Whether you are starting a business or already in the process of operating one, you’ll need to hire an accountant. If you can’t really afford a full-time accounting firm on retainer there are alternatives. Enter CountUp.io.
Founded in May 2015 by Nodar Janashia, Countup is a service that links small businesses with accountants, as needed, both for full time or on a piecemeal basis. CountUp claims to be the “first” platform dedicated exclusively to connecting accountants and clients. Jordan Frey and Jason Zenobi, the company’s other two co-founders, are both experienced CPAs.
In an email to Small Business Trends, Janashia explains, “CountUp.io is a free platform to find and easily delegate accounting tasks to on demand CPAs. Accounting is hard and entrepreneurs should focus on their business — let an experienced CPA handle accounting. Drop the bloated accounting firm hourly rates, physical visits to ‘brick & mortar’ locations, and wasted time searching on your own.
“Just tell us your situation and you’ll get matched with the right accountant who will get accounting done. CountUp does all the legwork of searching, inquiring and delegating tasks for you, saving you time and money. You can assign accounting tasks as they come up — on demand — without ever physically visiting your accountant.”
CountUp spent its first eight months creating a network of accountants with a variety of skills a small business owner might need including things like filing papers of incorporation ad much more. Janashia says the company built its online marketplace to include features like e-signatures, messenger, meetings, payments and file sharing. Slack, QuickBooks Online, and Xero integrations are coming soon.
Janshia says, “(We are) not competing with accounting software companies like QuickBooks and Xero. Participating accountants are not exclusively affiliated with any particular accounting software solution. Instead, they help you set up and automate most accounting tasks using the most appropriate software for your business needs.”
He adds, “We are strictly focused on providing the best accountant matches for users unlike UpWork where it’s everything scattered from writers to designers to developers to accountants. Our platform is specifically designed for accounting work.”
Countup has developed a Web app for the business owner on the go. It allows you to ask for a CPA and snap pictures of your documents so your CPA can review and collaborate on them.
Janashia started his career as an intern at a “big four” accounting firm, Ernst & Young, while in high school. Later he was an associate within a large accounting organisation, financial advisor with AXA and spent two years helping CPA firms and small businesses implement financial planning software with New York startup PlanGuru.
Accounting Background Photo via Shutterstock, Countup Logo via Twitter
Aira Bongco
I guess that it is a good service. It is hard to find an accountant that you can trust especially if you don’t have one in your network or know somebody who knows an accountant. It is always a gamble to hire someone who doesn’t know anything about small businesses. Having a service like this really cuts the chore in half.
Nodar Janashia
Thanks Aira! Pointing small business owners to THE MOST appropriate accountant who are able to truly understand them is what CountUp strives for. Our modern online collaboration tools make the discovery and engagement process very efficient.
Peter
So this would be for US based business? Australia these accountants would need to be registered tax agents to provide bas and or taxation advice ?
JoAnn McFarland
I checked with CountUp and Nodar says they work for businesses overseas. Check with their website for details.