The success of freelancers and small enterprises depends on maintaining strict control over finances. For that purpose, you need the best accounting software.
Accounting software is a useful tool for business owners of all sizes since it facilitates the recording and monitoring of monetary transactions, the monitoring of cash flow, and the preparation of tax returns.
But with so many options available today, picking a dependable solution can take time and effort.
Software for a small business and self-employed 2023
The success of freelancers and small enterprises depends on maintaining strict control over finances. For that purpose, you need the best accounting software.
Accounting software is a valuable tool for business owners of all sizes since it facilitates the recording and monitoring of monetary transactions, the tracking of cash flow, and the preparation of tax returns.
But with so many options available today, picking a dependable solution can take time and effort.
We have assembled a list of the top small business accounting software for small businesses to assist you in making an informed decision.
12 Best Accounting Software for a Small Business 2023
Considering the requirements and needs of businesses, we have narrowed down the following small business accounting software:
Quickbooks
Start from $17 per month.
Stuarts Take
Intuit created the accounting software suite known as QuickBooks. It offers a range of financial management features, including payroll, invoicing, and bookkeeping.
QuickBooks is well-liked by small and medium-sized enterprises because of how simple and inexpensive software is to use.
| Best For | Cost and Ease of Use |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
QuickBooks is a small business accounting software.
This best accounting software is an integrated accounting solution that helps you track revenue, manage cash flow and prepare financial statements.
QuickBooks Online has an “Accountant Mode” feature, which lets you track work time. This feature is handy if multiple employees work on different projects or tasks simultaneously, allowing them to see their respective pay rates in one place.
This best accounting software is an integrated accounting solution that helps you track sales, expenses, and other critical data while connecting with other software applications like payroll or inventory management systems.
Key Features:
Quickbooks also allows you to create invoices or purchase orders directly from anywhere in your business without logging into another system or program first (like Microsoft Excel).
The main advantage of using this best accounting software is that it provides all the features you need to run your business.
This means that if you want to start a new company with limited funds, then QuickBooks will be able to accommodate all your needs without wasting too much time or effort!
QuickBooks integrates with your other apps, making managing multiple accounting tasks easier. QuickBooks has an ” Integration ” feature that allows you to run reports from other apps such as Salesforce or Google Sheets.
User Experience:
The integrations are great for keeping track of expenses across multiple business lines and contractors, which can only be possible with an automated way of sharing information between different systems.
You can open and edit transactions in a single window, viewing all your data in detail. This is one of the significant advantages of QuickBooks Online over other accounting software.
The best feature of QuickBooks is its ability to link with other programs such as Excel or Access so that when data from these sources need input into the program, they can be imported easily.
Software like QuickBooks Online can help you work more efficiently in your business. It’s a great way to manage your finances, track income and expenses, and make sure that all the accounts are correctly organized.
Pricing:
Quickbooks offers three pricing plans:
- Free Trial: 30 days
- Simple Start: $17 per month
- Essentials: $26 per month
- Plus: $36 per month
What I Like/Dislike | Pros/Cons About Quickbooks:
Pros:
- Easy to navigate
- Compatible with third-party applications
- Pocket-friendly
Cons:
- System crashes
- Limited users
Freshbooks
Best for One Man Small Businesses ($5 per month).
Stuarts Take
FreshBooks is a popular cloud-based accounting software for small businesses and self-employed professionals.
It provides a user-friendly platform that simplifies various financial tasks, including invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and financial reporting.
With FreshBooks, users can easily create and customize professional-looking invoices, send them to clients, and track payment status.
The software also enables users to automate recurring invoices and set up payment reminders, helping to improve cash flow and reduce administrative tasks.
| Best For | Easy to Use Platform |
| Price | Competitive |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Easy-to-Use Platform |
The paid version has many additional features like invoicing capabilities and payroll management systems, which can cost anywhere between $20-$50 per month depending on how many extra services are needed by each client with multiple locations.
With Freshbooks, you can create invoices that can be paid automatically with a credit card or PayPal account.
You can also set up recurring payment plans so clients don’t have to worry about paying their bills on time — this best accounting software will take care of it!
Freshbooks backs up all your business bank accounts and credit cards every night.
This includes everything in your bank account, including transactions and balances. You can also see a history of all payments made on each card.
Freshbooks also allows you to send customers a link to their bank accounts. This best accounting software is helpful if you want to notify them of a new payment or transaction without sending an email directly from your account.
The email will be sent as a message through the platform and will automatically appear in their inboxes, so they don’t have to open any additional communication from you.
Key Features:
- Invoicing: Create professional invoices easily, customize them with your branding, and send them to clients. Track payment status and send automatic payment reminders.
- Expense Tracking: Capture and categorize expenses effortlessly. Upload receipts from mobile devices and sync with bank accounts and credit cards for automatic expense importing and reconciliation.
- Time Tracking: Track billable hours and easily convert them into invoices. Keep tabs on project progress, monitor team productivity, and ensure accurate billing.
