Fondo Install & Auth

Output

Record authentication method, approved scope, secret-manager reference, validation time, owner, and revocation procedure. Never include keys, financial response data, or account identifiers.

Examples

Use a scoped staging credential for a read-only fictional record, record the redacted outcome, and verify the old credential is denied after revocation.

Overview

Set up Fondo for automated startup bookkeeping, tax filing, and R&D tax credits. Fondo is a managed platform (not an API-first service) that integrates with payroll providers, banks, and expense tools. Configuration happens through the Fondo dashboard and OAuth connections.

Prerequisites

• US-incorporated startup (C-corp or LLC)
• Fondo account at fondo.com
• Active payroll provider (Gusto, Rippling, ADP, etc.)
• Business bank account

Instructions

Step 1: Create Fondo Account

1. Sign up at fondo.com
2. Select your plan: TaxPass (bookkeeping + taxes + R&D credits)
3. Complete company profile (EIN, incorporation date, state)

Step 2: Connect Payroll Provider

Provider	Connection Type	Data Synced
Gusto	OAuth 2.0	Payroll runs, employee data, tax filings
Rippling	OAuth 2.0	Payroll, benefits, headcount
ADP	API key	Payroll summaries, tax deposits
Justworks	OAuth 2.0	PEO payroll, contractor payments
QuickBooks Payroll	OAuth 2.0	Payroll journal entries
Paychex	Manual upload	Pay stubs, tax forms

Navigate to Fondo Dashboard > Integrations > Connect Payroll and authorize.

Step 3: Connect Bank Accounts

Fondo Dashboard > Integrations > Banking
  → Connect via Plaid (most banks)
  → Or manual CSV upload for unsupported banks
  → Mercury, SVB, Brex, Chase all supported via Plaid

Step 4: Connect Expense Tools

Tool	What It Provides
Brex	Corporate card transactions
Ramp	Card spend, reimbursements
Expensify	Receipt data, categorized expenses
Bill.com	AP/AR, vendor payments
Stripe	Revenue data, payouts

Step 5: Verify Connection

After connecting, verify in Dashboard > Integrations:

• Green check = connected and syncing
• Yellow warning = needs re-authorization
• Red X = connection failed, re-connect needed

Error Handling

Issue	Cause	Solution
OAuth expired	Token expiry (90 days typical)	Re-authorize in Dashboard > Integrations
Missing transactions	Bank feed lag	Wait 24h or upload CSV manually
Duplicate entries	Multiple connections to same account	Remove duplicate connection
Sync paused	Provider API change	Contact Fondo support

Resources

• Fondo
• Fondo R&D Credits FAQ
• TaxPass Overview

Next Steps

After setup, proceed to fondo-hello-world to verify your first financial sync.