<p>Startups are central actors in the process of driving innovation and economic growth. However, they face significant risks and high failure rates due to uncertainty, lack of resources, and managerial issues. Addressing these challenges requires appropriate Management Control Systems (MCSs). Implementing such systems should, however, account for the unique contingencies of startups, ensuring a balance of structure needed for growth with the flexibility essential for innovation. This critical concern has recently attracted significant scholarly interest in the field of MCSs in startups, with studies largely focused on the contextual antecedents and outcomes of MCSs. Despite this growing interest, the literature remains fragmented due to the discussion of different frameworks or individual control categories across studies. This study aims to address this fragmentation by employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of papers examining the contextual factors and outcomes related to MCSs in startups. Specifically, we mapped individual control instruments and categories of control discussed in the sample papers to Merchant and Van der Stede’s (<CitationRef CitationID="CR55">2012</CitationRef>) object of control framework and then thoroughly examined the literature to trace particular control categories to contextual factors and outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of considering the unique circumstances of startups when designing appropriate control packages to enhance innovation and growth outcomes. This study offers practical insights for startup managers in designing suitable management control configurations based on their unique context and goals, and it suggests promising future research directions to further advance knowledge of MCSs in entrepreneurial ventures.</p>