- Estimates: Create detailed estimates for clients, convert them into invoices, and track their status. Provide clients with clear pricing information and streamline the approval process.
- Project Management: Collaborate with team members and clients, assign tasks, track project progress, and share files and updates within the FreshBooks platform.
- Financial Reporting: Generate various reports, including profit and loss statements, expense reports, tax summaries, and client and project reports. Gain valuable insights into business finances and make informed decisions.
User Experience:
This feature is handy for keeping track of the costs related to running your business (like travel expenses).
The second feature helps keep track of income from customers and clients with multiple payment methods so that they can be paid out at once instead of having multiple payments due each month when they come due.
Freshbooks is easy to use, but it does have some limitations. You can’t create invoices from within the program, so if you need to create an invoice from scratch, we do recommend it.
Pricing:
Freshbooks offers three pricing plans:
- Lite: $1.20 per month
- Plus: $2.20 per month
- Premium: $3.50 per month
- Select: Custom pricing
What I Like/Dislike | About Freshbooks:
Dislikes:
- Tracks working times
- Unlimited access to data
- Seamless reporting
Likes:
- Customer support could be better
Sage Accounting
Best For Multi-Currency Support ($12 per month).
Stuarts Take
Sage Accounting is a robust cloud-based accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses.
It offers many features to streamline financial management, track expenses, and generate detailed reports.
With Sage Accounting, users can easily create and send professional invoices, track payment status, and manage cash flow. The software allows for customization of invoices with company branding, and it provides automated payment reminders to help ensure prompt payments from clients.
Expense tracking is made simple with Sage Accounting, allowing users to record and categorize expenses efficiently.
It provides the ability to capture receipts using mobile devices and integrate with bank accounts, making reconciling transactions and monitoring spending easy.
| Best For | Multi-Currency Support |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Sage is one of the most popular accounting software for small businesses worldwide. It’s been around for over 20 years and offers several unique accounting features, making it highly popular with small businesses.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Software offers multiple solutions, including Sage 50 and Sage 100 Accounting Software, which are affordable yet powerful tools that can help you manage your business’s finances in one place.
Both offer full-featured accounting software. This best accounting software has an integrated payroll module that allows you to collect employee data in one place (instead of manually entering it).
Its intuitive interface makes it easy to use even by those new to accounting or bookkeeping.
The interface is also rapid and responsive, allowing you to work on multiple tasks without waiting too long between them.
Key Features:
- Invoicing: Create professional-looking invoices, customize them with your branding, and send them to clients. Track payment status, set up automated reminders, and accept online payments.
- Expense Tracking: Record and categorize expenses easily, including the ability to capture receipts using mobile devices. Sync with bank accounts for automatic transaction importing and reconciliation.
- Financial Reporting: Generate comprehensive reports, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Gain valuable insights into business performance and financial health.
- Bank Reconciliation: Match transactions with bank statements to ensure accurate and up-to-date financial records. Easily identify discrepancies and reconcile accounts with ease.
- Multi-Currency Support: Conduct business internationally with support for multiple currencies. Convert and track transactions in different currencies, simplifying global financial management.
User Experience:
Moreover, this is the only affordable accounting software you can find!
If you’re looking for accounting software to help you file your taxes,
Sage has many features that make it easy. Tax filing is automatic; manually entering information into each form line is unnecessary.
The product suite includes a full suite of accounting functions such as cash flow modelling, recurring billing, accounts receivable management, and payroll processing functionality.
Sage Accounting Software is effortless for beginners and professionals just starting their careers or businesses.
If you’re new at accounting, this best accounting software will ensure that your experience with this program is smooth sailing from start to finish!
Pricing:
Sage Accounting offers three pricing plans:
- Start: $4.81 per month
- Standard: $9.62 per month
- Plus: $12.03 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Sage Accounting:
Likes:
- Multiple users
- Affordable plans
- Comprehensive expense tracking
Dislikes:
- Application lags sometimes
Xero
Best For Payroll Management ($13 per month).
Stuarts Take
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small and medium-sized businesses.
It provides comprehensive tools to streamline financial management and make accounting tasks more efficient.
With Xero, users can easily manage invoicing, billing, bank reconciliations, payroll, and inventory tracking, among other essential accounting functions.
One of the key features of Xero is its accessibility.
Being a cloud-based platform, users can access their accounts from anywhere with an internet connection, making it convenient for business owners and accountants to stay connected and manage finances on the go.
Additionally, Xero integrates with various third-party applications and financial institutions, allowing seamless data transfer and automation.
| Best For | Payroll Management |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Xero offers several key features to help you track your finances more effectively. Its easy-to-use interface is designed for both beginners and experts alike.
This open-source accounting software has an intuitive drag-and-drop design, which makes it easy to customize your account settings according to your needs and easily track transactions.
Its mobile app makes it easy to manage all aspects of the business without having access to a computer or internet connection (if applicable).
The platform is secure and reliable. Xero uses 256-bit SSL encryption on all data transmitted between your computer and its servers.
