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Best Accounting Software for Small Business in 2022
What is accounting software?
Accounting software is an application that records and reports a business’s financial transactions. Core modules of accounting software includes accounts payable and receivable, billing, and bookkeeping. Non core modules of accounting software may include debt collection, expenses, timesheets, purchase reconciliation, payroll, and reporting for all of these. Accounting software is either cloud-based or desktop-based. The best accounting software for small businesses listed here is cloud-based.
The 11 Best Accounting Software for Small Business of 2022
When you start a business, accounting software is one of the first business applications you need to get. The best accounting software helps you create invoices, record incoming and outgoing payments, identify and follow up on past-due receivables, and run reports that help you?analyze your financial health ?and other aspects of your business.
To help you find the best accounting software for your business, we examined more than 100 applications. We looked for affordable, easy-to-use accounting programs with time-saving features, such as automated bank feeds, automatic payment reminders, and online invoicing and payment acceptance. We also searched for software with comprehensive, customizable, real-time financial reporting, because that is crucial for monitoring and understanding your business finances.
Here are our best picks and details about our selection process. Learn more about what you should look for in accounting software by reading our?accounting software cost and buyer's guide .
Accounting Software Review Summary
Accounting software providers considered31Minimum monthly costFreeMaximum monthly cost$350 per monthFree trial available30 day
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Accounting softwareUse caseStarting priceFree trial periodMobile applicationsIntegration optionsBill pay toolsQuickBooksSmall businesses$15 per month30 daysYesYesYesFreshBooksInvoicing$4.50 per month30 daysYesYesYesZoho BooksMicrobusinesses$9.00 per month30 daysYesYesYesOracle NetsuiteERP toolsCustomN/AYesYesYesZarmoneyTransparent pricing$15.00 per month14 daysYesYesYesGoDaddyOnline merchants$4.99 per monthNoYesYesYesWave FinancialFree optionFreeN/AYesYesYesSage BusinessFreelancers/self employed$10.00 per month30 daysYesYesInvoicingXeroGrowing businesses$11.00 per month30 daysYesYesYesMelioFree accounts payableFreeN/ANoLimitedYesPlootoAutomating accounts payable$25.00 per month30 daysNoLimitedYes
OUR REVIEWS
Intuit QuickBooks Online: Best for Small Businesses
QuickBooks Online has accounting features to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, including the ability to craft invoices, send and accept payments, and manage and track expenses.
QuickBooks' Live Bookkeeper provides professional help.
If you have the self-employed plan, you can't upgrade to one of the small business plans.
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What can't QuickBooks do? The extremely popular accounting software is used by small businesses across the country. Accountants are quick to praise the application for its affordability, ease of use and effectiveness. It's hard to find many flaws with QuickBooks, especially considering the needs of small businesses today. QuickBooks Online offers small business owners a feature-rich accounting platform that integrates with tons of business applications and doesn't break the bank. Many businesses find it helpful to connect their?credit card processing ?provider to their accounting software to close the loop on their sales. We like that the software is cloud-based and updated regularly.
Editor's score: 9.5/10
We chose QuickBooks Online as our best pick for small businesses for several reasons. With this accounting software, you can?create professional invoices , accept payments,?track expenses ?and keep a steady eye on your cash flow. And that's just with the Basic plan; the higher-priced plans let you send batch invoices, engage in deep analytics and even access a dedicated accounting team. QuickBooks Online integrates with several popular business apps, including Bill.com,?Salesforce ?and?HubSpot .
With QuickBooks, you don't have to create financial reports from scratch, thanks to the software's built-in reports, which include the trial balance, general ledger and 1099 transaction detail reports you'll need at tax time. You can mark the reports you use most as favorites so you can quickly find them at the top of the Reports page. You can also set up the software to automatically run and email reports to you, and schedule them for a specific time of day and frequency, such as daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly. QuickBooks offers some of the best reporting options of any accounting software we reviewed.
For small businesses looking to eliminate waiting on overdue invoices and wanting to get their money right away, QuickBooks users can utilize Get Paid Upfront. This invoice program allows small businesses to apply for an upfront advance of funds based on one or more of their qualifying invoices. When a small business owner sends an invoice, they’ll have the option of accessing the funds early in the form of an advance. Once approved, 97% of the invoice will instantly be deposited in their bank account for an upfront 3% cost. The advance can total up to $30,000 and is interest-free for the first 30 days.
