gabrielmoreira Fondo Hello World
Prerequisites
A scoped staging credential, a fictional data fixture, secret-manager access, and an authorized finance owner.
Output
Return only an opaque test ID, schema result, review state, and redacted failure reference; never emit account, transaction, payroll, or tax data.
Examples
Run the smallest read-only check against a fictional staging record, verify logs have no sensitive values, and revoke the test credential after validation.
Overview
Verify your Fondo setup is working: check that bank transactions are syncing, payroll data is flowing, and your company qualifies for R&D tax credits.
Instructions
Step 1: Verify Bank Transaction Sync
Navigate to Fondo Dashboard > Transactions:
- Confirm recent bank transactions appear (may take 24-48h for initial sync)
- Check that Plaid connection shows "Connected" status
- Verify transaction dates match your bank statement
Step 2: Review Auto-Categorization
Fondo automatically categorizes transactions:
| Category | Examples | Tax Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Gusto payments, contractor 1099s | Deductible, R&D qualified |
| Software | AWS, GitHub, Figma | Deductible, R&D qualified |
| Office | WeWork, office supplies | Deductible |
| Travel | Flights, hotels, meals | Partially deductible |
| Revenue | Stripe payouts, customer payments | Taxable income |
| Transfers | Between own accounts | Not taxable |
Review and correct any miscategorized transactions in Dashboard > Transactions.
Step 3: Check R&D Tax Credit Eligibility
Fondo Dashboard > Tax Credits > R&D Assessment
Eligible if ALL apply:
✓ US-based employees (W-2, not just contractors)
✓ Developing new/improved products, processes, or software
✓ Technical uncertainty exists in the development
✓ Systematic experimentation/iteration to resolve uncertainty
Average startup credit: $21,000/year
Maximum (payroll tax offset): $500,000/year
Step 4: Verify Payroll Data
Dashboard > Payroll Integration
→ Confirm employee count matches your payroll provider
→ Verify salary data for R&D credit calculations
→ Check contractor payments are categorized separately
Expected Output
After 48 hours of setup:
- Bank transactions auto-categorized (85%+ accuracy)
- Payroll data synced monthly
- R&D eligibility assessment complete
- Estimated R&D credit amount displayed
Error Handling
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| No transactions appearing | Check Plaid connection status, allow 24-48h |
| Wrong categorization | Manually recategorize, Fondo learns patterns |
| R&D credit shows $0 | Verify W-2 employees doing qualifying work |
| Payroll data missing | Re-authorize payroll provider OAuth |
Resources
Next Steps
For development workflow details, see fondo-local-dev-loop.