Your information will be safe from hackers trying to steal your private data or scam you out of money by pretending they can help you get jobs.
This best accounting software lets you keep track of all aspects of the business. Therefore, you will know when an invoice is due or how much money has been collected from different sources for a given period — all within one platform!
Xero allows you to keep all of your accounting information under one roof. It offers a simple yet powerful set of tools that enables you to deal with accounting matters related to your business quickly and accurately.
Key Features:
- Invoicing and Billing: Create and send professional invoices to clients, track payment status, and set up automated invoice reminders.
- Bank Reconciliation: Connect bank accounts, credit cards, and PayPal to automatically import and categorize transactions, making bank reconciliation faster and more accurate.
- Payroll Management: Handle payroll tasks, including calculating employee salaries, managing tax deductions, and generating payslips. Xero also supports the electronic filing of tax forms in certain regions.
- Inventory Tracking: Keep track of stock levels, manage purchase orders, and get real-time visibility into inventory valuation and sales performance.
- Expense Tracking: Capture and categorize business expenses by scanning receipts, syncing credit card transactions, or importing bank statements. Xero simplifies expense reimbursement and provides expense reports for better expense management.
- Financial Reporting: Generate customizable financial reports, such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements, to gain insights into your business’s financial performance.
User Experience:
This software is compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac, and iPad.
With this, it manages record-keeping automatically, so there is no need for manual data entry or lost invoices.
Suppose a new product is introduced into your business. In that case, Xero will help you update the inventory instantly and provide timely updates to other financial documents like invoices, purchase orders, or sales receipts.
In addition, this feature also helps you set up recurring payments, such as journal entries, which have been generated automatically according to the schedule created beforehand.
All these features make
Xero accounting software is one of a kind owing to its quick results within just a few minutes of usage.
Pricing:
Xero offers three pricing plans:
- Starter: $7 per month
- Standard: $14 per month
- Premium: $18 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Xero:
Likes:
- Real-time reconciliation
- Easy to use
- Multiple users
Dislikes:
- Poor customer support
- No paid notification
Zoho Books
Best For Inventory Management ($12 per month).
Stuarts Take
Zoho Books is an online accounting software developed by Zoho Corporation.
It provides a comprehensive suite of features designed to streamline financial management for small and medium-sized businesses.
With Zoho Books, users can efficiently handle invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and other essential accounting tasks.
One of the standout features of Zoho Books is its user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation.
The software offers a clean and organized layout, making it easy for users without accounting expertise to navigate and perform various accounting functions.
| Best For | Inventory Management |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
The user interface of Zoho Books is simple and easy to use. You don’t need to be an accountant or financial expert to use this program.
All you have to do is enter basic information about your company into its easy-to-use form fields and then press “Go” when it’s time for you to make payments (this may take only five minutes).
One of the best key features of Zoho Books is its ability to help you easily submit your taxes, assets, bills, and invoices.
The software has a built-in e-filing module that allows users to upload their tax forms at the same time they are submitting them through their desktop or laptop computer.
This best accounting software can also help them easily manage their financial records, such as transactions list, track expenses, and other important documents related to their business activities.
Zoho Books can track your personal and business financial information in one place.
Key Features:
- Invoicing: Create professional invoices, customize templates, and send them to clients. Set up recurring invoices and automated payment reminders.
- Expense Tracking: Record business expenses, scan receipts, and categorize expenses for accurate tracking. Track reimbursable expenses and apply them to client invoices.
- Bank Reconciliation: Connect bank accounts and credit cards to import transactions and reconcile them easily. Maintained accurate financial records and streamlined the reconciliation process.
- Financial Reporting: Generate insightful financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Analyze your business’s financial performance and make informed decisions.
- Online Payments: Accept online payments from clients directly through Zoho Books. Integrate with popular payment gateways to streamline payment processing and improve cash flow.
- Inventory Management: Track and manage inventory levels, create purchase orders, and receive goods with ease. Get real-time updates on stock quantities and values.
User Experience:
This accounting software for small businesses includes checking accounts, credit cards, mortgages, etc., and stocks or mutual funds held in brokerage accounts like Fidelity Investments or Schwab Investor Services (SIS).
The program also tracks investments made through 401K plans at work too!
Reports are the most potent tools in Zoho Books. They provide detailed information about your business, finances, and operations that can help you make decisions on a closer level than ever before.
Zoho Books is a popular accounting application for businesses of all sizes. It’s easy to use and has several key features that make managing your business more efficient.
Pricing:
Zoho Books offers three pricing plans:
- Free Plan: $0 per month
- Standard: $12 per month
- Professional: $24 per month
- Premium: $36 per month
- Elite: $129 per month
- Ultimate: $249 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Zoho Books:
Likes:
- Flexible
- Easy to use
- Customizable forecast reports
Dislikes:
- Limited custom fields
- Slow customer support
Accounting Seed
Best For Bank Reconciliation and General Ledger.