QuickBooks also gives some users the ability to access a synced spreadsheet tool for Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheet Sync cuts down on potential errors from manual data entry and CSV imports. Users are able to connect their QuickBooks data with Excel in order to build tailored reports and conduct bulk uploads and edits.
Another advantage of QuickBooks Online is its versatile support. Whether you are the DIY type or prefer more hands-on help, QuickBooks delivers. With its Live Bookkeeping service, you can get help from a bookkeeper who will set up your software, categorize transactions, reconcile your accounts and close your books monthly and yearly. Even better, you don't get charged for services you don't need; the pricing for Live Bookkeeping depends on your needs.
If you already?have an accountant , it's easy to collaborate with QuickBooks. The software lets you give your accountant access for free; all they need to do is accept the invitation. You can remove access anytime. QuickBooks offers all types of small businesses a ton of accounting features without breaking the bank, and its reputation and adoption rate stand out in the market.
August 2021:?QuickBooks recently rolled out a new payment device that enables small businesses to accept card payments on the go. The small contactless card reader integrates with QuickBooks Payments. The company said the new device is in response to a shift in the way small businesses accept payments since the pandemic.
Intuit has announced it is acquiring Mailchimp, the marketing platform used by millions of small and medium businesses. The accounting software company plans to integrate data from Mailchimp with QuickBooks so customers have actionable information to grow their business. The acquisition furthers Intuit’s goal to offer small businesses the digital tools necessary to support their growth.
April 2021:?Intuit has launched a new DocuSign feature for QuickBooks that lets small businesses sign estimates directly from its online platform. The DocuSign eSignature Connector speeds up the process of sending estimates and enables you to track your estimates' progress.
May 2021:?QuickBooks Online is making it easier for business owners and accountants to manage their finance apps with the integration of Docyt. Docyt is an AI-powered tool that enables business owners to pay bills, manage expenses, capture receipts, and run reports from one location. Docyt's integration with QuickBooks reduces the number of apps a business owner has to deal with to manage their finances.
FreshBooks Accounting Software: Best for Invoicing
FreshBooks lets you easily craft invoices, accept payments through invoices, track expenses and send automatic reminders.
You get a full suite of accounting tools to do everything from track time and expenses to run financial reports.
If you need to add several team members, it can get expensive.
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If you need to create and send invoices, it can be challenging to find a small business accounting app that matches your needs. Some solutions excel at invoicing but offer no accounting features; others include solid accounting services but lack quality invoicing tools. FreshBooks, on the other hand, succeeds at both.
Editor's score: 9/10
Although all accounting software products have invoicing tools, FreshBooks is incredibly easy to use, which is why we picked it as the best accounting software for invoicing. The format is intuitive, and with just a few clicks, you can add billable time and expenses, customize the look of the invoice, and set up recurring invoices, automatic payment reminders and late fees.
This accounting software connects to your bank, generates several reports, tracks time and helps you manage projects. As a bonus, FreshBooks lets you give clients the option to pay bills through invoices, which speeds up the process of getting paid. If you have?clients who are late in paying bills , FreshBooks lets you gently nudge them via reminders and alerts when bills are due or past due. You'll know when customers receive and open invoices with this accounting software.
Beyond invoicing, there are a lot of other attributes of FreshBooks that made it one of our best picks. For example, you can track time spent on projects, as well as snap pictures of receipts and log them on the go. Plus, the double-entry accounting features ensure you don't make mistakes that could throw off your ledger. With automatic checks and balances, you can rest assured that your debits and credits will balance out. This software also integrates with more than 80 popular business applications to give you a better overall view of your business.
FreshBooks gives you all of the features small businesses need in an accounting and invoicing software application. Although it's not as comprehensive as some of the other options on the market, FreshBooks offers tremendous value as accounting software with strong invoicing capabilities. The ability to combine accounting software tools and invoicing tools is rare, but FreshBooks does the job effectively. For businesses that don't send invoices, other accounting solutions make more sense, but freelancers and project-based businesses will naturally be drawn to the features and affordability of FreshBooks.
Oracle NetSuite Accounting Software: Best ERP Tools
NetSuite offers a variety of features, including enterprise resource planning tools.
