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Operating Budget and Transparency

Why Beancount?

We use Beancount for our financial tracking because it's:

  • Plain text, version-controlled, and auditable
  • Built for double-entry bookkeeping without the complexity of Xero/MYOB
  • Open source, with tools for reconciliation and reporting

The ledger currently resides in our private repository, with scripts that:

  • Import and process ANZ bank statements (via Akahu Open Banking API)
  • Categorize transactions with classification rules
  • Export aggregated summaries for the public report you see below

Current Snapshot (7 September 2026)

Reconciled through 3 September (Current) and 2 September (Call). New this cycle: AWS and Namecheap hosting, SFD 2026 catering (Canapé Company, \(513.48; earmark decision pending), a CookieAndMe charge (\)250, awaiting reclassification against its earmark), Call-account interest and RWT, and routine AI/software costs. Those two charges are still moving to their final accounts, so the tables below show the interim state.

  • Total founder equity contributed: $10,341.24 NZD (initial funding of $10,000.00 in July 2025, payroll-allocation contributions totalling $241.24, and a $100.00 DevOpsDays 2027 donation paid directly into its earmark; $650.00 of the total currently sits ring-fenced in project earmarks)
  • JJobs held funds: $5.59 NZD (getjjobs.nz renewal deducted from held funds)
  • Project earmarks: $655.59 NZD (DevOpsDays 2027 $100 held donation, SFD 2026 $550 remaining — Cookies $250, Facilitator $300, JJobs $5.59)
  • Expenses to date: $6,161.26 NZD (hosting — DigitalOcean, AWS, Rimu, Bytescale, Namecheap, Metaname, ForwardEmail; events and meetups; trademark R&D; AI and software subscriptions; marketing; meals; equipment; operational costs)
  • Income (interest, donation): $60.88 NZD
  • Net result: -$6,100.38 NZD (loss while bootstrapping)
  • Current bank balance (ledger): $3,872.69 NZD (Call $3,500.00 + Current $372.69)
  • Discretionary funds available: $3,217.10 NZD (bank balance minus project earmarks)
  • Prepaid Metaname credit: $104.67 NZD
  • Stripe funds pending settlement: $19.09 NZD

Expenses & Income (NZD)

AccountAmount
Expenses:AI:Anomaly154.68 NZD
Expenses:AI:Anthropic51.14 NZD
Expenses:AI:Github0.60 NZD
Expenses:AI:OpenAI45.29 NZD
Expenses:Equipment447.99 NZD
Expenses:Events1118.60 NZD
Expenses:Fees:Stripe0.91 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:AWS945.86 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:Bytescale109.36 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:DigitalOcean540.76 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:ForwardEmail186.42 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:Metaname157.54 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:Namecheap349.69 NZD
Expenses:Hosting:Rimu185.92 NZD
Expenses:Legal:Incorporation205.25 NZD
Expenses:Marketing355.50 NZD
Expenses:Meals167.00 NZD
Expenses:Professional:Memberships146.44 NZD
Expenses:RnD:Trademarks322.00 NZD
Expenses:Software145.38 NZD
Expenses:Tax:RWT11.45 NZD
Expenses:Uncategorized513.48 NZD
Income:Donations:OpenCollective-20.00 NZD
Income:Interest-40.88 NZD

Assets & Liabilities (NZD)

AccountAmount
Assets:Bank:Call3500.00 NZD
Assets:Bank:Current372.69 NZD
Assets:Payments:Stripe19.09 NZD
Assets:Prepaid:Metaname104.67 NZD
Liabilities:Payable:CookieAndMe250.00 NZD
Liabilities:Projects:DevOpsDays2027-100.00 NZD
Liabilities:Projects:JJobs-5.59 NZD
Liabilities:Projects:SFD2026:Cookies-250.00 NZD
Liabilities:Projects:SFD2026:Facilitator-300.00 NZD

Sustainability Principles

  • Keep burn rate low
  • Avoid dependence on a single funder or partner
  • Use open-source and decentralized tools where practical
  • Build systems others can fork and reuse

This budget is intentionally lean — as we grow, our operating model may evolve. Our goal remains: reliable infrastructure with minimal financial friction, built on planning and relationships. We’re not here to rack up billable hours; if you find value in what we do, we invite contributions and collaboration.