEMS SETUP

FINTECH SYSTEMS SETUP

We’ll help you select and configure the best fintech systems, from cards to banks to bill pay - and beyond.

VC SUPPORT

VC SUPPORT

Due diligence, board prep, cap table negotiation - we speak VC.

M&A SUPPORT

M&A SUPPORT

One team to manage your exit diligence, from financials to tax to audit support.

FINANCIAL MODELING

FINANCIAL MODELING

We build financial models that have been used to close venture rounds with top investors.

HUMAN RESOURCES

HUMAN RESOURCES

We'll help you set up essential HR and payroll systems so you can scale from 1-100 employees.

409A VALUATION

409A VALUATION

High speed, low-cost valuations for pricing stock options.

Thought Leaders
in AI and Accounting Automation

Artificial intelligence is transforming business, and Kruze Consulting recognizes the potential of AI technologies.
We are not just users of advanced technology; we are thought leaders bringing the best in new technologies to our clients and delivering exceptional accounting, finance, and tax services to startups.

Our clients benefit from being set up on the top automated fintech and accounting platforms. Kruze Consulting has won awards for our innovative use of both in-house and third-party technology. Our expertise has been recognized by major publications, with The New York Times, The Information, and Newcomer citing our research and opinions on artificial intelligence. Additionally, venture capitalists regularly seek our advice for due diligence on accounting AI technologies.

Kruze Consulting is at the forefront of technological innovation, and is a beta tester of the most significant AI tools for startups. We frequently serve on product advisory councils for the largest accounting and fintech software providers. This involvement means we not only understand the latest AI and automation tools before they launch but also help shape their development. Our direct relationships with the developers ensure we can quickly address any customer service issues.

Many of the top AI companies are Kruze clients, giving us unique insights into the latest AI technologies and trends. These partnerships keep us on the cutting edge of AI advancements.

A History of Innovation

We Are the First to
adopt automated payroll providers
like
Gusto
and
Rippling

Our history as pioneers in accounting technology and automation is well established.

We were among the first to adopt automated payroll providers like Gusto and Rippling and transition our clients to Brex and Ramp, platforms that now extensively utilize AI.

And while it may seem like ages ago, we were one of the first to mandate that our clients move to cloud accounting software.

At Kruze Consulting, our commitment to innovation means that over 800 startups are getting exceptional accounting service backed by an experienced team that understands and leverages the latest technology.

Kruze Consulting
handles Accounting
for over 800 startups

If you’re a founder who believes in the promise of technology, but who wants the best, most experienced advice on the market, reach out to us!

Contact Us

AI Chat with Kruze's Extensive Startup Accounting and Finance Knowledge Base

Ask Kruze’s AI tool questions on startup bookkeeping, taxes, venture capital and more!

Take advantage of our over 400 blog posts , research reports, and over 190 Q&As for startups and early-stage companies. Our Founders & Friends podcast features in-depth interviews with founders, venture capitalists, startup CEOs, and startup experts!

Get answers fast! Start exploring or search by suggested questions below.

This is an experiential AI-driven question and answer tool. Do not rely on these responses, always consult with your CPA, tax advisor, accountant or lawyer.

Founders and Friends Podcast by Kruze

Startup Podcast

Kruze's Founders & Friends Podcast interviews Startup Founders, Executives and Industry Experts to share their journeys, tips, and important lessons.

Kruze’s Clients Are Twice as Likely to Be Acquired

Impressive and true - our clients are twice as likely to be acquired as the average startup. Our experience team and best in class technology produce measurably better outcomes for our clients and their investors.

Online accounting and more for high growth SaaS companies

Why are Kruze clients more likely to be acquired?

  • Better Metrics: Founders make better decisions with reliable financial data.
  • Diligence Ready: Our startups are ready for financial, accounting and tax diligence.
  • Early Stage Support: Our team is focused, specialized and experienced.
  • Higher Funding Rates: Kruze clients are more likely to raise the next round.
  • Quality Referrals: VCs refer high-potential startups to us, so you’ll be in good company.

Read more about why our clients are so much more successful than the typical, funded startup.

Looking for information and resources on startup banking?

The recent disruption in banking services have many founders wondering where to keep their cash. Here are some resources to help you:

Tax Credit Experts

Our clients are saving over $25 million in payroll taxes this year due to our tax team’s R&D tax credit work. 

Unprofitable startups can seriously reduce their burn rate - up to $500,000 per year.

And that's not the only tax credit we check for!

Is your early-stage company ready to work with a tax expert?

