As a founder, it is easy to view finance as one broad category. But bookkeeping, accounting, and FP&A each serve distinct roles. This guide breaks down what each function does, when to bring them in, and how they work together to support growth.

A startup’s finance function doesn’t need to be built all at once—but it does need to evolve intentionally. This guide outlines how founders can scale their financial capabilities stage by stage, from bookkeeping and budgets to board prep and strategic CFOs.