Navigating the waters of accrual accounting and revenue recognition can be tricky without having a staff of accountants, CPAs and controllers on your team. It’s certainly possible for small businesses to handle their bookkeeping on their own, but without the expertise of experienced professionals to provide guidance as you grow, you’re exposing yourself to risk.

Any SaaS company or small business with its sights set on investments from VCs, acquisitions from larger organizations, or its own IPO, must make sure that its accounting books are accurate. This guide covers how to make your books defensible year over year.