CA Advisory for Startup Founders — Incorporation to Exit
From the moment you incorporate to the day you ring the IPO bell (or close your Series B), every financial decision matters. We support founders with finance, tax and compliance advice as their businesses grow.
The Founder Journey — What You Need at Every Stage
Entity choice (LLP vs Pvt Ltd), co-founder agreement, IP assignment, founders' equity split.
DPIIT recognition, GST, bank account, compliance calendar, bookkeeping setup.
Virtual CFO, monthly MIS, GST compliance, payroll, working capital and cash flow.
ESOP structuring, valuation report, investor readiness, data room, FEMA (FDI) compliance.
SME IPO advisory, SEBI compliance, financial restatement, corporate governance.
If you're a non-resident founder, see tax, FEMA and repatriation for NRI founders on our dedicated NRI site.
Why Founders Work With Us
Led by experienced finance professionals — every engagement carries senior accountability and sign-off.
Big 4 / multinational firm experience in audit, advisory and cross-border tax.
Cross-border depth across NRI, FDI, ODI, FEMA and transfer pricing — built-in, not outsourced.
Scope, deliverables, timelines and fee confirmed in a written engagement letter.
Services for Founders
Recognition under the 2026 rules, section 140 holiday eligibility (formerly section 80-IAC) and separate IMB approval.
Scheme design, approvals, valuation and ROC filings.
Financial model, cap table, data room and pitch metrics.
Outsourced CFO leadership for growth-stage startups.
Section 56 / FEMA-compliant valuations and round structuring.
BSE SME / NSE Emerge IPO advisory and SEBI compliance.
The finance decisions founders get wrong most often
- Entity choice: starting as an LLP or proprietorship and then converting when the first investor asks for a company. If you plan to raise equity, start as a private limited company. See LLP vs Private Limited.
- Founder equity without vesting: if a co-founder leaves in year one with a large stake, the cap table can become uninvestable. A founders' agreement with vesting and a leaver clause prevents this.
- Intellectual property: code, designs and brands created before incorporation should be formally assigned to the company.
- Unfiled allotments: every share issue needs board and shareholder approvals and ROC filings, plus foreign-investment filings where non-residents invest.
- Books kept for tax, not for decisions: monthly management accounts are what investors and lenders will ask for.
What to have ready before your first raise
- A clean cap table reconciled to the register of members.
- Audited accounts for completed years and up-to-date management accounts.
- GST, TDS, PF and ROC filings current, with no unexplained notices.
- Key contracts, IP assignments and employment agreements in a data room.
- A financial model that matches the pitch deck.
Our investor readiness service works through this list with you.
When to bring in senior finance help
Most founders do not need a full-time CFO until well after their first institutional round. Before that, part-time senior help covers cash planning, board reporting and fundraising. Compare the options in our guide to virtual, fractional and full-time CFOs.
Practical questions
How big should the ESOP pool be?
It depends on hiring plans and investor expectations. Many investors ask for a pool to be created before their round so it dilutes existing shareholders rather than them.
Frequently Asked Questions
A CA partner for every stage of your startup
Book a 15-minute advisory call with Regi Tom Antony, to discuss your founder roadmap.