Business owners and entrepreneurs have a lot of decisions to make to ensure the success of their business and know whether they are making sound investments or if they need to readjust their strategy. As you plan ahead, you will likely find yourself turning to accounting resources for direction. Here is a look at some of the top accounting software that can help you keep your business growing and effective.
Budget planning and tracking are one of the essential parts of business. Without proper budgeting, a business will haphazardly grow, and it will be underdeveloped in many areas. This could lead to sudden changes in the growth of a company. Budgeting helps a company to keep revenue up with the expenses to stay on track for long term success. Accounting software helps with budgeting by calculating the exact expenses and revenue at any moment so that there can be proper forecasting for any changes.
Best Accounting Software All Businesses Need
1. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a web-based accounting software that serves the needs of freelancers and small businesses.
Lawyers, accountants, and other service providers who require ongoing payment from clients will find FreshBooks’ Retainers function indispensable.
With both an individual and team plan, it’s simple to get in touch with other people you hire or contract with.
FreshBooks now includes double-entry accounting, a useful feature for any company’s financial records. In addition to accepting ACH payments, FreshBooks has robust invoicing functionality, time tracking, and project management tools.
Project management, time tracking, and budgeting can all be done efficiently in FreshBooks. Author’s own image.
FreshBooks also allows you to easily monitor your business’s expenses by linking the program to your bank accounts and allowing you to make estimates and proposals.
If you have employees that need to be paid, you can use the Gusto Payroll integration with FreshBooks because payroll is not a feature of FreshBooks. An iOS and Android app is available for use with FreshBooks.
FreshBooks has a number of different pricing tiers available. If you’re in business for yourself, you can save money by choosing the Lite plan, while the Premium plan is better suited for a small company. Pricing for FreshBooks ranges from $13.50 for the Lite version to $45.00 for the Premium version. The company offers exclusive, tailored rates for a limited number of products.
The fact that you will really utilize FreshBooks is perhaps the largest perk. Many freelancers and business owners are resistant to changing their tried-and-true method of utilizing spreadsheets to track their business’s finances, but FreshBooks is so intuitive that you’ll find yourself using it anyhow.
The minimum cost of using FreshBooks is justified since it provides just the right amount of capabilities for small businesses without burdening them with features they will never need.
Finally, FreshBooks is a one-stop shop for all of your accounting needs, including invoicing, time and expenditure tracking, basic project management, and more.
2. QuickBooks Online
Small businesses, sole practitioners, and CPA practices can all benefit from using QuickBooks Online. To better assist small businesses in streamlining their accounting and financial management processes, this cloud-based program integrates all necessary accounting tools into a single platform.
Taxes, expenses, invoices, reports on the company’s financial health, utility payments, and sales metrics, among others, can all be calculated automatically. QuickBooks Online allows you to use it on a number of different gadgets, and its built-in syncing features ensure that your data is always accurate and up to date.
With regards to integrations, QuickBooks Online can be used with other Intuit programs like QuickBooks Payments and QuickBooks Payroll. When it comes to other programs, QuickBooks works well with Bill.com, Jobber, Mavenlink, Method CRM, Shoeboxed, and TSheets. A monthly subscription to QuickBooks Online starts at just $10.00 for a single user.
3. Zoho Books
Those who own a business and need a way to keep tabs on costs and streamline routine tasks would benefit the most.
A business that uses Zoho Books will have access to all the features they might want in an accounting program. Numerous options and configurations make the program flexible enough to serve users of varying skill levels and organizational structures. Multiple users, contacts, and processes can all be accommodated. Not only that, but it also works with a wide variety of CRM and e-commerce platforms.
Features:
- Inventory
- Projects
- Invoicing and expenses
- Estimates
- Tax payments
Cons: No support for multiple currencies
Verdict: When it comes to affordable accounting software, ZohoBooks is hard to beat. The software comes with several useful functions in its most basic form. The professional edition is ideal for businesses that require more sophisticated accounting capabilities.
Price: There are three different Zoho Books plans to choose from. 50 contacts, 2 users, 5 automated workflows, bank reconciliation, custom invoices, expenses, recurring transactions, sales approval, and budgeting are all part of the $9/month Basic package.
The Standard plan costs $19 per month and includes features like bill administration, vendor credits, reporting tags, purchase approval, and Twilio connection in addition to support for 500 contacts, 3 users, and 10 workflows.
The Premium plan costs $29 a month and includes superior features like purchase orders, sales orders, stock tracking, a custom domain, and a vendor portal in addition to support for 500 contacts, 3 users, and 10 workflows. A 14-day trial of the program is available as well.
4. AccountEdge Pro
For good reason, AccountEdge Pro is our favorite accounting software.
