Free tool
Month-end close checklist template for startups
A startup's month-end close is 12 steps over about five business days: sync every feed, categorize, attach receipts, reconcile each account to its statement, match payouts, review receivables and payables, post payroll and adjusting entries, review the profit and loss and balance sheet, then send the report and lock the month. Tick the steps off here, or download the checklist as a CSV or Excel file with columns for owners and dates.
Collect
Reconcile
Adjust
Review
This month's close
0 of 12
0% done. Ticks stay in this tab only.
- Collect
- 0 of 3
- Reconcile
- 0 of 4
- Adjust
- 0 of 2
- Review
- 0 of 3
- Day 1Day 1Feeds synced, every transaction categorized
- Day 2Day 2Receipts attached, each account reconciled, payouts matched
- Day 3Day 3Receivables, payables, payroll and schedules posted
- Day 4Day 4Profit and loss and balance sheet reviewed
- Day 5Day 5Report sent and the month locked
How it's calculated
- The steps come in four stages: collect, reconcile, adjust and review. Each depends on the one before.
- Each step says what done means, so two people read it the same way.
- The target day counts business days after month end. Five is a good target for a startup with a few accounts.
- Ticks on this page stay in your browser tab only. The download has empty Owner and Done columns to fill in.
Questions founders ask
How long should a month-end close take?
Five business days is a good target for a startup. In Ledge's 2025 survey of 100 finance teams, only 18% closed in 1 to 3 business days.
What is the most important step?
Reconciling every bank and card account to its statement. When each difference is $0.00, the rest of the close has numbers you can trust.
Which adjusting entries do startups need?
Usually three: prepaid expenses, deferred revenue and accrued expenses. The month-end close guide has a worked example of each.
Rules from, checked September 30, 2026: