The Future of Accounting: How Afternoon.co Empowers eCommerce Entrepreneurs

Afternoon.co is a cutting-edge accounting software and bookkeeping service designed specifically for eCommerce brands. Founded in 2024, the company is based in New York and serves as a solution for a growing problem in the eCommerce industry: the complexity of financial management. With a primary focus on helping founders make better business decisions through real-time financial metrics, Afternoon.co offers a comprehensive platform that integrates bookkeeping and tax services to reduce the administrative burden on entrepreneurs.

The inspiration for Afternoon.co stems from the challenges faced by eCommerce founders, particularly in the United States, where there are over 4 million eCommerce brands. These businesses struggle with managing their financials due to various complexities such as sales tax issues, multi-channel sales, and inventory management. Traditional accounting solutions have been slow to adapt to the needs of these rapidly growing and dynamic businesses. Afternoon.co aims to solve this problem by automating key aspects of bookkeeping, so founders can focus more on growing their businesses and less on administrative tasks.

Who Are the Founders of Afternoon.co?

Afternoon.co was co-founded by Benjamin Paik and Roman Zubenko, two experienced professionals in the financial technology and software industries.

Ben Paik, one of the co-founders, brings a wealth of experience from his time at Brex, where he launched a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) product line. Before Brex, Ben worked at Gusto, a leading payroll and HR platform, where he introduced an embedded payroll product and expanded Gusto’s offerings to include international payroll services. His deep knowledge of financial products and technology, especially in the startup ecosystem, makes him a key player in the development of Afternoon.co’s software solutions.

Roman Zubenko, the CEO of Afternoon.co, has an equally impressive background. He previously worked at Notion as a Growth Product Manager and at Gusto as both a product manager and engineer. At Gusto, Roman was instrumental in launching personal finance products and contributed to the development of accounting products. His extensive experience in both engineering and product management enables him to lead Afternoon.co with a strong technical vision, ensuring that the platform remains at the forefront of innovation in the accounting and bookkeeping space for eCommerce businesses.

What Problem Does Afternoon.co Solve?

The problem that Afternoon.co addresses is one of inefficiency in the way eCommerce businesses manage their finances. For many startups, good bookkeeping is the foundation of success, but legacy accounting software has failed to meet the needs of modern eCommerce companies. These older systems are often complicated, confusing, and unable to provide the kind of metrics and reporting that founders need to make informed business decisions.

The difficulty lies in the fact that eCommerce businesses often operate across multiple sales channels, and the management of inventory and sales tax can be incredibly complex. Accountants face a challenge in keeping track of the financials for over 4 million eCommerce brands in the US alone. These businesses require accounting software that is not only user-friendly but also capable of providing real-time access to essential financial metrics like runway, burn rate, and annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Afternoon.co simplifies these tasks by automating large portions of the bookkeeping process. By integrating seamlessly with sales platforms, inventory systems, and other financial tools, Afternoon.co allows eCommerce founders to focus more on business growth while ensuring that their finances are accurate and up-to-date.

How Does Afternoon.co Work?

Afternoon.co is designed to be a user-friendly platform that integrates seamlessly with existing financial systems, such as billing and payroll. The software uses a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and expert accountants to handle bookkeeping tasks efficiently, ensuring that eCommerce founders have access to real-time financial data without the hassle of manually managing their books.

One of the key features of the platform is its built-in intelligence. Afternoon.co’s AI capabilities streamline the bookkeeping process by automatically finding receipts in a user’s Gmail inbox and matching them to expenses. This eliminates the need for founders to spend time uploading receipts manually. The AI also functions as an assistant, answering questions instantly and ensuring that users are never blocked by uncertainty when managing their finances.

Another differentiator of Afternoon.co is its collaborative nature. Traditional bookkeeping is often a solitary task, with founders and accountants exchanging long email chains and dealing with miscommunications. Afternoon.co’s platform fosters collaboration by embedding communication features directly into the software, allowing founders and accountants to easily track tasks, exchange information, and resolve issues in real-time. This ensures that nothing falls through the cracks and that financial tasks are completed on time.

What Services Does Afternoon.co Provide?

Afternoon.co offers a fully managed service that combines its intelligent software with the expertise of professional accountants. This service is designed to handle everything from day-to-day bookkeeping tasks to year-end tax filings, allowing founders to focus on growing their businesses without worrying about the complexities of financial management.

The platform’s services are specifically tailored to the needs of eCommerce and startup founders, offering the following features:

1. Real-time Financial Metrics: Afternoon.co provides users with up-to-date insights into key financial metrics such as runway, burn rate, and annual recurring revenue (ARR). This real-time data helps founders make informed decisions about their business operations.
2. Automated Bookkeeping: The platform integrates with various sales and inventory systems to automate many of the time-consuming tasks typically handled by accountants. This includes automatically matching receipts to expenses, updating financial records, and generating reports.
3. Tax Filing Services: Afternoon.co offers year-end tax filing services, ensuring that all tax-related tasks are completed accurately and on time. The platform handles both sales and income taxes, making it a comprehensive solution for eCommerce businesses.
4. Collaboration Tools: The platform’s built-in collaboration features enable seamless communication between founders and accountants. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and that financial tasks are completed efficiently.
5. AI-powered Assistance: The AI assistant helps founders answer financial questions instantly and provides guidance on bookkeeping tasks, ensuring that the platform is as intuitive as possible.

How Is Afternoon.co Different from Other Accounting Software?

Afternoon.co differentiates itself from traditional accounting software in several key ways. First and foremost, it was built specifically with eCommerce and startup founders in mind. Unlike legacy accounting products that are often too complex and difficult to use, Afternoon.co is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate.

The integration of artificial intelligence is another standout feature. By automating many aspects of bookkeeping, Afternoon.co eliminates the need for founders to spend hours on manual tasks such as uploading receipts and categorizing expenses. The AI also serves as a virtual assistant, offering real-time answers to questions, which is a major time-saver for busy entrepreneurs.

Moreover, Afternoon.co is collaborative from the very beginning. Traditional accounting software tends to be isolating, with founders and accountants working separately and exchanging information through cumbersome email chains. Afternoon.co’s collaboration tools streamline this process, allowing for more efficient communication and task management. This feature ensures that nothing slips through the cracks, which is crucial for startups that need to stay on top of their finances at all times.

Why is Afternoon.co the Right Solution for eCommerce Brands?

For eCommerce businesses, financial management is more than just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage. With the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and integrated platforms, Afternoon.co offers an all-in-one solution that simplifies the often daunting task of bookkeeping and tax filing. By providing real-time access to key financial metrics, automating manual tasks, and offering collaborative features, Afternoon.co ensures that founders can stay focused on scaling their businesses rather than drowning in paperwork.

The platform’s purpose-built features, such as AI-powered receipt matching, tax filing services, and collaborative tools, make it an ideal choice for eCommerce founders who need to streamline their financial operations. Additionally, with the combined expertise of its founders—Ben and Roman, who have experience at companies like Gusto, Brex, and Notion—Afternoon.co is well-positioned to meet the unique needs of the modern eCommerce landscape.

In conclusion, Afternoon.co is revolutionizing the way eCommerce businesses handle their finances by offering a powerful blend of software, automation, and expert services. For founders who want to make better business decisions with less administrative burden, Afternoon.co provides the perfect solution.