# Systems

URL: /systems · Id: `page:systems`

> The headless software every Startup inherits, from Billing to CRM to the Ledger, in 11 groups by job, with one set of Verbs for agents and people.

A [System](/business/nouns/system) is headless software that owns one business job, such as [Billing](/systems/billing), [CRM](/systems/crm) or the [Ledger](/systems/ledger). Every [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) inherits the whole set at creation, with nothing to install or wire.

## By job
Each System sits in one group, named for its job. [Finance](/systems/finance) holds every System that touches money.

Groups are for finding; [Events](/business/nouns/event) cross them freely. A won [Deal](/business/nouns/deal) in CRM starts a [Subscription](/business/nouns/subscription) in Billing, each paid [Invoice](/business/nouns/invoice) posts to the Ledger, and [Success](/systems/success) tracks the new [Customer](/business/nouns/customer) to value.

## What a System is
Each System keeps its records in [db.sb](/code/platform/db-sb), runs on platform [Capabilities](/business/nouns/capability), and exposes one set of [Verbs](/business/nouns/verb). An [Agent](/business/nouns/agent) and a [Human](/business/nouns/human) call the same Verbs through the API, SDK, CLI or MCP server, or on an [App](/business/nouns/app) screen. One [Role](/business/nouns/role) is accountable for each System.

All Systems share one database, so a question that crosses them is one [`Collection.query`](/business/nouns/collection/query) call. db.sb is always the record. An outside tool mirrors it or sends its edits in as [Changes](/business/nouns/change), so no record has two owners.

Money is the one job built on an outside service. Billing, Treasury, Spend management and Earnings run on Stripe, and the Ledger reconciles every [Transaction](/business/nouns/transaction) Stripe reports.

A Startup tunes a System in `systems/[system].mdx` ([file convention](/code/file-conventions/systems)). A rule it writes for itself is an [automation](/workflows/automate-a-workflow): a small [Process](/business/nouns/process) over these Verbs, never another System.

## When each System wakes
Most Systems serve a Startup from its first day. Others enter at the [Lifecycle](/business/nouns/lifecycle) state where their job appears. Billing arrives while the Startup is building, Support and Tax when it goes live, and Hiring and Pay runs when it hires.

Opt-in Systems wake with the [Product Template](/business/nouns/product-template) that needs them. A [Dropship store](/products/templates/dropship-store) brings Commerce, and a [Marketplace](/products/templates/marketplace) brings Matchmaking, Supplier onboarding and Earnings.

A [Licensed-human marketplace](/products/templates/licensed-marketplace) adds Credentialing and Dispatch. A [Dataset API](/products/templates/dataset-api) brings [Datasets](/business/nouns/dataset), and [Services-as-Software](/products/templates/services-as-software) brings Service delivery.

[Every System](/systems/every-system) lists each one with the records it holds, the Role accountable for it and its status. [How to read a System page](/systems/how-to-read) explains the 17 headings every page shares.

## Guides
What a founder says to their agent, and the guide that does it.

| You say | Guide | Calls | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `Charge $29 a month` | [Charge monthly](/systems/finance/charge-monthly) | [Offer.create](/business/nouns/offer/create), [Offer.publish](/business/nouns/offer/publish) | `live` |
| `Take care of sales tax` | [Handle sales tax](/systems/finance/handle-sales-tax) | [Company.register](/business/nouns/company/register), [Company.submit](/business/nouns/company/submit) | `beta` |
| `Give my ads agent a card with a $500 monthly limit` | [Issue a card with a limit](/systems/finance/issue-a-card-with-a-limit) | [Mandate.authorize](/business/nouns/mandate/authorize), [Card.issue](/business/nouns/card/issue) | `beta` |
| `Take a $29 payment for setup` | [Take a payment](/systems/finance/take-a-payment) | [Offer.create](/business/nouns/offer/create), [Offer.publish](/business/nouns/offer/publish) | `live` |
| `Answer this chargeback` | [Answer a dispute](/systems/finance/answer-a-dispute) | [Dispute.answer](/business/nouns/dispute/answer) | `beta` |
| `Pay a supplier’s bill on its due date` | [Pay a supplier](/systems/finance/pay-a-supplier) | [Bill.create](/business/nouns/bill/create), [Bill.approve](/business/nouns/bill/approve), [Bill.pay](/business/nouns/bill/pay) | `beta` |
| `Retry the payments that failed` | [Retry the payments that failed](/systems/finance/retry-failed-payments) | [Invoice.collect](/business/nouns/invoice/collect) | `live` |
| `Run payroll this Friday` | [Run payroll](/systems/people/run-payroll) | [PayRun.prepare](/business/nouns/pay-run/prepare), [PayRun.approve](/business/nouns/pay-run/approve) | `beta` |
| `Set a budget for marketing` | [Set a budget](/systems/finance/set-a-budget) | [Budget.create](/business/nouns/budget/create) | `beta` |
| `Export all my customers to CSV` | [Export my customers to CSV](/systems/data-and-insights/export-my-data) | [Collection.export](/business/nouns/collection/export) | `live` |
| `Form my company` | [Form my company](/systems/legal-and-corporate/form-my-company) | [Company.incorporate](/business/nouns/company/incorporate) | `beta` |
| `Get a phone number for the business` | [Get a phone number](/systems/communications/get-a-phone-number) | [Channel.create](/business/nouns/channel/create) | `beta` |
| `Move $5,000 to the card balance` | [Move money between accounts](/systems/finance/move-money) | [Account.sweep](/business/nouns/account/sweep) | `beta` |
| `Open a bank account for the business` | [Open a bank account](/systems/finance/open-a-bank-account) | [Startup.claim](/business/nouns/startup/claim) | `beta` |
| `Send everything available to the bank now` | [Pay out to my bank](/systems/finance/pay-out-to-my-bank) | [Account.payout](/business/nouns/account/payout) | `beta` |
| `Refund a customer` | [Refund a customer](/systems/finance/refund-a-customer) | [Order.refund](/business/nouns/order/refund) | `live` |
| `Send a customer a $29 invoice, due in 30 days` | [Send an invoice](/systems/finance/send-an-invoice) | [Invoice.create](/business/nouns/invoice/create), [Invoice.bill](/business/nouns/invoice/bill) | `live` |