There are many small business software that you could use or even create your own bookkeeping software, but what are the best accounting software for small business in Canada? I’m going to share to you what are considered the best small business software in Canada which should make it easier for you to decide on what is best software for your needs.
Small business admin can be a headache. You don’t need to pay for an accountant, but still want to make tax deadlines, know how much you’re making, and take care of all other financial tasks? Fortunately there are some great small business software tools available. We provide a list of the best small business software in Canada here.
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.
AccountEdge Pro
AccountEdge Pro is desktop accounting software for small businesses founded in 1989 and has developed new features and enhancements over the years. If you need to access your finances on the go or from your smartphone, you can use their cloud-based app or their hosting platform. It’s geared toward small to medium-sized businesses, has a basic version and a pro version, and offers comprehensive accounting solutions full of customizations.
We chose AccountEdge Pro as our best accounting software for experienced accountants because of its robust features and reporting capability. It’s a bit more complex than some of the other software, so this software works best if you’re already familiar with accounting terminology.
AccountEdge Pro’s features include:
- Bank feeds with integration
- Direct deposit
- Inventory management
- Payment processing
- Turn quotes into invoices
- Customer and vendor management
- Full-service payroll
- Free accountant copy
- Data sync with company files
Pricing for AccountEdge Pro is as follows:
- AccountEdge Basic: $149 one-time fee, $199 per year for one user
- AccountEdge Pro: $499 one-time fee, $199 per year, and additional fees for licenses and add-ons such as payroll services, checks, and credit card processing
To find out more about what features are included and how much add-ons cost and to add custom features, it’s best to contact the company directly.
Freshbooks
FreshBooks is a popular cloud-based accounting service designed specifically for small business owners.
The package has plenty of features – invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, a host of business reports, even an option to take credit card payments – and a straightforward interface aimed at non-accountants ensures you’ll be up-and-running right away.
Despite the simplicity, there’s real depth here. You can bill in any currency, save time by setting up recurring invoices, allow customers to pay via credit card by checking a box, and even automatically bill their credit card to keep life simple for everyone.
If you need more power, the system integrates with many other services, including PayPal, MailChimp, Basecamp, WordPress, Gusto, Zendesk and more.
Management hassles are kept to a minimum. You’re able to access and use the system from your desktop or its free iOS and Android apps, and because it’s a cloud-based system there’s no need to worry about backups.
If this sounds appealing, you can try FreshBooks for 30 days without using a credit card.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting
If you’re looking for a solution that’s simple to set up and use, then Sage Business Cloud Accounting might be the right choice for you. The software comes with two options: desktop with cloud storage and online software. It makes it ideal for accounting professionals who regularly travel and do not always have internet access, and they can access their data without an internet connection. The software has a standard set of accounting features, such as invoicing, payroll, payments. Furthermore, it integrates with the Microsoft 365 platform, so if you are already using Microsoft 365, you may get extra benefits from choosing Sage 50cloud Accounting.
Because this accounting software has all the capabilities of QuickBooks Online, but for the half price, it might be worth checking out as well.
Pros:
- A cloud-based system makes setup easy with no installation required.
- Sage Business Cloud Accounting is user-friendly and allows you to create invoices and invoice customers quickly.
- You get 24/7 support from Sage.
- College students who study business accounting learn Sage, so find an accountant with Sage Accounting experience would be easy.
- It is a more affordable option comparing to Quickbooks.
Cons:
- It may be a little more complicated to use and less intuitive
- You may spend more time learning this software comparing with other options.
Wave
A top free accounting software to consider from the start of your search is Wave accounting software. Through this option, you’ll be able to connect unlimited bank and credit card accounts to your books. You’ll also be able to add unlimited income tracking, expense tracking, and guest collaborators for free. Plus, you’ll be able to invoice and scan receipts for free as well.
Be sure to note, though: If you want your invoiced customers to be able to pay online directly through the invoice, you’ll need to pay for that. Wave charges 2.9% + $0.30 for each credit card payment and 1% (with a minimum of $1) for each ACH payment. You’ll also need to pay for payroll through Wave. Depending on where you do business, you’ll pay a monthly base fee of either $35 or $20, plus $4 per employee and contractor on your payroll.
Conclusion:
If you’re a small business owner, the time to choose the best accounting software for small business is now. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the basics about bookkeeping and ways that these systems can help you along the way. You don’t have to be a small-business owner to find this useful.