Let's understand Asset = something I invested significant funds into and it will last a significant amount of time. Example: You bought a Drill Press, so that isn't Expense. Expense = printer paper or electricity = Poof! All gone every time you pay for it, already used up. Assets are Expenditure, not Expense, as Investments. Think of a $5,000 lighted sign on a building = fixed asset. Fixed Assets also might wear out over time; that is called Depreciation. They "depreciate" to show they lost a bit of value each year over their "useful life" per the tax regulations.
You bought a Reference List; it's not that you have it On The Computer = Fixed. It is like a Book or publication for reference. Yes, it is a Database. Don't confuse Program Standards (SQL, DB2) with what you bought. A Phone Book or Address Directory is also a database; a Store Catalog is a Database. You bought an Electronic Excel listing which is Data = database. It's not Touchable, which would make it Intangible asset, not Fixed asset, if it qualifies under the Asset regulations at all.
So, yes, if you paid $50,000 for a database, you would Amortize it over time and not take $50,000 as expense when you have No Income to match it against. Because that is called The Matching Principal. Your goal is to manage data under the tax regulations which includes abiding by The Matching Principal. That's why Depreciation and Amortization are something you should learn about.
As for Startup Expense, yes, this minor amount and a Static purchase (not going to include newer data unless you Keep Buying) is an Expense. As for it being Startup or not, there is Tax regulation for how to handle those earlier Costs you incurred, and Yes, this might fall under Startup.
That's why you work with your own CPA on the tax regulations that apply to you and your activity.
For specific example: I am in the US, "Mike in BC" is most likely in BC, which is Canada. We all have different Rules. That's why a QB forum isn't where you get your Tax Regulation Guidance.
