3 ms·

Accountants don't get involved until the company makes enough money to need an accountant. Actually, here in Croatia every form of company is obliged by law to

Accountants don't get involved until the company makes enough money to need an accountant. Actually, here in Croatia every form of company is obliged by law to have a licensed accountant (working for them or contract). You can't do your own paperwork - and TBH I wouldn't want to, it is too much liability if something goes wrong when filing papers.

btilly 16y ago
And that fact would constitute a major drag on ever developing a startup culture. See http://www.paulgraham.com/america.html http://www.paulgraham.com/america.html for some of the other ones.
- Keyframe 16y ago
  I've read that, all valid points. However, I should mention that accounting on a startup level (bills, invoices, salaries, tax) is really not a drag here. In fact I would argue it's faster to just collect your inputs and outputs (invoices and bills) and get them to your accountant once per month or quarterly, of half year, or yearly (depends how you told tax office how you will do it). Accountant does the rest for you. On the other hand, you could do it all by yourself and have an accountant check your papers and sign them (some people do it like that). Also, no capital gains tax here. :) But this country could do take some pro-active measures for startups. I don't even want to go there, because I would have to write a book on their mistakes.
pmjordan 16y ago
it is too much liability if something goes wrong when filing papers. Interesting. In the countries I know of, the company directors are responsible (and liable) for the accounts being correct, not the accountants.
- Keyframe 16y ago
  Both are liable here. Director is basically liable for everything wrong, and accountant is liable for mis-representing books (director also takes the blame, but accountant shouldn't do that in the first place) as well as accounting errors.

3 ms·

Accountants don't get involved until the company makes enough money to need an accountant. Actually, here in Croatia every form of company is obliged by law to

by Keyframe 16y ago

btilly 16y ago
And that fact would constitute a major drag on ever developing a startup culture. See http://www.paulgraham.com/america.html http://www.paulgraham.com/america.html for some of the other ones.
- Keyframe 16y ago
  I've read that, all valid points. However, I should mention that accounting on a startup level (bills, invoices, salaries, tax) is really not a drag here. In fact I would argue it's faster to just collect your inputs and outputs (invoices and bills) and get them to your accountant once per month or quarterly, of half year, or yearly (depends how you told tax office how you will do it). Accountant does the rest for you. On the other hand, you could do it all by yourself and have an accountant check your papers and sign them (some people do it like that). Also, no capital gains tax here. :) But this country could do take some pro-active measures for startups. I don't even want to go there, because I would have to write a book on their mistakes.
pmjordan 16y ago
it is too much liability if something goes wrong when filing papers. Interesting. In the countries I know of, the company directors are responsible (and liable) for the accounts being correct, not the accountants.
- Keyframe 16y ago
  Both are liable here. Director is basically liable for everything wrong, and accountant is liable for mis-representing books (director also takes the blame, but accountant shouldn't do that in the first place) as well as accounting errors.