The best accounting software for small businesses is an important tool for any startup company. For some reason we tend to think we can get by without one, but it is advisable to use accounting software. To help you figure out which accounting software to use we have rounded up the best small business accounting software in South Africa and listed them for your viewing pleasure.
So, let’s get right into the best accounting softwares that s best suited for multiple users especially south africans.
FNB instant free accounting software
This accounting software is free for FNB business account holders. One of the best all-round free software in South Africa, FNB instant accounting has a variety of features to help you run your day to day business finance.
The software is capable of storing all your clients and creditors and it is linked to your business account. Whenever you make a payment to a third-party you can record the transaction instantly. It helps with managing your employees’ salaries so you can perform monthly debit orders for employees’ salaries and make automatic data captures to relevant accounts.
The software also helps with your VAT calculations, using this function you will cut off your VAT accounting costs and do it yourself. You will be able to pay all your SARS bills using this software such as paying PAYE, Skills Development Levy, and UIF for employees and directors.
Wave
Pricing: Free — Additional Monthly Cost if You Elect Payroll in Tax Service or Self-Service States; Some Processing Fees Apply
Wave is a powerful accounting solution for small businesses and individual contractors. It places significant emphasis on ease of use and synchronicity —letting you link your bank accounts, track your expenses, and balance your books without any trouble. It also lines up with Wave’s additional resources, providing you with an all-in-one solution if you opt to invest in its other products.
Best for Freelancers or Very Small Businesses
If you are operating as a freelancer or have just a few employees, Wave could be for you. Most of its services are free, including invoice- and transaction-management. However, if you’re looking for built-in time tracking, inventory tracking, or project management, you’ll likely need different software.
Sage 50cloud
Pricing: Starts at $340/Year
With Sage, you can spend less time on administrative tasks. The software sends invoices, tracks payments and expenses, and calculates what you owe come tax season. Time-tracking and collaboration tools are two things you won’t get with Sage, and payroll is a separate product.
Best For Small Businesses Trending Towards Higher Growth
Sage works well for small- to medium-sized businesses. It errs on the more expensive side of the tools on this list, but it has an impressive enough suite of features to back its prices up. If your small business is more mature than most — and you can afford to spend a little extra on your accounting software — take a look at Sage50cloud.
GnuCash Free Accounting Software
GnuCash is open-source accounting software and it is freely available to anyone who wants to make use of it. GnuCash is available for Linux, Microsoft, and Mac OS. GnuCash can be optimized to fit South African standards of accounting and has built-in IFRS and GAAP functions. There is more to benefit from using this software and the benefit is not only monetary but also the quality of output that the software offer. Further benefits include
- Double-Entry Accounting
- Stock/Bond/Mutual Fund Accounts
- Small-Business Accounting
- Reports, Graphs
- QIF/OFX/HBCI Import, Transaction Matching
- Scheduled Transactions
- Financial Calculations
If you are looking for multicurrency free accounting software that is linked to your business bank account and offers flexibility then GnuCash is for you.
SlickPie
SlickPie has its user experience on a different level with revenue charts, spending graphs and bank account activity all visible on the home page. This accounting software is not entirely free, it is, however, very easy to use and come with value-added services that one can subscribe for at a fee.
If your business is online then you can use SlickPie’s payment processing system to allow payments on checkout. SlickPie has many services and the services are beyond accounting, many of these services are charged so if you really need additional services from SlickPie then you just have to pay for the service.
Palladium Accounting
Palladium offers multicurrency accounting software that uses current accounting processing technology. The software is easy to use and to navigate so learning how to use the software won’t take as much time.
There are no mandatory fees attached to the software application and you can store your data on the cloud. It is a good option for a start-up business with inadequate resources.
Xero
Pricing: Starts at $11/month
Xero lets you get financial performance reports sent straight to you, and connect your bank account for a seamless experience. If you need payroll services, you’ll have to use them through Xero’s partnership with Gusto. And if you value live support, you should probably look for another provider.
Best for Businesses That Conduct Their Business on the Go.
One of Xero’s most impressive characteristics is its mobile experience, making it an excellent option for businesspeople who work on the go. The software allows you to send custom invoices, track inventory, and create purchase orders to attach to bills — all from your phone or tablet.
Zoho Books
Pricing: Starts at $15/month
Zoho Books is an excellent resource for helping your small business manage cash flow and finances. The software lets you automate workflows and work collectively across departments. It includes first rate tools for inventory management, banking, time-tracking, and financial reporting — all backed by an industry-leading UX.