Get Started

Kruze Tax Dashboard

The Leading Source of Startup Accounting, Tax and Finance Advice

The Kruze team is regularly interviewed by top journalists for a reason - we know more about startup accounting, tax and finance than any other firm! Check out our recent startup resources for advice on everything from SAFE notes to opinions on the best accounting software for early-stage companies to trends in startup valuations. Find more of our resources below:

Kruze's free tax calculators

Read our Blog

Kruze's Top Blog Posts for Startups about Accounting, Finance, HR and Tax:

Kruze Consulting's Blog

Read our Startup Q&A

Read our Startup Q&A

Kruze answers every Accounting, Finance, HR and Tax Question faced by early-stage companies.

Read More Q&A

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

Contact Us

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

Specializing in DE C-Corps with Seed and VC Funding

Please note, our expertise is not focused on LLCs or bootstrapped companies.

Contact Us

2024 
Startup Tax Compliance Calendar

Concerned about your 2024 Tax Deadlines?
We've done the work for you with these 2024 Tax Compliance Calendars.

Check our 2024 Tax Deadlines For C-Corp Startups or Click for your customized compliance calendar by city

CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

Contact Us

CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

Specializing in DE C-Corps with Seed and VC Funding

Please note, our expertise is not focused on LLCs or bootstrapped companies.

Contact Us

Client testimonials

Quote icon

We're huge fans of Vanessa and the folks at Kruze Consulting. They set up our books, finances, and other operations, and are constantly organized and on top of things. As a startup, you have to focus on your product and customers, and Kruze takes care of everything else (which is a massive sigh of relief). I highly highly highly recommend working with Vanessa and her team.

Vivek Sodera

Vivek Sodera

Co-Founder @ Superhuman

Quote icon

Prior to Kruze, as a remote-first team, we were weighed down by a lot of the bureaucracy involved with having a distributed workforce. Kruze has supported us above and beyond basic accounting needs by ensuring we have everything we need to expand and support our team wherever they may be located

Zack Fisch

Zack Fisch

Pequity's Head of Operations & Legal

Quote icon

Avochato has been growing rapidly in the past year – in fact, too quickly for us to keep up with books, taxes, and budgeting for growth. Partnering with Kruze Consulting has been fantastic to manage, track, and analyze our finances while we continue focusing on building our customer base. Kruze’s team knows what startups need.

Alex De Simone

Alex De Simone

CEO @ Avochato

Quote icon

Everybody, go to Kruze Consulting. They do a great job. I personally can tell you, they've done a great job for our companies, including Calm.com. I'm sure they’ll do a great job for you.

Jason Calacanis

Jason Calacanis

Angel investor

Our clients graduate from top accelerator programs including

Our Core Accounting and Consulting Team

When you work with Kruze, you’ll get an accountant with, on average, over 10 years of experience, as your account manager. And our in-house tax team is there when you need us - not just on April 15th. We are the preeminent accounting consulting and finance advisory firm servicing early-stage companies, from pre-seed to exit. Talk to us to see if our fractional CFOs, controllers and accounting team are right for you!

Vanessa Kruze, CPA, Kruze Consulting

Vanessa Kruze, CPA

Founder & CEO

Deloitte Alum
Former Startup Controller
Lover of bad reality TV

Scott Orn, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Scott Orn

Chief Operating Officer, CFA

Kellogg MBA
Former VC Partner and Investment Banker
Espresso junkie

Bill Hollowsky, CPA, CGMA, CITP, CSPO, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Bill Hollowsky, CPA, CGMA, CITP, CSPO

VP of Technical Accounting

University of Maryland
CPA. KPMG and Oracle alumnus. I've lived in three countries, 10 states and the District of Columbia.
Loves cooking, swimming, scuba diving and yoga

Blake Rutledge, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Blake Rutledge

CFO

Chartered Accountant, ANZ, University of Technology Sydney
Corporate FP&A specialist
Gardening rookie

Healy Jones, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Healy Jones

VP of Financial Strategy

Dartmouth, Wharton
Atlas Venture, Summit Partners, Sunrun
Pizza lover

Matt Ziser, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Matt Ziser

VP of Business Operations

JD-MBA from Kellogg/Northwestern and a BA from UC Berkeley
Matt touches on over 15 years of operational, strategic, and general management experience
His favorite quote: "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." - Winston Churchill

Alex Janeck, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Alex Janeck

VP of Revenue

Clemson University
William Blair Investment Banking, Former Transaction Advisory Services Consultant
Avid triathlete, golfer and travel aficionado. Loves the NBA and good coffee!

Randy Hall, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Randy Hall

VP of Onboarding

Kennesaw State University
IBM Alum; Former CFO/President of Global Digital Marketing company
Loves backpacking and bicycling

Dave Lowe, CPA, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Dave Lowe, CPA

VP of Tax

Wichita State University (Master’s in Professional Accounting)
20+ years corporate tax experience in both private and publicly traded companies
Love to travel with my wife to tropical destinations, snorkeling, running, and baseball (Go Royals!)