Stuarts Take
Accounting Seed is a comprehensive cloud-based accounting software designed to meet the unique needs of businesses of all sizes.
It offers a flexible and customizable platform that allows users to manage their financial processes efficiently.
With Accounting Seed, users can handle core accounting functions, automate workflows, and gain real-time insights into their financial data.
One of the standout features of Accounting Seed is its strong emphasis on customization. The software can be tailored to fit the specific requirements of different industries and business models.
Users can customize charts of accounts, reports, and workflows to align with their unique processes and terminology.
| Best For | Core Accounting |
| Price | Competitive |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Accounting Seed is a cloud accounting solution that lets you track everything from sales and expenses to customer invoices.
It also helps in managing cash flow in your business. It’s similar to QuickBooks but designed for small businesses (with fewer than 100 employees).
Accounting Seed works with any browser or device, so you can sign up for an account with Accounting Seed on the web or install it on your desktop computer.
The app will automatically sync data between your devices, so it is ready whenever you need it.
Setting up multiple spreadsheets or downloading software updates manually is unnecessary!
It is a great way to keep track of your finances, whether running a small business or just trying to manage your finances.
This software for small businesses offers key features like invoicing, inventory management, POS support, and more. You can even use it as a mortgage calculator!
Accounting software provides useful key features that allow users to make better decisions regarding their business operations.
Key Features:
- General Ledger: The platform provides a comprehensive general ledger system that enables businesses to track and manage their financial transactions, including accounts payable and accounts receivable.
- Financial Reporting: Accounting Seed offers customizable financial reporting tools that allow users to generate detailed reports and gain insights into their financial performance. These reports can be tailored to meet specific business requirements.
- Accounts Payable and Receivable: Users can efficiently manage their payables and receivables processes, including invoice creation, payment processing, and tracking outstanding balances. The platform also supports automation of these processes, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency.
- Bank Reconciliation: Accounting Seed simplifies the bank reconciliation process by providing tools to match transactions with bank statements, identify discrepancies, and ensure accurate financial records.
- Multi-Currency and Multi-Company: The platform supports multiple currencies and facilitates accounting for businesses operating in different countries. It also allows managing financials for multiple entities or subsidiaries within a single system.
- Budgeting and Forecasting: Accounting Seed offers budgeting and forecasting capabilities, empowering businesses to create financial plans, set targets, and track performance against those targets.
User Experience:
You can easily see where money is being spent or saved every month. You can also check other vital data, such as monthly profit and loss statements and historical records for previous years’ performance metrics.
With Accounting Seed, you can create unlimited user accounts, assign individual users access to their accounts, and keep everyone organized with labels and filters.
All Accounting Seed data is saved during the sync process, so you won’t lose any data when you close your browser tab or disconnect your device.
The sync process is automatic and requires no manual intervention from users.
You can import information from QuickBooks, Xero, Excel, or other accounting software, including labels and tags created by other software.
Pricing:
Accounting Seed offers three pricing plans:
- Accounting Seed still needs to provide the information related paid plans. You have to schedule a call to know their pricing plans.
What I Like/Dislike | About Accounting Seed:
Likes:
- Intuitive and flexible
- Handles complex accounting process
- Reliable and stable
Dislikes:
- Slow customer reporting
- Expensive
Kashoo
Best for Multi-User Access($20 per month).
Stuarts Take
Kashoo is easy to use and has helpful prebuilt reports for tracking time, mileage, and general information.
The software also provides key features like invoicing, inventory management, sales tax calculations, cash flow tracking, etc.
| Best For | Pre Built Reports |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Kashoo is easy to use and has helpful prebuilt reports for tracking time, mileage, and general information.
The software also provides key features like invoicing, inventory management, sales tax calculations, cash flow tracking, etc.
Kashoo makes it easy to determine which sales tax you owe by using the business’ sales amounts and the applicable sales tax rate from the state.
The software will automatically calculate how much is owed based on your business’s location, revenue received, and the time before they are paid out.
Kashoo does not only cater to small businesses. It also has many modules available to help manage larger companies’ finances and cash flow forecasting needs at different stages in their business cycle and beyond.
Kashoo supports all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. This makes it suitable for individual users and businesses with multiple employees using different devices at work or at home.
The application also allows you to share data with other people in your organization through its cloud-based system so that you don’t have to worry about losing any important information if one of the members leaves before you do!
If you want more flexibility, connecting Kashoo directly with Intuit QuickBooks is always possible, allowing users full access from anywhere – including mobile apps such as iOS (iPhone) or Android smartphones/tablets).
Key Features:
- Invoicing: Create professional invoices, customize templates, and send them to clients easily. Track payment status and send reminders to ensure timely payments. Kashoo supports multi-currency invoicing for international transactions.
- Expense Tracking: Capture and categorize expenses, attach receipts, and track business-related expenditures. This feature simplifies expense management and helps with tax deductions.
