- Businesses should seek out accounting software providers who are open and honest about their price structures and the functionality offered at each tier of pricing.
- Free or inexpensive cloud-based accounting software will work just fine for small firms that just require rudimentary invoicing and reporting features. With subscription plans, you may expand the features and functionality as your business expands.
- There are several options for accounting software for businesses with more complicated demands. Which accounting solution is most appropriate for your company will depend on its unique demands.
- Business owners seeking for accounting and invoicing software should read this post.
For a firm to succeed, accounting software is a necessary component. Depending on the program, it can assist you in producing expert invoices, keeping track of payments received and sent, identifying and pursuing past-due accounts receivable, streamlining tax management, and running reports that assess the financial health of your business and forecast for the future.
We looked at some of the most well-liked platforms available right now in order to help you pick the finest accounting software for your company. We searched for reasonably priced, user-friendly accounting software with time-saving functions like automated bank feeds, payment reminders, and online invoicing and payment acceptance. We also looked for software that offered thorough, scalable, real-time financial reporting, as this is essential for keeping an eye on and comprehending your company’s finances.
OUR REVIEWS
Intuit QuickBooks Online: Best for Small Businesses
The finest overall accounting software for small businesses, in our opinion, is QuickBooks Online. It offers four small business plan alternatives as well as a different choice for users who are self-employed. Both new and existing small businesses can benefit from the benefits that are offered by each. You can smoothly upgrade your plans as your business grows with the four options available to small businesses, and you’ll have access to all the tools and reports you’ll need for accounting needs. Users who are independent contractors cannot upgrade to the small business levels.
Editor’s Evaluation: 95/100
The platform is simple to set up and operate, so you can get your accounting software working entirely by yourself. But if you need more support, Intuit provides access to qualified bookkeepers who can assist you in setting up the program in a way that makes sense for your company. Additionally, QuickBooks Online enables you to design unique invoices and forms to ensure that your business’s branding is constantly prominent in customer correspondence. The pricing is a steal given the features and services you receive.
Oracle NetSuite Accounting Software: Best for Advanced Features
We chose Oracle NetSuite as the best accounting software option for midsize and growing businesses that are seeking advanced features. As part of its robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) offering, Oracle NetSuite offers an intuitive cloud-based financial management solution that can track your financial data and automate a variety of essential accounting functions. Like any highly rated accounting software, it offers reporting, planning and billing capabilities. It also easily integrates with other software, including Oracle’s comprehensive suite of business solutions. It can also be used with multiple currencies, so it’s a great option for companies with a global customer base.
Editor’s Evaluation: 90/100
If your business needs to expedite its accounts receivable and payable, accelerate deal closings, and keep up with more complex financial compliance obligations while taking advantage of a full suite of powerful business management features, Oracle NetSuite is ideal. Moreover, it doesn’t limit the number of users or rely on third-party apps for customization. However, it may be cost-prohibitive and present a steep learning curve for small businesses that don’t need access to the advanced slate of features it provides.
FreshBooks Accounting Software: Best for Invoicing
The finest invoicing program is FreshBooks, which is what we advise. The program enables you to create professional-looking invoices that are consistent with your brand and track the progress of invoices so that you are aware of when consumers got their bills and when their outstanding amounts are due. Additionally, it makes it possible for consumers to pay you straight from their invoices online.
Editor’s Rating: 90/100
The FreshBooks interface is easy to use and comes with options for creating proposals that you can email to potential clients, time and expenditure monitoring, and project management capabilities. You are organized and ready for tax season thanks to the double-entry accounting system. You may give other users access to certain features and provide authorization to specific persons if you want accountants to have access to your dashboard, reports, invoices, and costs. If you have workers, you may offer them access to your projects and let them keep track of their time and extra costs. FreshBooks has over 100 partners, so you can connect with other business applications and add a ton of functionality.
Melio: Best Accounts Payable Tools
For small firms looking for user-friendly accounts payable tools without a lot of frills, we suggest Melio. It’s a great choice for cloud-based software that will handle bills, send invoices, and accept payments. Additionally, Melio offers a free QuickBooks integration. There is no fee for bank transfers, however there is a 2.9% fee for payments made with a credit or debit card. Paper checks cost $1.50 each after the first two are free every month.
Editor’s Rating: 80/100
Zoho Books Accounting Software: Best for Microbusinesses
As the top accounting program for users of microbusinesses, we chose Zoho Books. Some accounting software applications are not suitable for freelancers, independent contractors, sole proprietors, consultants, home-based business owners, those running e-commerce websites, or firms with less than 10 employees. The program could be too difficult, overly powerful, and unduly costly. With Zoho Books, not so. It functions well for companies with simple accounting and invoicing requirements, and the inexpensive cost appeals to business owners on a tight budget.