Drew Venker, CFA, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Drew Venker, CFA

VP of Finance

University of Colorado
Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Lazard
Loves running, traveling, investing

Stacy Love, SPHR, PHRca, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Stacy Love, SPHR, PHRca

VP of People

MA in Organizational Leadership, BS in Business Administration
15+ years of human resources experience within investment consulting, private wealth advisory, real estate, and insurance
Adore my two dogs, all things Hello Kitty, indie music, cake, and design (graphic, interior, architectural)

Kevin Houk, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Kevin Houk

Senior Managing Controller, Accounting Services

Gonzaga University
Former Startup Controller
Travel aficionado

Tatiana Marin, Kruze Consulting Core Team

Tatiana Marin

Director, Information Security and Operations

CCTU (EU) Foreign Languages Graduate
University of Portland MS in Ops and Technology Management candidate

Find an Outsourced CFO for your Startup

Kruze is more than just an accounting consulting firm. We have helped hundreds of fast-growing companies find strategic, part-time CFO help, and we have a network of finance professionals that we can refer into your company. And, once we are comfortable with a CFO’s qualifications and experience, we add the “Kruze Certified” designation!

Looking for an outsourced CFO for your startup? Check out our startup CFO network today!

Find a Chief Financial Officer

Kruze Certified Badge

About Us

A CPA Firm Specialized in Startup Accounting & Finance

A CPA Firm Specialized in Startup Accounting & Finance

Startups are our niche, and our passion. Our clients have raised over $15 billion in VC funding. We are one of only a few outsourced accounting firms that specialize in funded early-stage companies - we only offer financial and tax services to fast growing startups in the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B and Series C stages.

The Right Accounting Partner for Your Startup’s Next Round

The Right Accounting Partner for Your Startup’s Next Round

We know how to de-risk your startup’s next venture capital round. Our team makes sure you are ready to fly through your next VC’s accounting, HR and tax due diligence. And when you use us as your bookkeeper, we set up and keep up-to-date a due diligence folder so you can get that next round of fundraising.

A Leader in Cloud Accounting Software

A Leader in Cloud Accounting Software

Our practice is built on best of breed cloud accounting software like QuickBooks, Netsuite, Gusto, Rippling, Taxbit, Avalara, Brex, Ramp and Deel. Technology makes us more efficient, saving our clients money and letting us offer higher value services like FP&A modeling, 409A valuation, and treasury advice. Startups deserve to work with CPAs using modern software.

Trusted by Top Venture Investors

Trusted by Top Venture Investors

Top angel investors and VCs refer Kruze because they trust us to give the right advice. Our clients are portfolio companies of top technology and Silicon Valley investors, including Y-Combinator, Kleiner, Sequoia, Khsola, Launch, Techstars and more. With us, your books and taxes are in order when it’s time to raise another round of venture financing.

What types of startups does Kruze Consulting usually work with?

What types of startups does Kruze Consulting usually work with?

Kruze Consulting works with funded Delaware C-Corps. Our clients have secured Pre-Seed to Series C or Series D funding. We look to partner with our clients, going beyond the typical outsourced accounting relationship and seeking to provide a higher level advisory role. We feel honored to be a part of making the world a better place, even if it’s one debit and credit at a time.

Accounting, Finance, Taxes, & Payroll all in one solution

Accounting, Finance, Taxes, & Payroll all in one solution

Startup CFO services, startup accounting and bookkeeping services, startup annual taxes, expense reports, payroll, state sales taxes: we've got you covered. Our software provides custom tailored dashboards that can be provided weekly or monthly, depending on your preference and plan. Founders are often so busy building their company that they don’t have time to take care of their finances. Traditionally, these companies have had to work with a basket of people to get their work done, including bookkeepers, accountants, AP clerks, CFOs, consultants, and tax accountants. At Kruze Consulting, our founders have one point person, saving time and money.

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

We are the experts at helping seed/VC-backed Delaware C-Corps with their accounting and finances!

Talk to an experienced accountant, not a generic sales person

 Kruze Consulting
Alex Janeck
 Kruze Consulting
Edith Silva
 Kruze Consulting
Randy Hall
Viz AI

$250M+ VC Funding Raised


"I had a great experience working with Kruze Consulting when we raised Series A. They know what VCs need to see, and how to present a startup’s books and finances. If you are going to raise venture capital, you need experts like Kruze."
Chris Mansi

Chris Mansi

CEO

Startup Venture Capital Assistance

With former venture capitalists on staff, our team is here to help you navigate the fundraising process and manage your board of directors

 Kruze Consulting
Scott Orn
COO | Former VC
 Kruze Consulting
Healy Jones
VP FP&A | Former VC
Pequity

Scale Remote Operations & Team


"Kruze has supported us above and beyond basic accounting needs by ensuring we have everything we need to expand and support our team wherever they may be located"
Zack Fisch

Zack Fisch

Head of Operations & Legal

Clients who have worked with Kruze have collectively raised over $15 billion in VC funding.