- Bank Reconciliation: Connect bank and credit card accounts to Kashoo, automatically import transactions, and reconcile them with ease. This saves time and ensures accurate financial records.
- Financial Reports: Generate essential financial reports like profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. These reports provide insights into the business’s financial health and aid in decision-making.
- Multi-User Access: Collaborate with team members or accountants by providing them with secure access to the Kashoo account. Grant specific permissions to control data access and maintain confidentiality.
- Mobile Apps: Kashoo offers mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, allowing users to manage their finances on the go. Capture receipts, create invoices, and track expenses conveniently from your mobile device.
User Experience:
Small business owners may want financial reporting to help analyze how their business is doing financially.
Reporting provides a way to track your company’s performance, so you can make better decisions about how to grow and improve.
Kashoo offers several different types of reports that can help show trends across time, as well as specific information about individual transactions or events within the scope of an account.
You can also create custom reports based on what data matters most for your business goals at any time.
If you are looking for an affordable yet high-quality solution, Kashoo might be just what your business needs!
Pricing:
Kashoo offers three pricing plans:
- Free Plan: $0 per month
- Pro: $20 per month
- Plus: $30 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Kashoo:
Likes:
- Unlimited users
- Limited integrations
- Smart inbox
Dislikes:
- Not compatible with Android
Pabbly
Best for Email Marketing ($49 per month).
Stuarts Take
Pabbly is an all-in-one business management software that integrates multiple tools and features to streamline various aspects of business operations.
With Pabbly, users can handle multiple business functions, such as email marketing, subscription billing, form building, and workflow automation, all from a single platform.
One of the key features of Pabbly is its email marketing tool, which allows users to create and send professional email campaigns, manage subscriber lists, and track campaign performance.
It provides an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed templates, and advanced automation features to maximize the effectiveness of email marketing efforts.
| Best For | All in One Platform |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Pabbly is an accounting software designed to help small and medium businesses meet their financial reporting obligations.
The software is cloud-based so you can access it anytime. Its key features include invoicing, payment processing, and inventory management which are perfect for small businesses that need more staff to manage these tasks.
Pabbly’s invoicing and payment processing allows users to create invoices using various templates or manually enter data into the screen’s fields.
Payments made via this feature will be processed automatically by Pabbly after being approved by the user (or not).
With Pabbly, users can add items to their inventory database in real-time as they purchase them from vendors or associates, etc. They also have access to historical data about each item, so they should know what’s going on with any given item if needed for tax purposes later down the road!
Its main feature is to track accounts receivable and payable, manage cash flow, keep track of inventory, and generate reports on sales volume and profit margins for each product line by month or quarter.
Pabbly composes invoices using pre-configured templates or customizes them according to your needs using custom fields such as invoice number etc.
You can create multiple versions of an invoice if you have any changes later down the line, like adding extra expenses or reducing the price per unit sold by 5%, etc.
Pabbly Accounting Software is a powerful and all-inclusive commercial accounting software for small and big businesses.
Key Features:
- Email Marketing: Create and send professional email campaigns, manage subscriber lists, and track campaign performance. Pabbly provides a drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed templates, automation features, and detailed analytics to optimize email marketing efforts.
- Subscription Billing: Set up recurring billing for products or services with ease. Pabbly supports multiple payment gateways, automates subscription management, and provides customizable checkout pages for a smooth customer experience.
- Form Builder: Create customized forms, surveys, and feedback forms without coding knowledge. Pabbly’s form builder offers a wide range of templates, advanced form fields, and integrations with other tools for seamless data collection and analysis.
- Workflow Automation: Automate repetitive tasks and streamline processes. Pabbly enables users to create custom workflows using a visual editor, automate data transfers between apps, and trigger actions based on specific conditions.
- Integration Capabilities: Pabbly integrates with popular third-party applications and services to streamline data flow and enhance functionality. This allows for seamless connectivity between different tools and improves overall efficiency.
User Experience:
It helps you manage your business finances and keep track of expenses. It offers several key features that allow you to view, edit, and analyze financial data.
Pabbly’s other feature is its ability to help you create a profit and loss statement (P&L) for each month and other useful reports such as cash flow reports, balance sheets, or statements of changes in stocks & bonds.
Warehouse management is an essential feature of Pabbly. It lets you track inventory as it moves from one location to another. With this feature, you can set up zones in your warehouse so only certain items can enter or leave the area.
Therefore, if you are looking for a range of key features on a pocket-friendly budget, Pabbly is your best choice!
Pricing:
Pabbly offers three pricing plans:
- Basic: $49 per month
- Standard: $99 per month
- Pro: $199 per month
- Ultimate: $399 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Pabbly:
Likes:
- Secure and flexible
- User-friendly interface
- Seamless operation
Dislikes:
- No auto-save feature
- No customer support
Bill.com
Best for Integration with Accounting Systems ($45 per month).
Stuarts Take
Bill.com is a cloud-based financial management platform that simplifies and automates business accounts payable and accounts receivable processes.
