What is a sample chart of accounts for SaaS companies?
Vanessa Kruze
Founder, CPA
Looking at the Chart of Accounts can be a bit dense so I’ve decided to presenting a sample P&L, and also a table with the chart of accounts below. (The goal of the Chart of Accounts is to get the accounts to track to the appropriate location on the financial statements.) Take a look at the screenshot below, the see the sample SaaS chart of accounts below, and structure your Chart of Accounts accordingly:
Caveat: your business is unique, so you may need to do some tailoring!
Seed SaaS Chart of Accounts
| Account | Type | Detail Type |
|---|---|---|
| Bill.com Money In Clearing | Bank | Cash on hand |
| Bill.com Money Out Clearing | Bank | Cash on hand |
| SVB Checking | Bank | Checking |
| SVB MMA | Bank | Checking |
| SVB Savings | Bank | Checking |
| Accounts Receivable (A/R) | Accounts receivable (A/R) | Accounts Receivable (A/R) |
| Loans to Shareholders | Other Current Assets | Other Current Assets |
| Prepaid Expenses | Other Current Assets | Development Costs |
| Prepaid Rent | Other Current Assets | Other Current Assets |
| Undeposited Funds | Other Current Assets | Undeposited Funds |
| Accumulated Depreciation | Fixed Assets | Other fixed assets |
| Computer Equipment | Fixed Assets | Other fixed assets |
| Furniture and Equipment | Fixed Assets | Other fixed assets |
| Leasehold Improvements | Fixed Assets | Other fixed assets |
| Accumulated Amortization | Other Assets | Other Long-term Assets |
| Deposit on Rental | Other Assets | Other Long-term Assets |
| Patents | Other Assets | Other Long-term Assets |
| Security Deposit | Other Assets | Other Long-term Assets |
| Accounts Payable (A/P) | Accounts payable (A/P) | Accounts Payable (A/P) |
| Amex Credit Card | Credit Card | Credit Card |
| 401(K) Payable | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| Accrued Expenses | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| Accrued Interest | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| Payroll Liability | Other Current Liabilities | Payroll Tax Payable |
| Reimbursement Liability | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| SF Taxes Payable | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| Loans from Shareholders | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| Unearned Revenue | Other Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities |
| Common Stock | Equity | Common Stock |
| Opening Balance Equity | Equity | Opening Balance Equity |
| Retained Earnings | Equity | Retained Earnings |
| Series Seed | Equity | Preferred Stock |
| Series Seed: Seed Series Financing Costs | Equity | Accumulated Adjustment |
| On Demand Revenue | Income | Other Primary Income |
| Subscription Revenue | Income | Other Primary Income |
| Hosting | Cost of Goods Sold | Cost of labor - COS |
| Merchant Account Fees | Cost of Goods Sold | Other Costs of Services - COS |
| Subcontractors | Cost of Goods Sold | Cost of labor - COS |
| Advertising and Promotion | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Advertising and Promotion: Advertising | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Advertising and Promotion: Collateral - Swag | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Advertising and Promotion: Conferences and Tradeshows | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Advertising and Promotion:Public Relations | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense | Expenses | Dues & subscriptions |
| G & A Expense: Bank Service Charges | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense: Computer and Internet Expenses | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense: Insurance Expense | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense: Janitorial Expense | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense: Office Expenses | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense: Payroll Processing Fee | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| G & A Expense: Utilities | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Meals & Entertainment | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Meals & Entertainment:Coffee | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Meals & Entertainment: Dining Out | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Meals & Entertainment: Office Meals | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Payroll Expenses | Expenses | Payroll Expenses |
| Payroll Expenses: Employee Benefits | Expenses | Office/General Administrative Expenses |
| Payroll Expenses: Employer Payroll Taxes | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Payroll Expenses: Salary Expense | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Payroll Expenses: SF Payroll Tax | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Professional Fees | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Professional Fees:Accounting & Finance | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Professional Fees: IT | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Professional Fees: Legal Fees | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Professional Fees: Other Professional Services | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Professional Fees: Recruiters | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Professional Fees: Upwork | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Rent Expense | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Travel Expense | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Travel Expense: Airfare | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Travel Expense: Ground Transportation | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Travel Expense: Lodging | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Web Services | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Web Services: 1Password | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Adobe | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: CircleCI | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: eShares | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Fullstory.com | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Google Apps | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Heap Analytics | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Intercom.io | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Recruiting Software | Expenses | Other Miscellaneous Service Cost |
| Web Services: Salesforce | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Web Services: Slack | Expenses | Advertising/Promotional |
| Uncategorized Expense | Other Expense | Other Miscellaneous Expense |
| Amortization Expense | Other Expense | Other Miscellaneous Expense |
| Depreciation Expense | Other Expense | Depreciation |
| Interest Expense | Other Expense | Amortization |
| Tax Expense | Other Expense | Other Miscellaneous Expense |
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