We set startups up for fundrising success, and know how to work with the top VCs.

 Kruze Consulting
Vanessa Kruze, CPA
Founder & CEO
Kruze Logo

Experienced team helping you

Our account management team is staffed by CPAs and accountants who have, on average, 11 years of experience.

 Kruze Consulting
Bill Hollowsky, CPA
VP of Accounting Services
 Kruze Consulting
Claudine Vantomme, CPA
Controller
 Kruze Consulting
Morgan Avery
SUT/R&D Sr. Tax Accountant
 Kruze Consulting
Beth Bassler
Controller, CPA
Protara Therapeutics

Grew from a 2-person startup to a NASDAQ listed public company.


"The Kruze team helped us grow from a 2-person startup to a NASDAQ listed public company in 2 years. We wouldn’t have gotten public without Kruze’s support. Anyone thinking of launching a startup should make Vanessa their first call!"
Jesse Shefferman

Jesse Shefferman

CEO

Kruze Logo

Get in Touch

Please help us connect with you

How can we reach you?

Our first response is typically via email, so please check your inbox.

Help us have a productive first consultation by providing some additional information.

What year was your startup incorporated?

What is your stage of funding?

(pick up from the list)

Approximately how much funding have you raised?

(please enter a dollar value such as 5000000)

Help us understand what you are looking for:

(Optional, click the ones you need)

Anything additional that you’d like to share?

Optional - if you’d like to share anything else to help us prepare for our consultation, please let us know. We are also happy to sign an NDA, just let us know.

Kruze Consulting's Core Values

We are privileged to serve so many exciting, early-stage clients. As accountants and advisors to these high-growth companies, we need to share values such as innovation and kaizen - while staying true to the standards of the accounting profession.

We hope that Kruze Consulting's values align with your company's, and look forward to collaborating with you during your entrepreneurial journey!

Kaizen

Kaizen

We promote the continuous improvement of our teammates, our clients, and our firm.

Integrity

Integrity

We conduct our work with openness, honesty, and integrity.

Innovation

Innovation

We seek to overcome challenges through unique and innovative solutions.

Intuitive

Intuitive

We seek to establish processes and systems that are clean, intuitive, nimble, and scalable.

Communication & Collaboration

Communication & Collaboration

We communicate and collaborate with our teammates and clients in a respectful and clear way, while not forgetting to have some fun along the way.

Data Driven Quality

Data Driven Quality

We use data to improve our client experience, measuring our accuracy, timeliness, customer satisfaction and more.

Enabling Customer Greatness

Enabling Customer Greatness

We care deeply about our startup clients, acting as trusted advisors and helping them change the world.

Fidelity

Fidelity

We proactively provide thoughtful financial advice, respect confidentiality, and keep all data secure.

Our Locations

Kruze is a US focused, national accounting consulting firm. Our accountants serve startups all over the US, with offices in Austin, San Francisco, Silicon Valley (San Jose), Los Angeles (Santa Monica) and New York City.

1515 7th Street #363 Santa Monica, CA 90401
75 East Santa Clara St San Jose, CA 95113
600 California St. 12th Floor San Francisco, CA 94108
145 W. 30th Street FL 7 New York, NY 10001
10900 Research Blvd Ste 160c-3024 Austin, TX 78759

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

Contact Us

READY TO CONNECT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION?

Specializing in DE C-Corps with Seed and VC Funding

Please note, our expertise is not focused on LLCs or bootstrapped companies.

Contact Us

Kruze Consulting In The News

Startup Industry Expertise

As the largest CPA firm 100% dedicated to VC-backed startups, Kruze is experienced in most startup industries and business models. From SaaS accounting to hardware to biotech, we’ve got the software, team and experience to take your company’s accounting and finance to the next level. Plus, with one of the largest, in-house tax team’s in the US, we know how to keep your early-stage business compliant, and ready for due diligence.

Our team provides online bookkeeping services to hundreds of funded startups and high-growth companies, and our experience in specific industries sets us apart from both traditional accountants and automated solutions. Beyond the knowledge of what it takes to successfully complete VC due diligence, our experience lets us offer advice that neither traditional accountants nor automated bookkeepers can. From our unique insights into startup statistics to knowing what it takes to successfully exit through M&A, the Kruze team is here for you.

Vanessa Kruze, CPA
VANESSA KRUZE, CPA
KRUZE CONSULTING FOUNDER FORMER STARTUP CONTROLLER
  Talk to a leading startup CPA