The software focuses on automation, making it simple to send and collect invoices.
The website isn't clear about pricing, so you need to contact a sales representative to determine the cost.
Oracle's NetSuite is a great choice for small business owners who want to get a complete picture of their business while automating aspects of accounting. With this software, you can manage all aspects of your business from one dashboard, making NetSuite our pick for the best accounting software with enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools.
Editor's score: 8.5/10
NetSuite is a full-featured accounting and ERP program geared toward businesses with more complex needs. You can make and receive payments, run a slew of reports and manage taxes. NetSuite has embraced automation, making it easy to send invoices and receive payments, and it has robust tax management tools that support all currencies and exchange rates. If you have international sales, the software automatically processes sales and payments based on the local laws you're selling or operating in. There's also a revenue recognition management solution that helps business owners meet?accounting standards ?and report financial results on time.
Cash flow management is also simple thanks to a robust set of features that provide insight into your cash, making it easier to optimize cash, control bank accounts and remain compliant with rules and regulations. NetSuite's payment management system centralizes payments, while the planning and budgeting features unify data to help you plan. It's also easy to create budgets and forecasts, plan for what-if scenarios and run reports on many aspects of your business. To keep you in control, NetSuite lets you set permissions.
NetSuite also has numerous ERP tools to manage finances, inventory, production and the supply chain, and the ERP functionality also helps you plan for the future. Because NetSuite comes with so many features and tools, it's difficult to get an accurate price without reaching out to a NetSuite sales representative. There's an online form you can fill out to set up a free demonstration.
NetSuite may not make sense if you are self-employed or a microbusiness without complex needs. But if you require a more holistic approach to accounting and want to be able to budget, plan and forecast, NetSuite deserves serious consideration.
Zoho Books Accounting Software: Best for Microbusinesses
Zoho Books has apps for popular operating systems and devices – including Apple, Android and Windows – allowing you to send invoices, reconcile accounts, and accept payments on the go.
Through Xero, you can track and manage bills and vendor credits.
Xero has a limit of 5,000 transactions per month, which isn't enough for some businesses.
Microbusinesses need simple accounting software, and that's where Zoho Books comes in. Zoho Books offers all of the basic features that microbusinesses need, as well as advanced tools such as project billing and time tracking. It also has integrations, so you can continue using the software as your business grows. We selected Zoho Books as the best accounting application for microbusinesses because of its simplicity and value.
Editor's score: 8.75/10
With its Apple, Android and Windows mobile apps, Zoho Books makes it easy for business owners to send invoices and manage their books on the go. There are even dedicated apps for the Apple Watch and Android smartwatches. The ability to create and send invoices from the app means that, as soon as you finish a job, you can bill a client, instead of waiting to get back to the office.
When you use simple accounting software, you don't want an outdated user interface or features that are so basic you can't glean important business insights from the data. That's what makes Zoho Books stand out: While the platform is easy to use, it doesn't lack features, and the interface is modern and sleek. It can also speed up many business processes via automation, which is a nice time-saving feature.
You can set recurring invoices and send automatic payment reminders, and if you link your payment processor with Zoho Books, you can accept payments in invoices. You can automate reporting, too; Zoho Books lets you schedule when to run reports and then automatically emails them to you.
Another feature that sets Zoho Books apart from its rivals is the company's client portal, a website your customers can visit to view invoices, make comments and pay online. This is a particularly helpful feature for businesses that work closely with their clients on projects. If you want feedback from your customers, you can set up the portal to allow them to review your services.
Zoho also has its own suite of integrated business apps, including?customer relationship management (CRM) ?software, email marketing and social media marketing solutions, spreadsheet editors, and other productivity tools. Like its competitors, Zoho Books integrates with third-party productivity apps and business solutions, including Google apps, the Square point-of-sale (POS) system, several credit card processors, and tax services Tax1099 and Avalara. It also has a Zapier integration, which allows you to connect to more than 1,000 third-party apps. With all those features and services, it's easy to see why Zoho Books is our pick for the best accounting software for microbusinesses.
September 2021:?Aiming to help small business owners as they emerge from the pandemic, Zoho made its Zoho Invoice platform free to its customers. In addition to sending bills, the software lets you track time, manage project billing, and access more than 30 features and tools to help you get paid and collect past-due bills.
GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping: Best for Online Merchants
GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping
GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping integrates sales data from Amazon, Etsy and PayPal. You can generate reports and make business decisions based on real-time information.
There are three pricing plans that cater to different-sized businesses and merchants.
GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping was designed for sole proprietors and limited liability companies; larger businesses may need a program with more accounting features.
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The sales channels are blurring for small business owners who must manage both online and offline sales, which is why it's important for those businesses to have an accounting program that can keep all of those transactions together. GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping stands out in that regard, thanks to?integrations with?marketplaces such as Amazon ?, Etsy and PayPal; the ease with which you can send invoices and accept payments; and the ability to run a slew of reports. Plus, you get all of those features at an affordable price, making GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping our choice for the best accounting software for online merchants.
Editor's score: 7.75/10
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Xero: Best for Growing Businesses
Xero
Xero offers more than 700 app integrations to manage all aspects of your business.
You get support via email and live chat 24 hours a day.
Xero isn't as well known as QuickBooks, which may affect your accountant's learning curve.
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Although many businesses start small, they don't always stay that way. You want accounting software that can grow alongside your business, and Xero does exactly that.
Editor's score: 8.5/10
The ZarMoney website clearly lays out pricing.
ZarMoney connects with more than 9,600 banks in the U.S. and Canada to automatically import bank transactions.
You can't send recurring invoices yet.
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With ZarMoney, there are no secrets about pricing. The company's website states exactly how much you'll pay monthly, which is why we chose it as our pick for the best accounting software for transparent pricing. Far too often, it's hard to determine how much an accounting program will cost, making it difficult to comparison-shop. ZarMoney, by contrast, prides itself on being straightforward, and that's reflected in the clearly laid-out pricing plans.
Editor's score: 8.25/10
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Plooto: Best for Automating Accounts Payable Processes
Plooto's payment platform lets you manage payments, approvals, reconciliation and reporting from one central location.
The software provides accounts payable and accounts receivable automation, speeding up payments.
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Plooto syncs with only QuickBooks and Xero, which could be limiting.
Most small businesses are crunched for time, so?anything they can automate is welcome . Plooto gives small businesses a whole lot of that for a low price, which is why we selected it as the best accounting software for automating?accounts payable processes .
Editor's score: 7.75/10
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Wave Financial: Best Free Option
Wave Financial
Wave links with bank accounts and credit cards, so you can track expenses automatically.
Wave gives you standard bookkeeping services for free.
Wave's integrations are more limited than some of its rivals'.
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Wave Financial offers many important, quality accounting features for free. It connects to your bank accounts in real time, and offers payroll and invoicing features and unlimited accountant connections. Those are just a few of the reasons we selected Wave as our pick for the best free accounting software.
Editor's score: 8/10
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Sage: Best for Freelancers/Self-Employed
Sage
Sage lets you create and send invoices, track payments, and automatically reconcile bank entries.
It offers 24/7 support via live Q&A chats with experts at Sage, as well as one-on-one sessions with an accounting expert.
The software integrates with only one POS system.
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Freelancers and self-employed people ?need an affordable accounting program that can help them send invoices and get paid. Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers that and much more, making it our pick for the best accounting software for freelancers and the self-employed.
Editor's score: 7.5/10
Sage Business Cloud Accounting is inexpensive accounting software that packs a lot of punch. With the entry-level plan, you can create and send invoices, track payments and automatically reconcile bank entries.
Sage has another plan that costs $25 a month for unlimited users. With it, you can send invoices, quotes and estimates; run reports and conduct analysis to forecast cash flow; manage purchase invoices; and automatically snap and post receipts. Sage makes that service free for the first three months, and the company is currently running a promotion that gives business users 50% off the higher-tier plan for six months.
We also like that Sage offers a free 30-day trial. Sage also makes it easy to cancel; there isn't a long-term contract that costs extra to break, but you do have to give the company advance notice of cancellation. Another reason we chose Sage for freelancers and self-employed people is that it is easy to set up and navigate. The software automates a lot of the accounting processes that are typically manual, such as posting expenses and payments and sending invoices and reminders about past-due bills. Thanks to its integrations and apps, Sage is easily expandable as your business grows. The company operates an online app marketplace and integrates with a slew of apps, including AutoEntry, Draycir, Avalara and Credit Hound.