It serves as a central hub for managing invoices, payments, and approvals, offering a streamlined and efficient way to handle financial transactions.
With Bill.com, users can digitize and automate their payables process by receiving invoices electronically, capturing important invoice details, and routing them for approval.
The platform supports customizable workflows, allowing businesses to establish specific rules and hierarchies for invoice review and authorization.
| Best For | Integrated Platform |
| Price | Reasonable |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Bill.com is one of the most popular online accounting applications available today, used by small businesses.
It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to complete tasks without any experience in accounting.
The intuitive interface will make you feel like you are using your accountant’s software, making it more seamless than other accounting software packages.
Bill.com has a great mobile app that tracks receipts and expenses and sends invoices from anywhere. It’s perfect for small businesses or personal use by accounting professionals who need to stay on top of their finances on the go.
The mobile app is synced with your desktop version of Bill.com, so you can access all your records in one place, no matter your device or computer.
Bill.com also supports task management via its iOS and Android apps.
With the mobile app, you can easily manage your to-do list and keep track of deadlines. You can assign tasks to certain users or groups so they can complete them at their own pace while still getting updates on when they’re done with their work.
Task management is built into the app itself, so you don’t have to worry about switching between different apps or logging into multiple accounts simultaneously (which can get confusing).
Key Features:
- Accounts Payable Automation: Digitize and automate the accounts payable process by receiving electronic invoices, capturing invoice details, and routing them for approval. Customizable workflows and rules ensure efficient invoice review and authorization.
- Integration with Accounting Systems: Seamlessly integrate with popular accounting systems like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite. This integration ensures accurate and synchronized data across platforms, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors.
- Electronic Payments: Make electronic payments to vendors and suppliers directly from the platform. Set up automatic payment schedules, track payment status, and pay international vendors in their local currency for efficient global payment processing.
- Receivables Management: Send professional invoices to clients and accept online payments through Bill.com. Customers can easily view and pay invoices, reducing the time and effort spent on collections.
- Real-Time Financial Visibility: Generate comprehensive reports and gain real-time visibility into financial transactions and cash flow. Monitor payment statuses, track historical data, and analyze financial performance for better decision-making.
User Experience:
The app’s intuitive design makes it easy to use, even if you’re not a professional accountant. It also comes with task management tools that allow users to plan their finances in detail and iOS and Android apps so that everyone can access their information wherever they are.
One of the key features of Bill.com is its free trial period. This helps keep business owners from being in debt for expensive accounting services if they don’t need them.
Bill.com is ideal for small businesses looking at saving money by having everything under one roof; larger companies may find it helpful due to its simplicity compared with other software solutions today (like QuickBooks).
Pricing:
Bill.com offers a single pricing plan:
- Corporate Pricing Plan – $79 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Bill.com:
Likes:
- Cloud-based storage
- Syncing to accounting programs
- Easier audits
Dislikes:
- Customer service could be better
Patriot
Best For Online Payments ($15 per month).
Stuarts Take
Patriot is a cloud-based accounting and payroll software designed for small businesses. It offers essential features to help businesses efficiently manage their financials, payroll, and tax obligations.
Patriot provides a user-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and comprehensive support, making it a popular choice for small business owners.
With Patriot’s accounting software, users can easily track income and expenses, create customized invoices, and generate financial reports. It simplifies bookkeeping tasks, ensuring accurate and up-to-date financial records.
The software integrates with popular payment processors, allowing businesses to accept online payments and streamline their cash flow.
| Best For | Online Payments |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Patriot Accounting Software is an accounting software solution that allows businesses to create and manage their accounts in one place. It’s perfect for small businesses, as it only offers basic expense management tools but does so with a clean interface and easy-to-use features.
The reason behind choosing this program over others is that it offers more flexibility than most other programs out there. With this, you can customize your reports or add them manually if needed; there’s no need to purchase additional modules at all.
Patriot also has impressive scalability features, so your business doesn’t have to worry about making major changes in its budgeting or invoicing processes once your business grows significantly.
The regular version has all the accounting tools needed to run a small business, including advanced journal entries, invoicing, and expense reporting.
This basic accounting software is designed for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Its key features include accounting functions such as sales tax calculations, inventory management, and payroll processing.
Additionally, it offers online banking integration to automatically deposit funds into your bank account or credit card payment gateway (if you’re using it).
The Enterprise version adds time and date management tools, bank reconciliation tools, and many more tools to make your business easier.
Patriot also offers time and date management. This feature allows you to schedule periodic tasks repeated at specified intervals. For example, you can set up a task for sending invoices once every week or month or for sending an email to all customers before payday
Key Features:
- Accounting Software: Track income and expenses, create customized invoices, and generate financial reports. The software simplifies bookkeeping tasks and provides accurate and up-to-date financial records.
- Payroll Software: Automate payroll calculations, tax withholdings, and deductions. Patriot supports various pay structures, generates paystubs, and helps with compliance regarding payroll tax regulations.
