Inkle, a firm specializing in accounting and bookkeeping using artificial intelligence for American companies and based in San Francisco, develops its technologies in Bengaluru. The company announced the acquisition of the accounting division of the Finally platform for small businesses. The deal's value was not disclosed, but Inkle characterized the transaction as an asset purchase for cash, noting it is their first company acquisition.
Approximately one hundred Finally employees, who worked in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Miami, Boca Raton, and New York, will join Inkle's team in Bengaluru, which currently has 60 people, including engineers, product specialists, tax experts, and accountants. Thus, the company's total staff will reach about 160 people across five countries, allowing Inkle to provide 24/7 support to clients in America and Asia. Finally's existing clients will continue to work with their previous teams while using Inkle's software.
The acquisition also expands Inkle's client base. Previously, the firm's clients were predominantly venture capital-backed startups. Now, Inkle will also serve Finally's clients—mainly small, non-tech businesses, including restaurants, clinics, contractors, professional service firms, and self-employed individuals, a group Inkle considers the foundation of the American employer base.
Anand Krishna, co-founder and CEO of Inkle, stated: 'Ranvir and I are very pleased to announce Inkle's first acquisition. Inkle is an American company serving American small businesses, and it is built in Bengaluru. This combination is our advantage: certified US accountants who are responsible for results, and an engineering team in India developing the software and AI that allows them to serve many more businesses and do it better than traditional firms. We are building the 'Big Four' on AI, and this acquisition helps us reach businesses that make up a large part of the American economy.'
Inkle cites the shortage of accounting specialists in the US as the reason for the deal, as many certified accountants and bookkeepers are approaching retirement age, and fewer new specialists are entering the profession. According to the AICPA Trends Report for 2025, 55,152 accounting degrees were awarded in 2023–24, which is 6.6% less than the previous year. Inkle expects technology-based platforms to play a role in addressing this talent gap, thanks to the contribution of Indian engineers and financial specialists in their development.
The company was founded in 2022 by Krishna, who leads it from San Francisco, and Ranvir Singh, who oversees technology from Bengaluru. Inkle combines the practice of a US-licensed certified accountant with product development, engineering, and AI conducted in India. The Bengaluru team has developed both the Inkle Books general ledger and the tax and compliance platform. Because the developers work alongside the accountants using their tools, Inkle claims that issues identified on the service side are often resolved within one day. The migration of the Finally team to this platform is considered the most challenging test of this approach to date.
Inkle is also often the first stop for Indian founders aiming for international expansion. Annually, the company helps hundreds of businesses register in the US, many of which are Delaware C-corporations set up to attract investment and gain American customers. After that, Inkle manages their ongoing obligations, including federal tax returns, Delaware franchise taxes, and cross-border filings such as Form 5472 and FBAR. Furthermore, Inkle acts as a cross-border compliance partner for Stripe Atlas for Indian founders.
Regarding funding, Inkle reports that it became profitable after raising only $1.5 million in seed capital from Picus Capital, Saison Capital, and Force Ventures. This amount is significantly lower than what competing firms raised, with some of these better-funded competitors having since left the market. Inkle's software is free to use, and the company charges only for bookkeeping, tax, and compliance services powered by AI. These services can be provided through Inkle Books, QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, or Mercury Books.