Sage's customer service is very accessible, which is good news for freelancers and self-employed people who don't have?accounting expertise . If you have questions or need help, you can access customer support 24/7 by chat and live Q&A sessions. Sage also offers one-on-one help through online sessions with Sage accounting experts.
For self-employed and freelance workers, it's essential to be able to quickly and easily send invoices and track payments. With Sage Business Cloud Accounting, you get an affordable way to keep cash flowing, making it a great accounting program for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Melio: Best Free Accounts Payable Software
Melio
It's free to make and accept payments from bank accounts.
You can easily schedule and track payments and control who has access to your accounts payable and receivables.
Melio charges a 2.9% fee for credit card transactions.
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Some business owners don't need complex accounting software. If you just need to send invoices and receive payments, you should seriously consider Melio. We chose this free accounts payable software as one of our best picks because you can make and accept payments, manage bills and integrate with QuickBooks for free.
Editor's score: 7.25/10
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ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE PRICING
Accounting software helps business owners streamline billing and accounting, and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Most programs offer several plans to accommodate your needs and budget.
There are typically two types of pricing models for accounting software: perpetual licensing or a recurring subscription. With a perpetual licensing model, you make a one-time payment for unlimited access to the software. With a subscription pricing model, you pay a monthly or annual fee for access to the software.
For subscription pricing, expect to pay anywhere from $4.99 per month for a basic starter plan to as much as $60 per month for a more advanced service plan. Other factors, like the included features and number of users, will affect the monthly cost as well.
Regardless of the pricing model you select, watch out for hidden fees, which can include added charges for customization options, installation or setup services, integrations, and maintenance or support services.
If your business is on a really tight budget, you might want to consider free accounting software. Wave, for instance, offers many of the accounting and invoicing features you would find in paid programs.
When you're choosing accounting and billing software for your business, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of any free trials to test out the solutions and see which one offers the features and tools you need. Plus, spending time with the software beforehand helps you feel more confident in your decision.
KEY FEATURES OF ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
There are many aspects of accounting software that help make it a useful tool. As a small business owner, it's important to know which features to look for. Most online accounting software offers accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking and reporting features. Some programs include inventory management, project management, time tracking and payroll tools.
Here are some of the core features to look for in accounting software:
Bank Feed
This feature connects the software to your business bank and credit card accounts to receive a daily update of your transactions. This saves you time, because you will not have to upload transactions manually. It also gives you a daily, rather than monthly, overview of your accounts. A real-time bank-feed feature can assist with reconciliation, allowing you to make it a small daily task rather than a monthly ordeal.
Dashboard
When you log in to your account, you'll be greeted by a dashboard that shows you an overview of your account activity and key metrics, such as cash flow, profit and loss, account balances, expenses, accounts payable and receivable, and sales. Some accounting programs allow you to customize what you see first by rearranging the information.
Online Invoicing
If your business sends invoices, the ability to email them and accept online payments helps you get paid faster. Some accounting programs integrate with third-party payment processors; others require you to use their in-house processing services. It's a plus for accounting software to also serve as an invoice generator.
Recurring Invoices
With this feature, you can schedule the system to automatically generate and send invoices for recurring charges, such as subscriptions. You can choose how frequently invoices are sent – daily, weekly, monthly or annually – and indicate whether there's an end date to the billing.
Automatic Payment Reminders
This feature helps you remind customers about upcoming and past-due payments. Some have sample email text that you can use as is or customize. You can then choose when you want the reminders to be sent. Some programs give you the option to send thank-you emails to customers after you receive their payments.
Bank Reconciliation
Smart reconciliation tools identify potential matches between your bank transactions and the bills and invoices you've entered into the accounting software, saving you the hours it would otherwise take to sift through your bank account for this information. You can then approve or deny the suggested matches. The best applications suggest potential matches as you reconcile your accounts, and a few include a reconciliation tool in their mobile apps.
Financial Reporting
Every accounting program can generate financial reports. But some are more basic than others, and some require you to subscribe to a pricier plan for advanced reporting. If you need specific?types of financial reports , you'll want to make sure they're included in the software application and plan you choose. Detailed reports can help you interpret your financial data to make informed business decisions.