- Tax Filing Support: Prepare and file federal and state taxes accurately and on time. Access up-to-date tax forms and utilize electronic filing options to save time and minimize errors.
- Online Payments: Integrate with popular payment processors to accept online payments and streamline cash flow. Simplify invoicing and offer convenient payment options to customers.
- Employee Portal: Provide employees with secure access to view pay stubs, tax forms, and other relevant information. Enhance communication and self-service capabilities for employees.
User Experience:
All versions can have the program run on either Windows or Mac computers. The most common operating system is Windows, which is available on desktop and laptop computers.
This is a well-designed accounting software for small companies with plenty of key features. You can use the program to track your business finances, manage your employees and customers, and manage your suppliers and inventory.
The best thing about this accounting software is its customer relationship management.
It’s got all the bells and whistles you could want in an accounting package. From invoicing to payroll processing to budgeting, it’s easy for small business owners to manage and understand!
Pricing:
Patriot offers three pricing plans:
- Basic: $15 per month
- Premium: $25 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About Patriot:
Likes:
- Easy to navigate
- Remarkable customer relationship management
- Unlimited expense tracking
Dislikes:
- No mobile application
Free Agent
Best For Expense Tracking ($12 per month).
Stuarts Take
FreeAgent is a cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers, small businesses, and contractors.
It offers a range of features to help users manage their finances, track expenses, and streamline invoicing. FreeAgent is known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionality.
FreeAgent allows users to easily create and send professional invoices, track payment status, and set up automated reminders. The software also enables users to capture and categorize expenses, making it easier to monitor business spending and track tax-deductible items.
| Best For | Expense Tracking |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
Free Agent accounting software is a great way to learn accounting. You can create invoices on the fly or use templates and see them instantly reflected in the powerful client portal, with comprehensive reporting and updates on every transaction.
You’ll be able to easily track your expenses, organize your finances by category, categorize transactions into tabs for easy viewing, and export all of this data into other programs like Excel or QuickBooks Pro Plus!
Free Agent gives you complete control over your business’s financials without needing any technical skills to manage the software.
It’s easy to use and comes with all of the standard accounting features, like creating invoices instantly from within a client portal.
With this accounting software for small enterprises, you can start tracking assets with multiple asset types, including accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable (AP). The AR department tracks payments due from clients that have been paid through invoice creation.
This allows you to easily track when money has been received into an account to be leveraged for future use.
The AP department tracks expenses incurred related directly back through the same process used by AR departments – thus eliminating double entry accounting work!
The best feature of Free Agent Accounting Software is the ability to track income and expenses in just a few minutes.
Key Features:
- Invoicing: Create professional invoices, customize templates, and send them to clients. Track payment statuses and set up automated reminders to ensure timely payments.
- Expense Tracking: Capture and categorize expenses, including receipts and bills, for accurate record-keeping. Monitor business spending and track tax-deductible items.
- Bank Reconciliation: Automatically import transactions from connected bank accounts, credit cards, and PayPal. Streamline the reconciliation process and maintain accurate financial records.
- Financial Reporting: Generate financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Gain valuable insights into the financial health of your business.
- Tax Support: FreeAgent supports tax calculations and filing for VAT, self-assessment, and corporate tax. Stay compliant with tax regulations and receive guidance on tax-related matters.
User Experience:
This makes it easy for you to monitor how your business is doing and ensure that you follow each accounting step correctly.
FreeAgent has fantastic key features, but some bumps have been in the road. There are only a few options for importing, a small number of accounts in the chart of accounts, nine reports, no cash-basis accounting, no bank reconciliation, and few ways to customize invoices.
Additionally, customer service has gotten worse.
Despite these drawbacks, FreeAgent is still a fantastic accounting solution for enterprise resource planning, especially for UK consumers.
Pricing:
Free Agent offers three pricing plans:
- The package starts with 30-days free trial. After a free trial, Free Agent charges $12 for six months and then it increases to $24 for the next six months.
What I Like/Dislike | About Free Agent:
Likes:
- Advanced expense tracking
- Simple interface
- Tracks working times
Dislikes:
- No mobile app
One Up
Best For Inventory Management ($9 per month).
Stuarts Take
One Up is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
It offers a range of features to help users manage their finances, track inventory, and streamline operations. One Up is known for its intuitive interface, automation capabilities, and scalability.
With One Up, users can easily create and send professional invoices, track payment status, and set up automated reminders. The software supports multi-currency invoicing and integrates with popular payment gateways, enabling businesses to accept online payments.
| Best For | Big or Small Business |
| Price | Good |
| Annual Discount | Yes |
| Promotion | Yes |
One Up Accounting Software is an accounting software that helps you keep track of your business finances. It can be used by any company, big or small, and it’s also easy to use.
One Up Accounting Software is designed to be used by everyone on your team, so you don’t have to worry about who will be doing what when using this software. You can also sync up automatically with other programs like QuickBooks Online or Xero if you have them installed on your computer system.
The program includes a simple but powerful interface that lets users quickly create invoices, receipts, and other documents without knowing how things work under the hood!
