The question of “What is the best software for bookkeeping” is one that comes up frequently in my office. I have seen many clients who use different programs and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Know your firm needs and find the best fit for them.
The best software for bookkeeping will simplify your accounting and make it easier for you to manage all of your finances. The choice software depends on what information you want to track as well as the number of lines of code that you want.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is the best overall accounting software for small businesses of those reviewed. Not only do the majority of small business accounting professionals use QuickBooks Online, but there are also endless online training resources and forums to get support when needed. All accounting features can be conveniently accessed on one main dashboard, making bookkeeping more fluid and efficient.Pros
- Scalable
- Commonly used by accounting professionals
- Integration with third-party applications
- Cloud-based
- Mobile app
Cons
- Upgrade required for more users
- Occasional syncing problems with banks and credit cards
Intuit’s QuickBooks Online has been the most common accounting software used by small businesses and their bookkeeping and tax professionals. The software is cloud-based and can be accessed through a web browser or through the mobile app.
After the 30-day free trial, the four options for subscription plans include: Simple Start at $25 per month, Essentials at $40 per month, Plus at $70 per month, and Advanced at $150 per month. Typically there is a significant discount offered for the first few months, and some accountants are able to offer wholesale pricing to small businesses, as well.
The monthly subscription for this software can be upgraded as a business grows, and there are many customization options with the mobile app that can be used to receive payments, review reports, capture an image of a receipt, and track business mileage. For businesses looking for a payroll solution, QuickBooks Payroll fully integrates with QuickBooks Online.
Each plan offers more advanced features like inventory management, time tracking, additional users, and budgeting. Most service-based small businesses will find that Simple Start meets all of their needs. For product-based small businesses, Essentials or Plus will have more options for inventory and customizations. The Advanced subscription is a new offering and provides robust financial reporting that is powered by Fathom. Fathom is an elite online financial report analysis tool used by many large companies all over the world.
All plans allow integration with third-party apps such as Stripe or PayPal. QuickBooks Online’s app store breaks down all of their apps by function and provides helpful examples of the benefits of each app.
Xero
Xero is the best in our review for micro-businesses that are looking for very simple accounting software. This software has a clean interface and also fully integrates with a third-party payroll service. Businesses can collect payment online from customers through Xero’s integration with Stripe and GoCardless.Pros
- Cloud-based
- Mobile app
- Payroll integration with Gusto
- Third-party app marketplace
- Simple inventory management
Cons
- Limited reporting
- Fees charged for ACH payments
- Limited customer service
Xero was founded in 2006 in New Zealand and now has over 2.7 million users worldwide. This accounting software is popular in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Xero has over 3,500 employees and is growing rapidly in the U.S., as well.1
Xero offers three monthly subscription options and a full-service payroll add-on: Early at $11 per month, Growing at $32 per month, and Established at $62 per month. The full-service payroll option is offered through Gusto and is an additional $39 per month, plus $6 per employee. The company offers a 30-day free trial and a promotion for 50% off for two months.
The Early plan limits usage and only allows entry for five invoices or quotes, five bills, and reconciliation of 20 bank transactions per month. This limited plan may be suitable for a micro-business with high-ticket transactions, but only a few per month, such as a consulting or small service provider. Both the Growing and Established plans offer unlimited invoices, bills, and transactions. The only difference between the two is that the Established plan has additional features like multi-currency, expense management, and project costing. All three plans offer Hubdoc, a bill and receipt capture solution.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is one of the leaders in our accounting software category. Our team found FreshBooks to be the most easy-to-use accounting solution for freelance accountants and small businesses currently offered in the market.
The software is being used by more than five million users around the world to streamline time tracking and invoicing. The vendor has recently updated the product to allow easy collaboration between team members and has added a redesigned dashboard where you can prioritize tasks and manage payments. The classic features have not changed, and FreshBooks continues to offer top-rate invoice-to-payment functionalities, including direct payment gateways, overdue payment reminders, delay fees, and payment claims. You can use the system to collect payments easily and automate the recurring billing process to accept Google Checkouts, Amex, PayPal, and credit card payments.
What’s more, is that pricing is affordable for almost any budget, and the vendor offers a convenient 30-day free trial to enable you to test drive the features before you plunk down your money.
NetSuite ERP
NetSuite ERP is essentially a customer relationship management (CRM) solution, but the platform can be used for sales and marketing automation, as well as order management and customer support. It offers a myriad of tools and features to make financial management simple.
Standard features include pre-configured dashboards that can be customized by users for their specific needs. NetSuite ERP also offers robust automation and scalability features. It can grow with your company and automate processes such as financial management, order management, revenue management, fixed assets, inventory management, and billing.
The vendor offers a great demo of the product that will introduce you to all key features.
Wave Accounting
Our pick for: free option
Price: Free.
In addition to its accounting functions, Wave has a separate, free invoicing product that adds unlimited invoices and automated invoice reminders. The company, which was purchased by H&R Block in 2019, makes money through payment processing, a service you can tack on (starting at 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction). It also offers a payroll add-on that starts at $20 per month ($35 in tax service states).
Conclusion
When deciding what software to use to handle your company’s bookkeeping, there are numerous options. Some programs allow you to process invoices and other financial information; others run the entire show for you. There are all-inclusive programs designed to fit any size business and simple home-based accounting packages that fit on your desktop.