Editor’s Rating: 85/100
Zoho Books can be scaled, too. You may take advantage of the alternatives that let you update and integrate with other business programs when your small business grows into a larger operation. It also comes with a mobile app so you can stay on top of accounting responsibilities when you’re out and about.
Xero: Best for Payments
The finest accounting program for processing payments and keeping track of them is Xero. With the help of Xero, you can keep up fantastic connections with your creditors and suppliers while avoiding expensive late penalties. You can be certain that your cash flow is positive with Xero so you won’t run out of money when it’s time to make payments. You can manage purchase orders, examine current and future spending, and see when each payment is due on the user-friendly interface. The minimalist UI provides a quick snapshot of your company’s financial situation. Real-time cost monitoring allows you to make immediate adjustments.
Editor’s Rating: 90/100
You don’t need to download or install any apps because Xero is cloud-based. It provides expert double-entry accounting capabilities, so both a debit and a credit will be recorded for each of your transactions. This program also saves you time since it automates a laborious procedure by allowing you to arrange forthcoming payments and batch pay vendors in advance.
ZarMoney: Best for Transparent Pricing
We chose ZarMoney as the best accounting software program for businesses seeking transparent pricing. Organized by “entrepreneur,” “small business” and “enterprise,” the plans reflect each company’s needs. The cost is based on the number of users, from one to more than 30. If you add or remove users, ZarMoney will automatically update your account and charge you accordingly. Each additional user costs $10 per month.
Editor’s Score: 90/100
Plooto: Best for Automation
Our software of choice for automating crucial accounting procedures is Plooto. It allows you to handle all of your payments in one place and gives you a clear view of your money. One dashboard unifies payments, approvals, reconciliation, and reporting. The program has secure electronic payments and intelligent approval procedures, which decrease mistakes and expedite the accounts payable procedure. Plooto offers automation for business accounts payable and accounts receivable, which makes it easier for you to recover overdue bills.
Editor’s Rating: 77.5/100
Wave Financial: Best Free Accounting Software
Check out Wave Financial if you’re seeking for efficient, cost-free accounting software. It provides several valuable, top-notch accounting functions for no additional expense to you. Both licensing software and paying monthly or yearly fees are not necessary. You can generate and schedule recurring invoices and payments using the cloud-based accounting tool. You can also set up automated payment reminders and automatic synchronization with your bank, credit card, and PayPal accounts. You may also use it to conduct financial reports and to connect with and interact with as many accountants as you choose. You may incorporate well-known business apps without paying extra.
Editor’s Rating: 80/100
Sage: Best for Freelancers and Self-Employed
The ability to submit invoices quickly and efficiently and keep track of payments is crucial for independent contractors and freelancers. Sage Business Cloud Accounting is our top pick for these kinds of small enterprises because of this. With Sage, you’ll have an economical approach to avoid needless delays in the cash flow into your company. This accounting software provides reasonably cost tier-based services that allow users to create, send, and track payments for invoices. Sage can adapt to your expanding and evolving business thanks to its numerous connections and applications, including AutoEntry, Draycir, Avalara, and Credit Hound.
Editor’s Evaluation: 75/100
Neat: Best for Receipt and Expense Tracking
Your accounting software may just need to assist you in managing your receipts and expenses if you are a small business owner. Then Neat could be your best option. This cloud-based solution starts at $200 a year, or $16.66 per month, and allows you to upload all of your business receipts via the mobile app. Once finished, you may classify each to maintain yourself well-organized and aware of your expenses.
Editor’s Evaluation: 75/100
ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE COSTS
Accounting software streamlines billing and accounting for business owners, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Most programs provide a variety of plans to suit your goals and financial situation.
Perpetual licence or a recurring subscription are the two main price options for accounting software. A perpetual license model allows you to purchase the program once and have unlimited access to it after that. You pay a monthly or annual charge with a subscription pricing plan to have access to the program.
Expect to spend anywhere between $4.99 per month for a simple starting plan to as much as $60 per month for a more sophisticated service plan when purchasing a subscription. The monthly price will also depend on other elements like the number of users and the amenities offered.
Whatever price plan you decide on, keep an eye out for any hidden costs, which may include payments for integrations, customization choices, installation or setup services, and maintenance or support services.
If money is particularly limited for your company, you might want to look into free accounting software. For instance, Wave provides many of the billing and accounting functions you would find in premium software
We firmly advise you to use any available free trials to test out the programs and determine which one delivers the features and tools you want when selecting accounting and billing software for your company. Additionally, spending some time with the program in advance will boost your decision-making confidence.
FEATURES OF ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
Accounting software has a lot of features that make it a practical tool. It’s crucial for small company owners to be aware of the qualities to search for. Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Banking, and Reporting functionalities are available in the majority of online accounting software. Tools for payroll, time tracking, project management, and inventory management are included in certain packages.