AccountEdge Pro is an on-premise solution that is well suited for small and expanding organizations, since it allows for easy navigation of the complete accounting cycle and provides the added convenience of remote access.
AccountEdge Pro is well suited for e-commerce businesses because to its seamless interaction with Shopify and UPS Shipping.
Billable and non-billable time may be tracked separately using AccountEdge Pro’s superior time and billing functionality. In addition to both self-service and full-service payroll options, a robust inventory module makes it simple to keep track of inventories. You may now link your bank and credit card accounts to AccountEdge Pro and take advantage of the automatic bank feed feature. The bank feed service has a yearly subscription price of $5.
If you’re a small or developing firm, you’ll appreciate the professional invoicing options that AccountEdge Pro provides. Author’s own image.
AccountEdge Pro’s Contacts module allows you to maintain a centralized database of your company’s clients, suppliers, and staff.
AccountEdge Pro has great reporting capabilities, such as an audit trail report. There is also a mobile app that can be downloaded on Apple and Google mobile devices.
The reasonable cost of using AccountEdge Pro is certainly a plus. Modular, with four price points ranging from $149 for the cheapest “Basic” plan to $399 for the most expensive “Pro” plan, this service is scalable to your needs. The Payroll subscription and any additional licenses will cost you extra. Check out AccountEdge Pro Hosted if you need full online access to all features and functionalities. AccountEdge Connect costs $25/month for up to five users, while AccountEdge Pro Hosted costs $40/user/month.
With AccountEdge Connect, remote access to the program costs $25 per month. Phone assistance is also an additional cost.
AccountEdge Pro’s reliability as an on-premise app with remote access is another another perk. AccountEdge Pro’s pricing is flexible, with options that work for businesses of all sizes, from a sole proprietor to a multinational conglomerate.
To sum up, AccountEdge Pro provides all the accounting tools a developing company may require, since it combines the stability of a desktop computer with the portability of a mobile app for individuals who need access while away from the office.
5. NetSuite ERP
NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is primarily a CRM solution, although it also has applications in sales and marketing automation, order administration, and customer support. It has a wide variety of options that make managing your money a breeze.
Pre-set dashboards that can be modified to meet the needs of individual users are included as part of the standard set of features. Additionally, NetSuite ERP has advanced automation and scalability options. It’s flexible enough to adapt as your business expands and can automate a wide range of tasks, including accounting, orders, revenues, assets, stock, and invoices.
You may get a thorough introduction to the product and its capabilities by checking out the vendor’s excellent demo.
An additional strength of NetSuite ERP is the system’s robust reporting capabilities. To begin with, users may quickly and simply tailor their perspective on key performance indicators and generate reports that are relevant to their function in the firm. They can monitor inventory levels and keep tabs on vendor performance to further enhance the customer service they provide.
6. Bill.com
Suitable for advanced automation of accounts payable and accounts receivable and cutting-edge bill-paying features.
When it comes to automating your accounts payable and receivable processes, Bill.com is the cloud solution you’ve been looking for. It has upgraded bill pay features. It’s a one-stop-shop for payment automation, with a unified platform that facilitates the linking of various financial instruments and accountancy programs.
Features:
- Bill.com has convenient tools like auto-entry for your records.
- Invoices that look identical can be spotted via this tool.
- All the latest payment methods are supported, including e-checks, virtual credit cards, and even international wire transfers.
- A record of all financial transactions is kept.
- It allows users to create unique roles and approval processes.
Cons:
- Some of the characteristics of the reports have been criticized.
Verdict: Smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will benefit most from this cloud-based software. International transactions will be facilitated. Everything related to your monetary transactions, from initiation to completion, can be automated. You’ll have more power and less wasted effort.
Price: Bill.com has four different pricing plans aimed at businesses: Essentials (at $39/monthly user), Team (at $49/monthly user), Corporate (at $69/monthly user), and Enterprise (at $119/monthly user). The solution is priced at $49 per month for accounting firms. If you want to test out the program, you can download a free demo version.
7. Sage 50cloud Accounting
Sage 50cloud Accounting is a good choice for small and growing businesses, with multiple plans available. Sage 50cloud Accounting includes a solid inventory module and offers integration with multiple point-of-sale (POS) applications, which makes it particularly suitable for retailers.
Sage 50cloud Accounting offers excellent vendor management capability. Image source: Author
Sage 50cloud Accounting allows you to connect your bank accounts or track your business expenses in a more traditional fashion. The application also includes excellent customer management and sales management, including the ability to accept online payments. You also have the option to pay your vendors electronically, or by printing checks for mailing.
