Accounting built for how research companies actually spend.
Research heavy, driven by burn rather than revenue, and moving faster than a generalist bookkeeper can follow.
The complexity specific to AI and deep tech.
Section 174 research and development capitalization
Research and development costs must be capitalized and amortized rather than expensed as incurred. The effect is counterintuitive: a company burning cash can show taxable income and owe tax in a year it lost money. Standard positions are handled here directly. Complex positions are escalated to a CPA specialist rather than guessed at, and the treatment is documented so your return preparer is not reconstructing the reasoning a year later.
Burn rate and runway visibility
Investors and boards expect a current read on runway rather than a surprise at the next raise. That requires books that close quickly, not merely books that close eventually.
Compute as a primary cost line
Training and inference spend moves materially month to month and often becomes the largest line on the profit and loss statement. Absorbed into a single software category, it hides the one number that most needs watching.
Contractor and researcher spend
Heavy reliance on contractors, at times across borders, requires tracking and classification that a payroll only setup was never built to provide.
Grant and non-dilutive funding
Restricted use funding carries reporting obligations to the awarding body and must be tracked separately from general operating cash from the first dollar, not reconstructed when the report comes due.
Scoped on complexity, not hours.
Full Cycle Accounting
Starting at$1,500 / moA complete accounting function delivered end to end: transaction management, reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, payroll coordination, and a disciplined monthly close with financial statements.
Fractional Controller
Starting at$2,500 / moFull cycle accounting plus controller level oversight: research and development capitalization treatment, burn and runway forecasting, compute and contractor cost visibility, and reporting your board and investors can rely on.
Section 174 positions of ordinary complexity are handled within the engagement. Complex positions are escalated to a CPA specialist. Tax return preparation is not part of any tier. Multi-entity groups are scoped individually.
Let’s determine whether this is a fit.
A 30 minute engagement review covering where your finance function stands today, what it needs to become, and whether this firm is the right one to get you there.
Request an Engagement Review