The following are some essential attributes to look for in accounting software:
Teller feed
This function allows you to obtain a daily update of your transactions by connecting the program to your company bank and credit card accounts. You will not need to manually upload transactions, which saves you time. Additionally, it provides you with a daily rather than a yearly summary of your accounts. Reconciliation may be made easier with the help of a real-time bank feed function, turning it into a quick daily chore rather than a monthly hassle.
Dashboard
A dashboard that displays a summary of your account activity and important indicators, including cash flow, profit and loss, account balances, costs, accounts payable and receivable, and sales, will greet you when you log in to your account. By rearranging the data, you may modify what you see initially in certain accounting software.
Online Billing
The ability to email invoices and accept online payments can help you be paid more quickly if your company sends out invoices. Some accounting software allows you to employ in-house processing while others force you to use third-party payment processors. The ability of accounting software to generate invoices is a benefit.
Repeating Bills
This feature allows you to program the system to create and send invoices for recurring payments, such subscription fees, automatically. You may choose if there is an end date to the billing as well as how frequently invoices are delivered (daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly).
Automatic Reminders for Payment
You may use this tool to remind clients to make impending and overdue payments. Some offer prewritten example email wording that you may use or modify. After that, you may decide when the reminders should be issued. Depending on the program, you may be able to thank clients through email when you receive their money.
Reconciling the Banks
Smart reconciliation solutions save you the hours it would take to manually search through your bank account for this information by looking for potential matches between your bank transactions and the bills and invoices you’ve placed into the accounting software. The proposed pairings can then be accepted or rejected. While you reconcile your accounts, the top software propose probable matches, and a few even include a reconciliation function in their mobile apps.
Accounting Reporting
Financial reports may be created by any accounting application. However, some are more basic than others, and some demand that you sign up for a more expensive plan if you want sophisticated reporting. Make sure the software program and strategy you select contain any particular financial reports you may want. You may analyse your financial data with the aid of in-depth reports to make wise business decisions.
Mobile Apps
The greatest accounting and invoicing software do feature mobile apps, however not all of them do. However, there is a wide variety in what mobile applications can do. Some allow you to produce and send invoices, some have nearly all the features offered by web-based software, while others can just gather receipts for expenditure management. It’s important to find out whether the software you’re considering has a mobile app and, if so, whatever features will enable you to manage your company while you’re not in the office.
Integrations
You may save a lot of time by automating the data movement from one system to another by connecting your accounting software to other business applications you use. A few of the common interfaces with accounting software include payroll, payment processing, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and customer relationship management (CRM) software. Reduced training time for personnel who will use the program is another benefit of integration with other systems you already use.
Monitoring Billable Hours
You need software that allows you to monitor and bill your time or interacts with the time-tracking application you already use if you’re a consultant or your firm charges clients by the hour. For independent contractors, this capability is crucial.
Inventory Control
You require an application that aids with inventory monitoring and purchase orders if you run a retail, e-commerce, or distribution firm. For access to this feature, you might have to sign up for a premium subscription. Look for software that interacts with a specific inventory management system if you want more sophisticated inventory capabilities.
Project-Based Billing companies, independent contractors, and consultants that collaborate with customers on projects or assignments should search for accounting software that enables them to keep track of the activities and budgets associated with such projects. You should be able to charge clients for tracked time and project expenditures using the program.
Multiple Business Support
You may add many businesses to your account using a number of the services we reviewed, however some businesses charge extra for this convenience. Furthermore, the kinds of accounting tools that are crucial to you will rely on the particular requirements of your company. For instance, project-based billing can be the most significant element on your list if you own a small freelancing firm. Alternatively, if you want to use your mobile device for business, a fully functional mobile app could be at the top of your list.
BUSINESS ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE BENEFITS
The success of your business depends on how well you manage your money, and the correct accounting software may make that process much simpler. Accounting software has a number of advantages over paper and pencil or an Excel spreadsheet. Here are a few of them to consider:
Reduces Errors
Human mistake is by far the main cause of accounting and bookkeeping errors, according to a Bloomberg BNA poll. Many accounting experts point to typical problems including inaccurate manual entry and spreadsheet issues. By doing away with cumbersome spreadsheet inputs and simply importing data from other business tools, accounting software may reduce the frequency of these expensive mistakes.
Consolidates Organization
Small companies cannot afford to have a financial mess on their hands. If you are not prepared, it may be difficult to obtain the information you want, whether it is time to pay the tax payment or make projections for the upcoming year. Maintaining control of your financial data is made easier by accounting software. It streamlines numerous time-consuming accounting procedures, organizes financial data, keeps it in one place, and automates many of them, freeing you up to concentrate on managing your company.
strengthening internal controls
Internal controls are the guidelines and practices put in place by a business to guarantee the accuracy of its accounting and bookkeeping systems. Accounting software improves the accuracy of your fraud detection and prevention procedures. This can greatly lower your company’s risk of loss and theft.