Mobile Apps
Not all accounting and invoicing programs have mobile apps, but the best ones do. There is, however, quite a range in the capabilities of mobile apps. Some can only?capture receipts for expense tracking , some allow you to create and send invoices, and others have almost every feature the web-based software does. It's worth checking if the software you're considering offers a mobile app and, if so, what features are included in the app that will help you manage your business while you're away from the office.
Integrations
The ability to connect your accounting software to other business programs you use saves you valuable time because you don't have to manually transfer data from one system to another. Payroll, payment processing, POS systems and CRM software are just a few of the popular types of integrations that are available with accounting software. Integration with systems you already use also cuts down on training time for employees who will use the software.
Tracking for Billable Hours
If you're a consultant or your business bills clients by the hour, you need software that allows you to track and bill your time or that integrates with the time-tracking program you already use. This is an important feature for freelancers.
Inventory Management
If you have a retail, e-commerce or distribution business, you need an application that helps with inventory tracking and purchase orders. You may need to subscribe to a top-tier plan to get this feature. If you need more advanced inventory features, look for software that integrates with a dedicated inventory management system.
Project-Based Billing
Firms, freelancers and consultants who work with clients on projects or jobs should look for accounting software that helps them track their projects' tasks and budgets. The software should allow you to invoice customers for tracked time and bill them for project expenses.
Support for Multiple Businesses
Several programs we evaluated let you add more than one business to your account, though some companies charge extra for this convenience. Also, the?types of accounting ?tools that are important to you will depend on the specific needs of your business. For example, if you run a small freelance business,?project-based billing ?might be the most important feature on your list. Or, if you plan to do some work on your mobile device, a full-featured mobile app might be at the top of your list.
BENEFITS OF ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
Managing your finances is vital to the success of your business, and choosing the right accounting software can make that a whole lot easier. There are a lot of benefits from swapping out pen and paper or an Excel spreadsheet for accounting software. Here's a look at a few of them.
Improves organization
Small businesses can't afford not to have their finances in order. Whether it's time to pay the tax bill or forecast for the next year, it can be difficult to get the information you need if you are not organized. Accounting software helps you stay on top of your financial data. It organizes financial information, stores it in one location and automates many time-consuming accounting processes, thereby freeing you up to focus on running your business.
Doesn't break the bank
Thanks to cloud-based offerings, the price of accounting software has come down a lot over the years. Today, small business owners have a lot of choice: Accounting software costs range from free to $350 a month. The size of your business and your accounting needs dictate how much you pay. But if that monthly cost means you'll optimize cash flow, meet tax obligations and identify growth opportunities, it's probably worth it.
Ensures best practices
Taxes are part of running a business, and many accounting software vendors are well aware of that. As such, they've designed programs that?calculate sales tax , prepare tax forms and even file taxes with no intervention on your part.
FAQS
How does accounting software work?
Accounting software records transactions and tracks different accounting metrics. You can set up the software to automatically receive financial information from your bank or use an extremely basic version that might require manually inputting the data. We encourage you to use software that automatically receives financial information from your bank and credit card provider to track your business's finances. Further, most software solutions store the information in the cloud, so your data will be secure and safe if your computer crashes or you experience other technical issues.
Which small business accounting system is best?
Based on our research, QuickBooks Online is the best small business accounting system. But, depending on the specific needs of your business, another system may be a better fit or better value. For example, if your business provides a service and sends a lot of invoices, FreshBooks might be the best choice for you because of its robust invoicing features. See our best picks above for our specific recommendations for different business sizes and needs.
What do you need from your accounting software?
You need accounting software that tracks the money moving in and out of your business, with both?accounts payable and accounts receivable features . Some software solutions don't include both accounts payable and accounts receivable information. Also, accounting software should connect to your bank and credit card accounts and automatically download your transactions. If your business is service based, you may need project management tools. If your business sells products, you may want an accounting solution that has inventory management features. Last, look for software solutions that offer greater advantages by connecting to other business applications you already use, such as your point-of-sale system, customer relationship management system or email marketing software.
Do you need online bookkeeping software instead of accounting software?
