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Startup Accounting

Refunds, Credits, and Clean Reconciliation

Written by Harry Prabandham

Curated by Rubric Financial

Last updated

1 / 5

Refunds Versus Credits

  • A refund returns actual cash to the customer, reducing both your bank balance and recognized revenue.
  • A credit reduces what a customer owes on future invoices without moving any cash today.
  • Credits are common for service issues, downgrades, or goodwill where the relationship continues.
  • Choosing the right instrument matters because each hits your cash, revenue, and deferred balances differently.

About the author

Harry Prabandham

Founder & CEO

Founder and CEO of StartupCFO. MBA from Wharton, MS in Computer Science, and decades of experience building and advising venture-backed startups.

More articles by Harry

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