The Inventory module in Sage 50cloud Accounting includes multiple pricing levels along with user-defined fields for tracking additional information. Two payroll options, Essentials and Full-Service, are available, and reporting options are top-notch.
Sage 50cloud Accounting also includes a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
Sage 50cloud Accounting offers three plans: Pro, Premium, and Quantum, with yearly pricing starting at $340 for the Pro plan. The Premium plan, which most small businesses would likely benefit from, costs $510/year, while Quantum pricing runs $842/year.
With three plans available, Sage 50cloud Accounting can be beneficial to growing businesses.
Integration with Microsoft 365 offers easy online accessibility, and access to POS and inventory features makes this application particularly useful for both brick-and-mortar retailers as well as those who sell products online.
Bottom Line: With Sage 50cloud, you can keep tabs on sales, generate reports, send and receive invoices and payments, and keep tabs on your company’s vendors, customers, and employees.
Sage 50cloud Accounting, formerly known as Peachtree Software, is a cross-platform accounting solution that can be installed locally and used remotely as needed.
8. Tipalti Approve
To facilitate the processing of mass payments around the world, Tipalti Approve is a cloud-based payment automation and administration platform. Because of this, companies with branches all over the world can benefit from using the program. You can take payments from buyers in over 190 different countries using a total of six different payment alternatives like PayPal, wire transfers, local bank transfers, and debit cards. Furthermore, the program streamlines the regular operation of guaranteeing that your business’s financial data and procedures are up-to-date, precise, and straightforward to understand.
It’s a win-win for firms because the program reduces the risk of overworked accountants and late payments. It supports a wide variety of payment gateways and ERP systems, and its payment reconciliation, accounts payable, and financial reporting functions are very adaptable.
The vendor’s free trial, which includes access to all of the software’s capabilities, is another selling point.
By allowing suppliers to enter their own tax information into the Supplier Management site, you may greatly reduce the potential for downstream problems and human error. Supplier data is protected by a Remittance Validation Engine that keeps an eye on more than 26,000 different national and international standards.
9. Wave
The top free option for managing your cash flow, accounts, and invoices.
Wave is a free bookkeeping program that can be used by any business or individual. You can use the program to handle simple accounting tasks. The software can be used to manage sales and purchases, cash flow, and other financial aspects of business.
Features:
- Payroll
- Purchases
- Invoice management
- Cash flow management
Cons: Inadequate advanced functionality.
Verdict: If you need a free and straightforward accounting program, consider downloading Wave. It’s equipped to handle the requirements of sole proprietors and small businesses alike. Since it’s free, there’s not much you can find fault with in the bookkeeping program.
Price: Free.
10. AccountingSuite
Accessibility via the cloud and robust accounting functionality are just two of the aspects that make AccountingSuite a viable option for small businesses today. AccountingSuite also provides bank connectivity, with support for establishing connections to more than 9,000 banks.
The Purchases module handles bill processing and payment, whereas the Sales module handles invoicing. The application provides the option to record the time spent on each project as well as monitor its profitability.
AccountingSuite, however, also has some exceptional capabilities not typically found in such compact accounting programs.
To sum up, AccountingSuite is a top-notch accounting software program that excels at inventory management for small enterprises.
Best 10 Accounting Services for Small Business
1-800Accountant
1-800Accountant, the go-to firm for entry-level accounting packages, provides a robust Basic Plan for small businesses for a flat charge of $125.00 per month. Because of their affordable flat charge and comprehensive services, which include both human assistance from a countrywide team of specialists and the ease of digital technology, we have selected 1-800Accountant as the finest accounting firm for a basic plan.
Advantages of 1-800Accountant
– Low, flat rate, no matter the volume of transactions
– Professional local accountant who cares
– Services for preparing and filing tax returns, at a fair price
– Withdraw your payment anytime within the first 30 days.
Disadvantages of 1-800Accountant
– The limitations of the standard plan are noticeable.
– Costs for additional services skyrocket.
inDinero
InDinero has been perfecting its all-in-one accounting service for small businesses since its launch in 2009. In addition to providing one of the most comprehensive service packages, inDinero gives clients easy access to a team of staff accountants and financial experts through its user-friendly dashboard or mobile app. As a result, InDinero checks every box, making it our choice for the finest overall accounting firm for small businesses.
InDinero is our choice for the finest overall accounting business because it offers a comprehensive range of accounting services to its clients, an easy-to-use platform, access to in-house specialists, and a committed customer support team.
Advantages of inDinero
– Real-time financial insights
– Scalable solutions for businesses at various stages of development
– Integrates with payment services such as Bill.com and Expensify
Disadvantages of inDinero
– Every time you speak with a CFO, you might work with a different one
– No time-tracking or project management features
Software-as-a-service accounting solutions like InDinero’s proprietary software and CFO access may be useful.
