Background
College House, a fast-growing real estate data startup, faced a critical decision early on: invest in a full-time controller/bookkeeper or channel those resources into product development and customer acquisition. Realizing the impact every dollar could have on their trajectory, they explored external finance support that could flex with their needs and budget.
Challenge
Managing billing and accounts receivable across hundreds of customers—each paying on different schedules and through various channels—became increasingly complex. Uncollected AR and disorganized reporting threatened cash flow visibility, putting daily operations and growth funding at risk.
“Billing and AR is always a challenge… if you have a large amount of AR sitting out to collect or reporting that’s not streamlined, you could be missing dollars you need for growth.”
Why OpStart?
College House selected OpStart for its clear communication, transparent pricing, and scalable engagement model. From day one, expectations were aligned:
- Responsive dialogue to define scope and budget.
- Affordable, predictable pricing, with upfront alerts if hours exceeded.
- Seamless onboarding, eliminating the overhead of a full-time hire.
Solution & Impact
OpStart’s dedicated accounting team rapidly organized billing workflows and automated receivables tracking, delivering:
- Timely collections—reducing AR days outstanding.
- Investor-grade reports—offering real-time insight into cash flow and runway.
- On-demand expertise—including urgent calls and transaction recaps at any hour.
“They were attentive to detail, communicated effectively and promptly, and were happy to jump on calls at all hours to get what we needed in those time-sensitive, critical moments.”
Advice for Founders
We asked Charlie for his best advice to founders—here’s what he shared; “Outsource non-core functions to experts, embrace the journey with your team, and stay committed. Don’t quit—enjoy the ride.”
By partnering with OpStart, College House freed up capital and leadership bandwidth to focus on vision and growth—proof that the right financial ally can make all the difference.
About OpStart
OpStart is your modern financial function-as-a-service—combining bookkeeping, taxes, and fractional CFO support into one high-touch team that gives founders real-time clarity, proactive guidance, and the freedom to focus on growth.
“OpStart’s assistance has been invaluable in managing our accounting, bookkeeping, and tax needs. We feel completely at ease knowing your team is here to support us,” says Brandyn Curry, Director of The Shield Foundation.