Best for Ease of Use
One of Zoho’s biggest draws is its accessible, user-friendly interface. It comes with an easy-to-read dashboard that virtually any member of your organization can make sense of. It also offers benefits like excellent customer support and the ability to accept payments online. All told, Zoho is one of the better software for more casual users.
Kashoo
Pricing: Starts at $20/month
Kashoo is a solution that offers powerful functionality at a reasonable price. Among the software’s features are automatic reconciliation, categorization using machine learning technology, and income and expense tracking.
Best for Businesses Looking for a Simple Solution
Perfect for small businesses searching for a truly simple solution, Kashoo offers plans and features that can accommodate any small business’s needs. Its functionality is straightforward but effective, and its pricing structure allows for unlimited users at a relatively low price point.
DEAR Systems
Pricing: Starts at $249/Month
DEAR Systems offers a centralized platform that covers virtually every aspect of your business — from purchasing to warehouse management to job costing. That broad array of tools includes a robust suite of accounting features that can help any small business streamline processes like data entry and syncing invoices.
The platform’s accounting element also seamlessly integrates with other applications like Xero and Quickbooks — with additional resources that allow for real-time visibility into your financial data.
Best for Businesses Trying to Cover All Their Bases — Not Just Accounting
As I mentioned, the DEAR systems platform can touch several aspects of your company’s operations — making for a steeper price tag than most other solutions on this list.
If you’re solely in the market for a small business accounting software, this one might not be up your alley. But if you’re looking for a one-stop, comprehensive solution for virtually all your business needs — accounting included — this could be the platform for you.
19. ZarMoney
Price: Starts at $15/Month
ZarMoney is an all-in-one solution with an impressive list of features. It covers virtually every accounting process your business has to stay on top of — including productivity, advanced inventory, and reporting.
With payment models that can accommodate everyone from individual entrepreneurs to small businesses to large enterprises, you should have no problem finding a plan that works for you.
Best for Businesses Looking for a Solution That Grows With Them
ZarMoney’s pricing model operates on a sliding scale that incrementally adjusts with every individual user you need to add at a reasonable price. That structure can work for businesses growing at any rate. If you’re in the market for a solution that will keep pace with you as you scale, check out ZarMoney.
Money Manager EX
Money Manager EX is an open source accounting software that is delivered for free. The software is very easy to use especially for your everyday use.
The software helps you keep track of your cash flow and budget. You can import a CSV document to the software from your bank to get started.
TurboCASH
With TurboCash it’s all about quality financial reporting. This accounting software is good for both small and medium enterprises. Using this software you will be able to handle multiple companies and reconcile every account whenever you want to for a group of companies.
You can deal with multiple VAT, creditors, debtors, bank, inventory, sales, and other relevant accounts using one software.
OneUp
Pricing: Starts at $9/month
OneUp is another double-entry accounting solution. It syncs with your bank, categorizes bank entries, and validates suggested entries so your books are done quickly and accurately. All told, those elements amount to roughly 95% automation of your accounting.
Best for Businesses Focused on Inventory Management
OneUp might be best known for its inventory management capabilities. The program automatically adjusts your inventory levels as they shift and tells you when to reorder.
That’s not to say that the software’s other features aren’t impressive — but if you’re primarily in the market for an exceptional inventory management solution, check OneUp out.
xTuple PostBooks
PostBooks is a free accounting software developed by xTuple. This software is best suited for manufacturing companies so if you are a manufacturer than PostBooks is for you.
With PostBooks you will not only be able to manage your accounting entries but you will also be able to manage your inventory and debtors with are the most key factors to your business success. You will also be able to manage your purchases and work in progress inventory so that you can run your manufacturing process efficiently.
XTuple PostBooks has value-added features that are offered at a price such as a customer relationship management and sales management.
ZipBooks
ZipBooks offer three accounting sofware solutions and only one is for free. For a very small business with no sophisticated accounts needed to operate your business you might consider ZipBooks as your accounting software choice.
The free ZipBooks software is easy to use and all you to link your business bank account and PayPal account to the software to make accounting easier. However, on a free ZipBooks website, you will have to make reconciliations for yourself since the plan doesn’t cover such. With ZipBooks you will be able to manage unlimited customers and make unlimited invoices for free.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for accounting software for small business in south africa, one of the best options out there is Wave 360. It’s easy to use, there are no hidden fees and prices are very affordable. What’s great about Wave 360 is that they’ve got an amazing free plan which includes your first 5 employees.