For small businesses, the term "online bookkeeping software" is usually interchangeable with "online accounting software." (However, there is a?difference between bookkeepers and accountants .) The best online accounting programs for small businesses have bookkeeping capabilities that allow you to record debit and credit transactions, as well as accounting features that let you run reports and analyze your business's financial performance. Look for more than just a bookkeeping solution; accounting software should include more detail and let you generate invoices and detailed reports.
Should your accounting software also act as an invoice generator?
It depends on your business. If you generate (or expect to generate) a lot of invoices to send to clients and customers, we recommend that you find a comprehensive accounting application with invoice-generating features. Freelancers should consider using accounting software that can generate invoices.
What does an online accounting service do?
Online accounting services can perform a?wide range of tasks ?for busy business owners. Some focus on?bookkeeping duties , such as entering and categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts, and generating financial statements and reports that you can take to your CPA at tax time. Others provide payroll and tax preparation services. Some – such as virtual controllers, chief financial officers and CPAs – provide high-level accounting services, like internal audits and financial planning and analysis.
How much should a small business plan expect to pay for accounting software?
For some small business owners, an accounting platform that tracks expenses and sends invoices is all that's needed. For others, advanced reporting, inventory management, and e-commerce are more important. The camp you fall into will dictate how much you pay for accounting software. Some accounting software options are free, while paid versions can cost as much as $25 per month, per user. The total cost of what you spend will be determined by the complexity of the software you choose and how many employees you want to have access to it.
Should small businesses look for certain accounting software attributes?
Small business owners should look for accounting software that is easy to install, simple to use, easily integrates with third-party apps, and provides a bevy of features and functionality including invoicing and inventory management. The best accounting software enables easy collaboration between you and your accountant.
Why should my business consider changing accounting software vendors??
When it comes to accounting software, changing is easier said than done. After all, you already uploaded all your data into the platform and learned how to operate it. Nonetheless, there are reasons to consider a switch, as painful as it may be. They include:
What business processes have been automated with accounting software??
A big reason to use accounting software is to automate manual processes. That reduces the likelihood of human error and speeds up accounting. In accounting software, automation is ever present. It's used to extract data from large tax documents, create new journal entries, track payments, send invoices and eliminate manual data entry.?
COMMUNITY EXPERTS
When searching for accounting software, it is important to find a solution that not only offers all the features and tools you need but also fits within your budget. Candace Galiffa, the founder of?NewWay Accounting, said she chose QuickBooks Online because it checked both of those boxes.?
Not only does Galiffa feel the software is affordable, but it also has a number of key features that stand out to her, such as its ability to connect with banks and its invoicing platform.?
"At the end of the day, most business owners are on a cash basis, and we want to make business banking as simple as possible," said Galiffa. "This really allows business owners not to miss any deductions."?
QuickBooks' customer service was also a plus to Galiffa. Their representatives offered guidance on using the software, which made the accounting program easier to navigate.??
FreshBooks was the software of choice for Katie Thomas, CFO of?Diamond J Accounting. One aspect of the software she finds particularly appealing is its bank reconciliation process. This is a key function she looks for in accounting software, because business owners receive automatic transaction updates.??
However, one concern Thomas had with FreshBooks was the lack of customization available with the software's features.?"As small business owners, you want something that is going to be easy to use, accessible and can grow with you," Thomas said. "Just because you're a small business doesn't mean you have to think small. You want something that can adapt and something that offers project tracking."??
Thomas referred to Xero as a fair program because of its open API and project management software integrations. For Thomas, these features were worth mentioning because they help make operations more organized and streamlined.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2022
As businesses begin to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's clear some functions adopted during that time will continue to be used. One massive area is cloud-based software. With more and more businesses allowing employees to continue to work from home, being able to access critical programs, such as accounting software, has become imperative.
This demand is helping drive growth in the accounting software market. Research from Fortune Business Insights projects the accounting software industry to hit $20.4 billion in 2026, up from just $11 billion in 2018.?
Working from home ?was the only option for many people during the pandemic and will continue to be popular with workers and employers across the globe in 2022. Accounting software vendors are responding by automating even more aspects of accounting.
We expect more and more accounting software providers to find ways to incorporate more artificial intelligence and machine learning into their software in 2022. For example,?BlackLine , which makes accounting automation software, recently inked a $150 million deal to buy AI company Rimilia, which operates a software-as-a-service platform that simplifies cash flow and collection.