Block Advisors
Virtual trading advice is provided by Block Advisors, a division of H&R Block. Each option comes with its own price, but services start at $50 per month. Consequently, block Advisors is a great choice for those with additional tax needs or who want to focus on a particular area.
Advantages of Block Advisors
– Guaranteed 100% tax accuracy
– Continuing education is provided to tax professionals every year
– Consultations are free of charge
Disadvantages of Block Advisors
– Lacks integration with QuickBooks or other popular bookkeeping programs
– Services are separately billed
Sunrise
You can keep track of everything from cash flow to expenses with Sunrise’s free accounting service. It is also possible to pay for the service. A budget-friendly accounting solution, Sunrise provides the services you need on a budget.
Advantages of Sunrise
– No cost
– Use your bank account to connect
– Design and send branded invoices
Disadvantages of Sunrise
– Expenses and payments must still be updated
– Charges a fee for processing payments
QuickBooks Live
QuickBooks Live offers assistance from actual accounting professionals. This approach is straightforward to implement using your existing tools. The monthly price begins at $12.50 with a free trial. It is a bonus for individuals who already utilize QuickBooks software.
Advantages of QuickBooks Live
– Integrate effortlessly with your existing books
– Accuracy guarantee
– Get paired with an ongoing bookkeeper
Disadvantages of QuickBooks Live
– No bill payment features
– Doesn’t include invoicing
Pilot
The pilot is a relatively young firm created by previous startup founders and funded by entrepreneurs who understand other startups and their accounting needs, making it our pick for the finest accounting firm for startups. It bundles a variety of financial services into a single plan. You can also tailor your offers and work with a dedicated staff. The first month’s price is $599. For organizations who can afford the recurring fees, the pilot offers customised alternatives.
Advantages of Pilot
– Customized financial reporting for each industry
– Additional services are available
– Access to a dedicated bookkeeper
Disadvantages of Pilot
– Costlier than the majority of services
– Must acquire distinct services for accounting, taxes, and CFO services.
Paro
Paro is a finance software that employs artificial intelligence to assist users in locating the best experts and services for their particular needs. You are provided with a list of experts who suit your criteria, with whom you work directly. Prices vary based on the given services and the level of expertise.
Paro reviews applications and compiles a database of thousands of CPAs, financial analysts, internal auditors, finance vice presidents, and bookkeepers through a multi-step screening procedure. According to Indeed, freelancers in Paro make an average of $46.40 per hour, ranging from $23.10 to $77.50 per hour.
Advantages of Paro
– Obtain a devoted CFO
– Completely customizable
– Ability to compare skills and services
Disadvantages of Paro
– Each specialist sets their own hourly charge.
– Experience varies considerably
BookKeeper.com
BookKeeper.com provides an extensive selection of virtual bookkeeping services. They offer numerous programs with DIY alternatives, monthly calls, and online help. Monthly pricing starts at $399. In addition, BookKeeper.com provides an all-in-one solution that may be tailored to meet your specific requirements.-one solution that can be customized to your needs.
Advantages of BookKeeper.com
– Dedicated bookkeeper
– Ability to add on services
– Integrates with QuickBooks
Disadvantages of BookKeeper.com
– It might be expensive for startup companies
– Some features include DIY
Bench
Bench accounting is the best accounting firm for bookkeeping services for businesses that are prepared to outsource their bookkeeping and have straightforward financials. Bench offers access to a staff of bookkeepers as well as a do-it-yourself platform. Monthly pricing begins at $249, with a free trial available. Customized services for small businesses are provided by Bench, which combines proprietary software with professional bookkeepers.
Advantages of Bench
– One-to-one support
– Integrates with payment solutions
– Offers financial reports
Disadvantages of Bench
– Due to proprietary software, supplier switching is complicated.
– The services do not include bill payment, invoicing, or check writing.
Bookkeeper360
Bookkeeper360 offers cloud-based accounting services via Xero, QuickBooks, and Gusto. Monthly subscriptions begin at $349 per month. In addition, Bookkeeper360 provides businesses with a variety of bookkeeping tools and services, as well as flexible payment alternatives.
Advantages of Bookkeeper360
– There are available monthly, accrual, and pay-as-you-go plans.
– Integrates with numerous accounting software
– Dedicated account manager
Disadvantages of Bookkeeper360
– Extra financial solutions are billed separately
– The smallest plans do not offer unrestricted support.
Conclusion
Accounting software can assist your small business in documenting transactions, maintaining records, and managing finances. In addition, accounting software can be used to manage your business with functions like online tracking and receipt capture. Consequently, using accounting software will provide you with the tools and assistance required to run a successful business.