Notes on running a business.
Practical guidance on cash flow, accounting, and the decisions that come with running a business.
Start with the decision you need to make
Choose your accounting support
Compare the operating model, decide when to hand off, and define the scope.
Close the books with confidence
Work through the close, reconcile balances, and understand the resulting statements.
Understand client and project margins
Connect delivery effort to fees and make scope decisions using a consistent margin definition.
Plan capacity and cash
Compare staffing capacity, payment timing, and hiring commitments before making a decision.
All Articles
Chart of Accounts for Software Development Studios: A Practical Structure Guide
A software studio's chart of accounts needs more than a generic template. This guide covers how to structure accounts for project revenue, subcontractor costs, tooling, and capitalized development — so your P&L reflects how the business actually runs.
Effective Bill Rate Formula: How to Calculate and Hit Your Target
Your rate card says one thing. Your P&L says another. This guide explains the effective bill rate formula, why realized rates fall short of quoted rates, and what effective rate you need to hit a healthy delivery margin.
Financial Data Room Checklist for Startups: What Investors Expect
A complete financial data room checklist for startup founders preparing for investor due diligence — covering which documents to include, how far back financials should go, and how to organize everything so investors can move fast.
Realization Rate Formula: Benchmarks for Consulting Firms
Realization rate measures how much of your recorded billable time actually reaches a client invoice. This guide covers the formula, a benchmark table by firm type, and the most common causes of realization leakage.
Agency Days Sales Outstanding: DSO Formula & Collection Playbook
Days sales outstanding measures how long your agency waits to collect after invoicing. This guide covers the DSO formula, what a healthy target looks like, and the collection sequence that moves the number fastest.
Outsourced Accounting for Medical Practices: Cost, Scope & What Changes With Multiple Providers
Outsourced accounting for a medical practice typically costs $2,500–$7,500/month, depending on size and scope. This guide covers what's included, what drives the price up, and how multi-provider or multi-location practices should think about scope.
Agency Gross Margin Benchmarks: Formula, Targets & What Pulls You Below
A healthy gross margin for agencies is 50% or higher. This guide covers the formula, benchmark ranges by agency type, and the three structural problems that pull gross margin below target.
Fixed Price vs Time and Materials: Which Model Protects Your Studio's Margins?
Fixed price and T&M contracts distribute risk and margin potential very differently for software studios. This guide compares both models on profitability, risk, and when to switch — so you can choose the structure that fits the project in front of you.
FAQ
Before we talk.
A few practical details, so you know what to expect.
Where can I see an example of Laya’s monthly reporting?
Which plans include monthly accounting?
How should I use the examples and calculators?
Start with a conversation
Tell us what
you’re building.
We’ll talk through your business, your books, and where you could use a hand.