Accounting for
Life Sciences Companies
Biotech startups, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device firms face unique financial challenges -- from capturing R&D tax credits and managing grant compliance to tracking clinical trial expenses and navigating FDA regulatory costs. We bring the specialized expertise your science demands.
INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
The Financial Complexities
of Life Sciences
R&D Tax Credit Complexity
Life sciences companies spend millions on qualifying research activities but often leave significant R&D credits unclaimed. The documentation requirements are demanding -- you need to track qualified research expenses, establish technical uncertainty, and demonstrate a systematic process of experimentation to survive IRS scrutiny.
Grant Compliance
NIH, SBIR, STTR, and state grants come with strict spending and reporting requirements. Every dollar must be allocated to approved categories, and cost-sharing obligations must be tracked meticulously. Non-compliance can mean repayment demands, loss of future funding eligibility, and reputational damage.
Burn Rate Management
Pre-revenue life sciences companies burn cash for years before generating a dollar of revenue. With development timelines measured in years and regulatory approval never guaranteed, managing burn rate and planning fundraising milestones is existential. Running out of cash before a critical FDA milestone means the science dies.
IP Valuation & Capitalization
Deciding when to expense versus capitalize R&D costs, valuing intellectual property for licensing deals, and tracking patent costs across jurisdictions requires specialized accounting knowledge. Getting this wrong distorts your financial statements and can create problems during due diligence or audits.
HOW WE HELP
Life Sciences-Specific Financial
Services That Protect Your Mission
R&D Credit Maximization
We work with your scientific team to identify every qualifying research activity and expense. Our documentation methodology is built to withstand IRS examination. For pre-revenue companies, we help you apply R&D credits against payroll taxes -- putting cash back in your hands now, not years from now.
Grant Fund Tracking
Dedicated fund accounting that tracks every grant dollar against approved budget categories. We prepare all required financial reports for NIH, NSF, SBIR, and state agencies on schedule, and we ensure your cost-sharing obligations are properly documented and reported.
Clinical Trial Expense Management
Phase-by-phase tracking of clinical trial costs -- from site selection and patient recruitment to CRO management and regulatory submissions. We help you manage milestone-based vendor payments, accrue for incomplete trials, and forecast future cash needs based on enrollment timelines.
Regulatory Compliance Accounting
Proper accounting for FDA user fees, regulatory submission costs, GMP compliance expenses, and quality system investments. We categorize these costs correctly for both financial reporting and R&D credit purposes, ensuring nothing is missed.
Runway & Fundraising Planning
Cash runway modeling that ties directly to your development milestones. We help you determine exactly when you need to raise your next round based on enrollment rates, trial timelines, and regulatory milestones -- so you fundraise from a position of strength, not desperation.
Investor-Ready Reporting
GAAP-compliant financial statements with the level of detail institutional investors and pharmaceutical partners expect. Board packages that clearly communicate financial position, burn rate trends, and milestone progress alongside the numbers.
WHY TODAY CFO
Why Life Sciences Companies
Choose Today CFO
Deep R&D Credit Expertise
We do not just prepare R&D credit studies -- we embed credit-maximizing practices into your ongoing accounting so qualifying expenses are captured in real time. Our documentation methodology is audit-tested and built to withstand IRS examination at every level.
Grant Compliance Track Record
We have helped life sciences companies successfully manage NIH, SBIR, and state grant compliance without a single repayment demand. Our fund accounting systems ensure you meet every reporting deadline and spending requirement.
From Seed to Scale
Whether you are a two-person biotech with an SBIR grant or a clinical-stage company managing a $50M Series B, our services scale with your complexity. Start with bookkeeping and R&D credits, add grant compliance and CFO-level forecasting as you grow.
Discover How Much Your Life Sciences
Company Could Save
Between R&D tax credits, grant optimization, and proactive tax planning, life sciences companies frequently uncover significant savings they did not know existed. Get a personalized estimate in under 2 minutes.
Calculate Your Savings