One Up Accounting Software is a cloud-based accounting software that’s easy to use and customize.
With this bookkeeping software, you can create your accounts in minutes and manage them from anywhere with an internet connection.
One Up Accounting Software works on all devices, such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
You don’t have to worry about installing any extra software onto your device because it runs in the browser, where it needs access to server data, so you can view it no matter what device you’re using home or work.
One Up Accounting is a well-designed, easy-to-use accounting software that allows you to access all your financial information in one place.
Key Features:
- Invoicing: Create professional invoices, customize templates, and send them to clients. Track payment status and send automated reminders for outstanding invoices.
- Expense Tracking: Record and categorize expenses for accurate financial reporting. Capture receipts, track billable and non-billable expenses, and reconcile expenses with bank statements.
- Inventory Management: Track stock levels, manage purchase orders, and generate inventory reports. Automatically update inventory quantities with each sale or purchase for real-time tracking.
- Automation: Automate recurring transactions, such as invoice reminders and bill payments, to save time and reduce manual data entry. Create workflows for approval processes and set up task reminders.
- Financial Reporting: Generate financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Gain insights into business performance and make informed financial decisions.
User Experience:
One Up Accounting Software is easy to read, making it simple for anyone to understand what they’re looking at.
In addition, the reports are easy to share with others because they’re designed specifically for online use and have short titles that make them easily identifiable by anyone who comes across them online or in an email inbox (e.g., “Sales by City”).
One Up Accounting Software is a comprehensive accounting software solution that provides you with the tools to manage your business. It allows you to organize, categorize and calculate points, sales, inventory, and more.
One Up Accounting Software is a great tool for small businesses. This bookkeeping software is easy to use and affordable, with tons of key features that will make your life much easier.
Pricing:
One Up offers three pricing plans:
- Free Plan: $0
- Self: $9 per month
- Pro: $19 per month
- Plus: $29 per month
- Team: $69 per month
- Unlimited: $169 per month
What I Like/Dislike | About One Up:
Likes:
- Comprehensive inventory report
- Auto bookkeeping
- Spotless invoicing
Dislikes:
- No payroll
What to Look for in Accounting Software
Choosing the right accounting tools is important. You want to choose accounting software that is easy to use, learn, and maintain.
A free trial period is the most crucial feature to understanding accounting software programs without losing any money.
Gladly, most accounting software providers offer a free plan or trial – so you don’t have to worry. The following factors will help you in choosing the best accounting software for small business:
Speed of Operation
Speed of operation is essential for your business. The faster you can process invoices and payments, the less likely you’ll be late with a payment or two. This can make a big difference in how much monthly money you make and even whether your company will continue to exist!
Speed of operation is also important for clients. They may turn elsewhere if they need help paying their invoices on time.
System Security
Your accounting software should be secure, easy to use and maintain, and easy to upgrade. A good accounting program will also enable you to track your financial data in a way that is consistent with other important information, such as customer addresses or employee salary records.
Size of Company
When you first start working in your industry, choosing an industry-specific accounting software that supports your needs is essential. For example, if you’re a small business owner and need basic bookkeeping tools, then there’s no need for anything more complicated than QuickBooks. On the other hand, a more powerful solution may be necessary if you work at a larger company or have ambitious goals for growth and expansion (like starting up multiple locations).
Improve Team Coordination
In the modern business world, more than just the size of your team matters. It’s also how well they work together and communicate.
A good small business accounting software solution considers your needs and requirements, so it can help you coordinate with other departments in your company or organization.
A small business accounting software will facilitate the easy transfer of data between different systems and platforms — which means less work for everyone involved.
Backup and Restore
The best way to ensure that your small business accounting software is secure and reliable is by backing up all critical data in an emergency. This can be done manually, but it’s also possible to set up automated backups, so you don’t have to worry about losing any important information.
In addition, your system (or network) files and software updates need to be backed up regularly. If something goes wrong with one of these components — for example, if someone tries hacking into them, there should be another copy on hand so that you can restore information.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is a great way to save your data. Cloud storage provides a secure, centralized location for your files and data from multiple devices. You can access it from anywhere, regardless of what device you’re using or where you are in the world.
The flexibility of Licensing and Pricing Plans
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing accounting software is its flexibility.
A good accounting software for small businesses will have many key accounting features to customize according to your needs and budget.
As with any other purchase, it’s important to ask yourself what kind of business you’re running and how much money you have for software costs.
Once this has been determined, look into each plan offered by the business accounting software to determine which option offers the most value for your business type.
Conclusion
Choosing the best accounting software for small company might take time and effort. Your company’s specific requirements will determine which option is best.
Spending a lot more money on features could be necessary if you want your company to grow.
We recommend Quickbooks, Sage, and Xero in all the accounting software options. However, most of the business accounting software we evaluated come in different iterations, allowing you to start with a less powerful version and then upgrade to one that is more robust but still maintains a similar interface and functionality.