Doesn’t Cost a Fortune
Over time, the cost of accounting software has decreased significantly thanks to cloud-based options. Small company entrepreneurs nowadays have a variety of options: The monthly cost of accounting software can range from free to $350. How much you pay depends on the size of your company and your accounting requirements. But if paying that monthly fee means you’ll improve cash flow, pay taxes, and spot growth prospects, it’s certainly worthwhile.
guarantees best practices
Many suppliers of accounting software are well aware that taxes are a necessary component of operating a business. As a result, they have created software that can compute sales tax, produce tax forms, and even file taxes on your behalf.
FAQs for business accounting software
What functions does accounting software have?
Accounting software keeps track of many accounting variables and records transactions. The program may be configured to automatically get financial data from your bank, or you can utilize a very basic version that would need manually entering the information. We advise you to track your company’s finances using software that automatically downloads financial data from your bank and credit card provider. Additionally, the majority of software solutions save the data on the cloud, so even if your computer fails or you run into other technical difficulties, your data will be secure and protected.
Which accounting software for small businesses is best?
According to our analysis, the finest small company accounting solution is QuickBooks Online. But based on the particular requirements of your company, another system can be a better match or a better value. For instance, because to its strong invoicing tools, FreshBooks may be the ideal option for you if your company offers a service and issues a lot of bills. For a list of our precise suggestions for various business sizes and requirements, see our top options above.
What does your accounting software need to perform for you?
You require accounting software with accounts payable and accounts receivable functionality that records the flow of money into and out of your company. Some software programs don’t offer data on both accounts payable and receivable. Accounting software should also be able to link to your bank and credit card accounts and retrieve your transactions automatically. If your company provides services, you could want project management solutions. You might desire an accounting system with inventory management tools if your company sells goods. Finally, search for software solutions that may be integrated with other company systems you already use, such as your POS system, CRM system, or email marketing software, to provide more benefits.
Instead of accounting software, do you require online bookkeeping software?
Online accounting software and bookkeeping software are frequently used interchangeably in the context of small enterprises. (However, bookkeepers and accountants work in different ways.) The finest online accounting solutions for small businesses include bookkeeping tools for logging debit and credit transactions as well as accounting tools for creating reports and evaluating your company’s financial performance. Look for accounting software that offers more than just a bookkeeping solution; it should enable you to create invoices and in-depth reports.
Should your accounting program also produce invoices?
Your business will determine this. We advise that you locate a complete accounting program with invoice-generating functions if you now produce (or anticipate producing) a large number of invoices to deliver to clients and customers. Invoice-generating accounting software is something freelancers should think about employing.
What services do online accounting providers offer?
For busy business owners, online accounting services may handle a wide range of activities. Some concentrate on bookkeeping tasks including recording and classifying transactions, resolving account balances, and producing financial statements and reports that you may give to your CPA during tax season. Others offer services for filing taxes and handling payroll. High-level accounting services, including as internal audits and financial planning and analysis, are offered by some, including virtual controllers, chief financial officers, and CPAs.
How much should accounting software cost in a small business plan?
Some small business owners only want an accounting software that monitors spending and generates invoices. Others place greater value on sophisticated reporting, inventory control, and online sales. Your accounting software cost will depend on which camp you belong to. While some solutions for accounting software are free, commercial ones might cost up to $25 per person each month. The level of sophistication of the software you select and the number of people you wish to provide access to it will affect the overall cost of what you pay.
Should small firms search for certain features in accounting software?
Small company owners should search for accounting software that offers a wide range of features and functions, including invoicing and inventory management, and is simple to install, use, and combine with other programs. The greatest accounting software makes it simple for you and your accountant to work together.
Why should my company think about switching accounting software providers?
Changing accounting software is more difficult said than done. After all, you have already used the platform and put all of your data there. Even though it could be uncomfortable, there are reasons to think about making a transition. They consist of:
- You should sometimes compare what other accounting firms are providing, just as when you shop for insurance. If you discover a provider that is more reasonably priced and has the features you want, you might want to think about switching.
- It could be time for an upgrade if your company expands to the point where current accounting program can no longer handle operations.
- If your team despises the accounting software, switching is definitely necessary. You may want to take note if they have trouble using it.
What company operations have accounting software automated?
Utilizing accounting software to automate manual tasks is important. This decreases the possibility of human error and expedites accounting. Automation is common in accounting software. It is used to remove human data entry, produce new journal entries, track payments, send invoices, and extract information from massive tax papers.
